QF3 - Match Thread - Wales v France - 20/10/19 - K/O 8:15 BST

[Guest]

First topic message reminder :

Thought I'd get these made nice and early for a few reasons - but one being that we're already now looking ahead to the QFs with several teams having finished their group stage, so it's all heating up for the proper knockout stuff...barring any more disruption.

Wales



Team:Liam Williams; George North, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis; Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones; Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric, Josh Navidi.


Reps: Elliot Dee, Rhys Carre, Dillon Lewis, Adam Beard, Ross Moriarty, Tomos Williams, Rhys Patchell, Owen Watkin


France



Team: Medard - Penaud, Vakatawa, Fickou, Huget - Ntamack, Du pont - Ollivon , Alldrit, Lauret -
Vaahamahina, Leroux - Slimani, Guirado (c), Poirot
Bench: Cat, Braille,Sentiano, Gabrillagues, Picamoles, Serin, Lopez, Rattez



Venue: Oita
Referee: Jaco Peyper
AR1: Nic Berry
AR2: Paul Williams
TMO: Marius Joncker

[mikey_dragon]

So much for not targeting Biggar, eh Brunel.

[majesticimperialman]

Great for France. 

Biggar looked like he hurt him self clearing the ball for the France line out.

[BigGee]

Well France definitely seem to be up for this game

Lucky it was a very poor conversion

5-0 France

[Heaf]

Well France have turned up - can they keep it up though?

[mikey_dragon]

Wow, excellent play by France to be fair. Very sloppy from us since we decided to kick it in their 22.

[BigGee]

Well at least know which French team have turned up tonight!

[majesticimperialman]

2 try's in 2 minutes. Wales could be in trouble here if they don't calm this French attack.

[BigGee]

This is so French in the WC, play rubbish throughout the group stage, then really click into gear when they hit the knockouts.

It won't do them any harm not being the favourites for this game either.

Can they hold a lead though?

Wales really need to score next

[Heaf]

Apart from the kick-off reception and the shocking first conversion France have started very well ...

[mikey_dragon]

Well done Azza, we needed something from nothing!

[Heaf]

OK scratch that last comment ...

[majesticimperialman]

Nice try for Wales.

[tigertattie]

Poetic justice that the score came from a squint throw in from France!

[BigGee]

Wainwright waltzes through the huge gap

3 tries in 12 mins, this could be a classic

12-7 France!

[Heaf]

Nice pace for a 6 ...

[mikey_dragon]

These scrums seem to happen often when we play France...

[Heaf]

Wonder how many completed scrums we'll see ...

[BigGee]

High tackle penalty Wales

10-12 France

[BigGee]

Navidi off injured, that is a big loss for Wales

[Heaf]

Nice kick from George

[mikey_dragon]

France seem to have done a bit of homework. Not good by Moriarty, straight on and does that!

[BigGee]

Morriaty could be in trouble here

Yellow I think

[BigGee]

Big 10 mins for Wales now

[BigGee]

Good try France, taking advantage of the extra man

[majesticimperialman]

What a well worked try from France.

[Guest]

France just being much more inventive and using much more variety than Wales. Chip over, short line outs, quick takes, kicks to the wing, etc.

Wales need more variety. France are very quick up in the line so we need some chips over the top to make them think twice about rushing up.

[BigGee]

Conversion good

19-10 France

[TightHEAD]

Walking Yellow Moriarty every time. Said it many times

[mikey_dragon]

This is shiiiiitt play by Wales. Just seem really slow to react to everything. I wouldn’t even bank on a comeback playing like this.

[BigGee]

Fantastic defence by Wales but not done yet

[mikey_dragon]

Does there come a time when we say kick and chase doesn’t work?

[Heaf]

France got over excited there and lost composure ...

[tigertattie]

Penaud is the epitome of a french player

Does a great thing then next time he gets the ball he does something bonkers then after that he turns and walks away and has to be pulled back into the defensive line by a team mate. He basically feels that he doesn’t need to put effort in if he doesn’t have the ball

[BigGee]

I am amazed France not going for the corner again

Ntamack not the most reliable kicker and Wales seriously under the cosh

[Heaf]

Daft call to go for 3 ...

[BigGee]

What did I say!

[Heaf]

French decision making is poor ...

[BigGee]

France have chucked away another 5 points in this game so far, that may come back to haunt them

[majesticimperialman]

I think at this point it would be fair to say, Wales are a bit stunned by France.

[Heaf]

Great defence by Wales but can't help but think France let them off by making the wrong choices ...

[RiscaGame]

Moriarty was so brain dead. No reason not to tackle low. Fickou even carried the ball in the wrong arm, so there wasn’t going to be an offload or hand off. That’s cost us, as we are defending too much now.

[BigGee]

What were Wales doing there, very lucky to get away with that

[Heaf]

Wow that was risky from a knock-on advantage

[mikey_dragon]

Need a new team for the 2nd half as this one is clueless and have forgotten how to defend.

[Heaf]

France may well pay for not putting away another 7 pointer in the last 10 minutes - they certainly had the opportunities but kept making the wrong decisions ....

[BigGee]

HT

France could have been out of sight with a little bit more composure and better decision making.

Wales defending brilliantly but not looking like scoring. They have taken a battering in the process, so this game is going to test their fitness like none other so far.

Intriguing second half coming up

[majesticimperialman]

Wales do not at the moment seem to have any answers to the French attack.

If Wales do not score first in the second half, they could be going home on monday.

[Duty281]

Good news for Wales is that the French don’t tend to bother with the second half these days.

[Guest]

I’m almost happy with that half time score line! Could have been much worse. We have to hope France get frustrated with not being further in front and start to lose interest and make errors. We’ve come back from this before, and against France too, but we need a change of play 2nd half to do that. First score so important.

[Heaf]

Still think Wales will come back - France missed their chances to go in with an 18 point lead

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