Bye Bye England
8 Oct 2011
MARK KEOHANE reports from Auckland on another famous French World Cup win.
For once New Zealanders could appreciate it when a group of French rugby players get that mad look in their eye, defy logic, form and common sense and win a rugby game in which few gave them a chance.
France usually reserves the unexpected for the All Blacks (1999 and 2007) but against a limp England passion and patience was enough of a Saturday night drink to daze England and make them look like the rugby drunks they have been all tournament.
France won 19-12 and could have had more points, but for two missed penalties and two missed conversions. They led 16-0 in a first 40 when England came close to scoring in the last movement of the half but never exerted enough pressure to even win a penalty kick at posts.
The French pack was superior and individually hooker William Servat and No 8 Imanol Harinordoquy were immense, especially in the first hour. Scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvilli played conductor in that period in which France triumped because of bloody mindedness more than brilliance. It was similar to the win against the All Blacks in 2007 because this was a grind in the last quarter, but the two matches don’t rate in comparison.
French captain Thierry Dusautoir said as much afterwards, telling the media that in 2007 France had beaten the best team in the world to advance to the semi-finals, but this was not the case at Eden Park.
England are a poor side. They beat Argentina 13-9 and needed 75 minutes to subdue the Pumas. They then needed a 78th minute try to beat Scotland 16-12 and up until the 78th minute against France they trailed 19-7.
England losing is good riddance. They were diabolical on the night, as they have been all tournament. Coach Martin Johnson thought otherwise and applauded the courage of his team. He felt England were the more creative team and that the difference was France took their limited chances and scored early. England, he said, were always chasing the game and were lacking in composure. But he added this was the England team of the future and that he (as coach) wasn’t planning on going anywhere in a hurry.
England, in 2007, were bad in losing to South Africa 36-0 but upstaged Australia 12-10 in the quarter-final before edging France. In the final they were a poor second to the Boks.
In four years little has been advanced in this England team. The Boks and All Blacks have smashed them by record margins in London, the Wallabies have beaten them in London and Wales, Ireland, Scotland and France have also enjoyed success against a side that has never settled on a pattern of play. Neither has Johnson ever had the conviction to axe those who played with him in the 2003 World Cup success in Australia.
Hero of the 2003 World Cup victory Jonny Wilkinson was among those Johnson refused to give up on, but the once great kicker was a shadow of the player who won England the World Cup with a right footed drop goal. Wilkinson, so plagued by injury in the last five years, kicked at 60 percent at the 2007 World Cup in France and he ended this tournament with the worst goalkicking average of the leading kickers with just 10 from 20.
Johnson subbed him on the hour and he will not play for England again. It was a cruel way for him to go, but there was nothing cruel about the manner of English defeat.
England, on the night, were dire and a Marc Cueto try in the 78th minute added to the illusion this was a close match. It never was. England were never in the game and only referee Steve Walsh’s charity ensured they stayed in the game. Walsh penalised France 11 times in the last hour before finally giving the victors a penalty in the last minute.
England at this World Cup have been a disgrace in the way they behaved and played. The tournament is the richer for their departure. Wales will play France in what should be a magnificent World Cup semi-final match.
1,082 Comments
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8 Oct 2011, 21:14 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-945:
Never sounds as funny without the wind in your sails. Do try and stay 1 step ahead, Coach.
8 Oct 2011, 21:15 pm
I really want to see the Bok Aus game, but 6am !
I don’t think I can do it
8 Oct 2011, 21:16 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-939: I met him once and asked him why he screwed up by not playing Honibal in a must win semi in 99.. he ducked and dodged the answer and told me the players decided not him… seems that its more or less par for the course in SA rugby the players decide everything
8 Oct 2011, 21:16 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-937:
Skoppie I was at the gym wearing my bok t shirt
And a women (american ) came up to me and said “what is that buck on your t shirt”?
I told her it was a springbok And she replied Pity such a beautiful animal is associated with such a brutal sport ??
8 Oct 2011, 21:17 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-953: did the players decide that Teichman should be dropped too?
8 Oct 2011, 21:17 pm
It is so sad that Springbok supporters speak about their Captain in this way. He is a rugby player, a great leader, and has always given 100% for his team and country. He led the Boks to WC glory, 2 Tri-Nations titles, and a B&I Lions tour victory. He deserves more.
8 Oct 2011, 21:18 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-951:
No matter what , one thing is for sure, I will never stop supporting my Boks
8 Oct 2011, 21:18 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-954: does she think the losing team is eaten after the game or something?
8 Oct 2011, 21:20 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-954:
These American woman are so ‘wet’!
Being used to seeing men playing a contact sport wrapped up in armour makes you a bit soft!
8 Oct 2011, 21:20 pm
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-956: He has LOST 10 from 11 tests under his captaincy the past two years I bet if his name was Luke Watson for instance you would not be so f’ng pseudo patriotic about him… you would be the first to wanna decapitate him…
8 Oct 2011, 21:20 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-953: Sorry, but that is the biggest BS story I’ve heard in a long time. I would like to hear it from Mallett’s own mouth.
8 Oct 2011, 21:20 pm
…and cricket helmets!
8 Oct 2011, 21:21 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-960: I’m not going to respond to that. My point was clear and I stand by it. He deserves respect.
8 Oct 2011, 21:21 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-958:
Hehehheheeh
8 Oct 2011, 21:23 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-958:
her next questions while watching me work out was “Did you play rugby”
8 Oct 2011, 21:23 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-965:
Did she have a twinkle in her eye too?
8 Oct 2011, 21:24 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-955: some of them revolted I believe like Honibal refused to play.. thats what one blogger here told me the other day.. Thats Mallet.. the great Bok coach that ever lived
Same as Bismark is silently revolting now deep down in his seething psyche .. though he’s having to bite hard on his stiff lower lip as he does it… cause he KNOWS whats going down ain’t exactly right but he cant do sweet fanny fckall about it…
We must just lose tomorrow the Exclusive book stores gonna be overflowing with tell all books you better f’ng believe it…
8 Oct 2011, 21:24 pm
@carol(carol)-959:
Oh yes totally Now even more
8 Oct 2011, 21:24 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-965:
8 Oct 2011, 21:25 pm
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-963: So who deserves respect and who don’t in your book… cancers or chameleons??
8 Oct 2011, 21:26 pm
@carol(carol)-966:
yes then I showed her my broken collar bone broken ankle and elbow and told her about my 2 nose surgeries
She said “So I am right”
8 Oct 2011, 21:27 pm
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-961: I heard it from his own mouth.. you think I’m going to tell you something I didn’t hear him say when I heard it because that is what he told me directly personally one to one…
Those are the facts because that is exactly what Nick Mallet told me himself…
8 Oct 2011, 21:28 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-970: Both. Cancers because they kill people. Chameleons because they share this planet with us.
One question. If you go to the mall and you see John Smit coming towards you, would you say these things to his face? Or would you smily, shake his hand, and ask him for his autograph?
8 Oct 2011, 21:28 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-972: skop did Mallet also tell you that the players decided to drop Teichman and play Skinstad instead?
8 Oct 2011, 21:29 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-954: I reckon she may have a point after all.. Those yanks do know what is civilized and whats not…
8 Oct 2011, 21:29 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-972:
Skoppie
Whats the connection between Nick Mallet and Dan Vickerman Flow and Nic Koster?
8 Oct 2011, 21:30 pm
Head injuries in NFL are far more prevalent and serious.
8 Oct 2011, 21:30 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-940:
Smit is going to play in the UK
He couldnt give a f-uck
8 Oct 2011, 21:30 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-975:
Well then she handed this barbaric african her phone number
8 Oct 2011, 21:32 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-974: Nope I never asked him that.. I asked him why he didn’t play Honibal and why he played De Beer where if he had played Honibal he would have most likely won.. and he said that it was a tough decision and he put it to the team and they unanimously decided to play De Beer..
What he DIDN’T tell me is that Honibal had reacted very badly to the Teichman dropping and refused to play.. he never told me anything about that…
8 Oct 2011, 21:32 pm
@carol(carol)-962:
Geez Carol in my day i played Silly Mid On with no protection :0
God what a silly position?
8 Oct 2011, 21:33 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-976: They all went to your alma mata Bishops.. his sons are still there, those not at UCT (I think along with Jakes) coached by his brother…
8 Oct 2011, 21:34 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-971:
Most women like a man to be a bit battle scarred !!
Did she ask you for your mobile number?
8 Oct 2011, 21:34 pm
GOOD LUCK BOKS
Maybe Smitty gets injured in the first minute, miracles can happen
8 Oct 2011, 21:34 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-982:
Yes but Nick Mallets father was head master at Bishops
8 Oct 2011, 21:35 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-979: Jeeze I hope she was/is worth the barbaric attention .. Tarzan meets Jane in Disneyland..
8 Oct 2011, 21:36 pm
@carol(carol)-983:
Plenty of scars not just from
Yes i believe so
have 3 brothers
8 Oct 2011, 21:37 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-985: Bishops belongs to the Mallets so it seems.. they should change its name perhaps
8 Oct 2011, 21:37 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-986:
I dont remember
8 Oct 2011, 21:39 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-988:
Nick Mallets Mom was a wonderful person Amazing lady
8 Oct 2011, 21:40 pm
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-973: Nope I would not ask for his autograph.. autographs are for hero worshiping kids.. and beside he is NO hero of mine.. secondly if he LOSES tomorrow I would tell him what he certainly most definitely would NOT like to hear.. and if I were him if he saw me coming down the passage he better turn and walk swiftly the other way…
8 Oct 2011, 21:41 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-904: What is he suppose to do, resign?
Who selects him?
Who moves him to prop?
8 Oct 2011, 21:42 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-957:
good on ya, Coach. The way it should be.
I recently, on the eve of the ABs vs Tricolors match, listed how many times Id been in the stadium when we lost to France (1979, ’94, 99, ’07….). I was asked why I “bother turning up at Eden Park”. Such a very very bizarre question, must have been related to Tacitus and all those Bluealligator, Blue-this Blue-that types. Much like KKK willing opposition star-players to get injured just to make the result easier to achieve for his team. I cant get my head around that, I go to matches to SEE the very best on the biggest stage. Maybe KKK and the Blues Brothers grew up in the Gert Bezuidenhout era ?
Poor old Gert put it best when he told the All Blacks it was all very well for them to be upset, but he had to live in the country. 1-3.
8 Oct 2011, 21:42 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-990: Well she must have been thats why she brought up such successful family..
It always takes a good strong woman to be the real backbone of a family
I’m ducking out, gonna go watch repeats of this mornings games…
So Long
Boks better f’ng win tomorrow .. OR ELSE .. BIG KAK to pay…
8 Oct 2011, 21:43 pm
@Boksarenumber3(Boksarenumber1)-984: Gwanty?
8 Oct 2011, 21:44 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-994:
Cheers skoppie Dont have nightmares about Smitty
What will be will be
8 Oct 2011, 21:45 pm
@JL1(JL1)-992: if he knows he is hampering the progress of the team.. and that he is NOT the best player in that position and that he is NOT up to international standard as rugby is required to be played today.. and that the coach is either too chicken or too insecure or too tied to him for whatever OTHER undisclosed reason.. then YES he should resign for the betterment of the team and the country…
I’m out gonna watch some rugby..
Boks BETTER f’ng win.. NO f’ng compromises anymore.. enough f’ng losing is ENOUGH !!!
8 Oct 2011, 21:46 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-991: And if he wins tomorrow?
8 Oct 2011, 21:47 pm
@Boksarenumber3(Boksarenumber1)-984: Disgusting comment.
8 Oct 2011, 21:47 pm
1000
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