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, 21:48 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-980: If he put it to the team to decide because it was a tough decision, we should blame Mallett for not having the balls to make a tough decision, not the players.
8 Oct 2011, 21:49 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-999: Terrible.
8 Oct 2011, 21:49 pm
Wyrd bid ful araed.
[Fate is Inexorable]
8 Oct 2011, 21:56 pm
When I Googled old Gerts name to get his surname right (yes, shock horror, Google IS allowed on a blog !), I found this wee gem. It explains the phrase ‘finish and klaar’, which I have read here ad nauseum, which is like having someone explain what Victorian nursery rhymes are all about:-
“The headings of the first and last chapters of Terry McLean’s book is called “Finish and klaar” and these chapters asserted to the same thought line namely that rugby between these two nations is finish and klaar; that New Zealand tolerance of the South Africa racial policies is finish and klaar; that the glamour of test rugby between the countries is finish and klaar because of poor refereeing; that NZ’s changes to win a series in South Africa is finish and klaar but probably most importantly that tours to South Africa is finish and klaar. There was one more lesson to be learned before the protest groups finally won their battle, but the All Blacks would not return to South Africa for 16 years.
In post mortem of the tour McLean writes that the most important contribution of this tour was undoubtedly the fact that that if was the straw that broke the camels back in terms of sporting relationships with South Africa.
McLean writes:
A profound change occurred in New Zealand’s thinking about sporting relationships with South Africa. It seemed likely (one couldn’t tell accurately) that before the end of the tour, two-thirds of the kiwi’s were saying, in effect, that as to the future ties in sport between the countries, only one phrase could be used – “Finish and klaar”.
The term “finish and klaar” derive from an incident involving Jan Ellis.
McLean explains:
When at an early stage of their tour of South Africa in the winter of 1976, the New Zealand Rugby team, the All Blacks, learned that a famous South African, Jan Ellis, had cried off from the captaincy of a multiracial side, the South African Invitation XV, which they were to play at Newlands in Cape town, they were disappointed. They knew Ellis well and admired him as one of the great flank forwards of modern times. The cause of his withdrawal, it was reported, was influenza. There was nothing much to it.
But then, only after hours after the match had been played, a sensational story appeared in the Sunday Times in Johannesburg. Ellis, it was asserted, had played refused to play with the two Coloureds and the two Blacks who by invitation had joined the 11 Whites in the team.
“Multiracial sport anywhere else in the world is OK,” Ellis was reported to have said. “I have played against and socialized with Fijians, Maori’s and all other kinds- but that was in Europe. When in Rome, you do as the Romans tell you. Here in South Africa, the same thing holds- and I am a White South African.”
Other Newspapers moved in on the story and Ellis, as his wife asserted, was “pestered” by reporters. Goaded, Ellis exploded. He had, he said, nothing more to say. With him, the situation was “finish and klaar”.
This striking phrase was memorable. Entirely South African, it meant, literally translated, “Finish – and finish”. The end of the road. Nothing more to be said. Bugger off.
It seems that McLean is alluding to the fact that this was the feeling amongst New Zealanders after the 1976 tour. A feeling of South Africa get your house in order, organize your sport along non racial lines, start playing proper rugby and stop cheating or bugger off. Typical New Zealand style he just doesn’t say it directly but suggest it with the title of his book, the headings of his chapters and with a story line about unfair treatment by referees that runs like barbwire through his book.
Maybe it is true what Williams and Harding says: “The Afrikaners escaped the reality of the situation by watching rugby.” Maybe we were just so blaze with all the killing, shooting and constant fighting that we just stopped seeing it.”.
8 Oct 2011, 21:57 pm
yawn.
8 Oct 2011, 22:01 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-1005:
dont worry, Spooner, only 683secs left and then you can take a nice lonnnnnnnnng, much needed, rest.
8 Oct 2011, 22:01 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-997: I agree, Boks BETTER WIN!
8 Oct 2011, 22:04 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-1005: I’ve never seen such an insecure childish person in my life. He must be the most unpleasant thing to to meet. It is soo easy too google negative things about New Zealand too. Different opinions, different alliances.
8 Oct 2011, 22:04 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-1004: What is your point?
Why do you keep returning tot his site?
Do you think you are a pro baiter, not
8 Oct 2011, 22:05 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-1006: 11 Minutes? Faark me.
8 Oct 2011, 22:06 pm
@JL1(JL1)-1009: I so want to say bad things to him, and it takes every inch of controll not to.
8 Oct 2011, 22:07 pm
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-1011: He is a real sad case
8 Oct 2011, 22:09 pm
@JL1(JL1)-1012: Yip, better to scroll past the Trol.
8 Oct 2011, 22:09 pm
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-1011: I went down that road before…. But not worth it
He is OCD and needs help with his obsession
8 Oct 2011, 22:10 pm
I’m not having very good vibes about tomorrow. Hopefully that will change during the night.
8 Oct 2011, 22:11 pm
@JL1(JL1)-1014: Same here, many times. Afterwards I feel bad. I’m disappointed in myself and upset because I humiliated the poor soul.
8 Oct 2011, 22:12 pm
Think I should watch some youtube clips of all the players. Maybe that will give me more hope.
8 Oct 2011, 22:12 pm
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-1016: Hehehe
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-1015: I actually have a good feeling, Boks are being written off all over the show
8 Oct 2011, 22:14 pm
What was meant to be happening in 683 seconds (11 minutes) I wonder?
Scroooooll past the troooooll.
8 Oct 2011, 22:15 pm
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-1017: CombatBok is brilliant
8 Oct 2011, 22:16 pm
@JL1(JL1)-1020: Yip, I love his videos.
8 Oct 2011, 22:18 pm
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-1021: Love the short one with Bakkies and PDiv giggling
8 Oct 2011, 22:19 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-1019: Maybe you will have a beer, or a sandwich or a snack
8 Oct 2011, 22:19 pm
@JL1(JL1)-1022: Don’t think I saw it. Will go look. Can you remember which one it is?
8 Oct 2011, 22:21 pm
@JL1(JL1)-1023: oooh how exciting.
What shall I have? Must only have a matter of seconds to make up my mind.
8 Oct 2011, 22:23 pm
what is up with these kiwi boys?
http://www.news24.com/sport24/Rugby/RugbyWorldCup2011/All-Black-stars-in-booze-binge-20111008
8 Oct 2011, 22:23 pm
Saturday Night In..
Hummmm, still struggle with the concept!
8 Oct 2011, 22:23 pm
most notable similarity between 2007 and 2011 is that a pool runner up will contest the final again.
would be great if it was 1 and 2 from pool D that did it! I am sure the welsh would love another crack at us, and we got to show we’re better than what we dished up in that opening game!
only the aussies and ABs to get past first
ouch.
8 Oct 2011, 22:25 pm
Nothing on the telly..
However I have seen Saffa TV and perhaps I should be thankful!!
8 Oct 2011, 22:25 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-1026: The best is how the staff smuggled them into a back room when the cops arrived. While the cops were still there, Jane stumbles out the back room to pour himself another beer from the tap. One of the staff spots him before the police and quickly ushers him back into the back room box. Must have been quite dronk…
They must really be taking Argentina seriously
8 Oct 2011, 22:25 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-1025: Don’t take too long, sandwich might self destruct in 11 minutes
8 Oct 2011, 22:31 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-1026: Their class is shining through
8 Oct 2011, 22:37 pm
@carol(carol)-1029:
Watch anything on http://www.vipbox.tv
Even ballroom dancing
8 Oct 2011, 22:53 pm
SA bloggers having an early night!
8 Oct 2011, 23:04 pm
In the words of L Cohen, this place is dead as heaven on a Saturday night.
8 Oct 2011, 23:04 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-1034: it’s 7am for you, 6am for me
Up at 6am to watch the first game this morning, can’t recall a weekend when I’ve pulled two consecutive 6am starts.
Just thinking, it will be worse when the WC is in Japan.
8 Oct 2011, 23:09 pm
Yep it’s even quiet outside.
Silence fallen over SA
8 Oct 2011, 23:14 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-1037: hi pocahontas…
8 Oct 2011, 23:16 pm
Evening trans.
WeLcome to the morgue!
8 Oct 2011, 23:18 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-1037: Yep, everyone has their own way of preparing. Me, I’m making voodoo dolls. Don’t have enough time to do the whole Oz team, so I’m doing Cooper, Genia, Pocock, Beale and Ioane. I didn’t have enough pins for the Cooper doll, so I used nails from my toolbox. Over the top big ones. He’s pretty fcked right now. Can’t see him running out tomorrow,
8 Oct 2011, 23:24 pm
Am watching cheap two-bit movies!
8 Oct 2011, 23:28 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-1041: I just watched the Lions WP game. Had to PVR it, as I was installing irrigation, and Mrs Katman frowns upon a job left half done.
How awesome are those Lions. Relentless.
8 Oct 2011, 23:28 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-1040: funny guy
8 Oct 2011, 23:31 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-1043: I hope you’re not mocking me, because I have some dark fabric I was going to use for Radike Samo. Could very easily become a Transie doll.
8 Oct 2011, 23:32 pm
I know. The madam can be a hard taskmaster!
Good on the Lions. Ystermanne.
8 Oct 2011, 23:38 pm
This voodoo can be dangerous.
Gotta watch my step.
8 Oct 2011, 23:41 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-1026:
Lets see how the one eyed hypoctitical keewee media deal with this compared to the English boys night out
Any bets on an excuse and a quick sweep under the carpet?
8 Oct 2011, 23:45 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-1044: you know what radike looks like u have no idea about me…you might think it’s Trans doll meanwhile it’s an ExTraball u’re pricking
8 Oct 2011, 23:48 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-1048: I made one of ET in the toilet this morning. Wonderful thing, fibre.
8 Oct 2011, 23:48 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-480: Hey, it can go either way. But if it goes MY way, then …. (dreamingly, I have never been on top spot in global rankings of > 30 000 people). Anyway, good luck to your team, looking forward to a cracker.
@JL1(JL1)-336: @Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-327: Alright, I admit it was over the top. I just tried to imagine how almightly pissed he should be with his merry-go-round dwarf throwing partying herd at half time.
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