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, 23:50 pm
Anyway, that’s me.
Go Bokke.
Go Lions.
8 Oct 2011, 23:51 pm
@whatever(whatever)-1047: well “it’s already been dealt with internally”
8 Oct 2011, 23:53 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-1052:
That other story about two Saffas giving lip to a few Moari fellows and getting beaten up sounds like a fabrication by wet pantie……an “in my dreams” story, like the rest of the BS that troll dishes up
8 Oct 2011, 23:58 pm
On the last note, just an observation.
1987 – Semis – NZ, Aus, Fra, Wal.
2011 – Semis – (bar miracle it’s NZ), 50/50 call (I suspect Aus will sneak in), Fra, Wal.
9 Oct 2011, 00:00 am
Me I feel that without carter the lacks are going to get slayed ,,
9 Oct 2011, 00:01 am
Lacks read as blacks
9 Oct 2011, 00:02 am
@surreyshark4(surreyshark4)-1055: Argies will slay them?
No probs with different opinions.
9 Oct 2011, 00:06 am
@Nils(Nils)-1054:
NZ, Aus and Fr. have been my choices in that order since 2008 already. About 10 days ago i saw that 1987 final four and watched Wales more closely and added them to the other 3 to make up my semi-finals four.
History has a way of repeating itself, if you are of the knowing.
9 Oct 2011, 00:11 am
@ET.(ET.)-1058: Thankfully there are deviations, otherwise why bother to watch. Spain would never have won football WC.
Anyway, Fra-Wal SF is the one I can just sit back and enjoy the show, as these two I like the most when it comes to NH teams.
9 Oct 2011, 00:13 am
2008.
9 Oct 2011, 00:15 am
X Files stuff.
9 Oct 2011, 00:15 am
@Nils(Nils)-1059:
I think we will be watching a N.Z. – Fr final in two weeks time.
9 Oct 2011, 00:21 am
@ET.(ET.)-1062: I would love to see that happening.
9 Oct 2011, 00:22 am
@ET.(ET.)-1058: Liar. Prove it. If you can, I take it back. If not, LIAR!
In any case, Romney will be your next President. I hope he kicks your skinny *** back to Pofadder.
9 Oct 2011, 00:23 am
He has a crystal ball.
9 Oct 2011, 00:24 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-1065: He has a ball (not balls, just a ball).
9 Oct 2011, 00:26 am
Extraball
9 Oct 2011, 00:28 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-1067: Skewball
9 Oct 2011, 00:28 am
6.5 hours to go.
9 Oct 2011, 00:29 am
Shut eye time.
9 Oct 2011, 01:00 am
Rain Man stuff.
9 Oct 2011, 01:35 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-1004: It takes a very weak and unimaginative mind to dredge up our past. Its such obvious ammunition to hurl at a Saffa. Its as p.1ss weak as calling a German a Nazi.
Lest Kiwis forget their dark past of cannibalism. You might think your country is so perfect but it isn’t. Politics has no role to play in sport, so you my friend should stop trying to drag politics into it, especially when it concerns a country you barely understand.
9 Oct 2011, 02:06 am
@Samba Bok(JayDaFiveOh)-1072: Well said.
9 Oct 2011, 02:09 am
@ET.(ET.)-1058:
LMAO – in the knowing, u are clueless. what a knobhead. in your gat more like.
not long now – 5 hrs or so. asb tog ffs ens.
9 Oct 2011, 02:18 am
better go set my alarm or i’ll never wake up, which might not be a bad thing.
let us hope the GEES is fkn strong tomoro or we poked.
the GEES will need to be stronger than anything cos the talent is kak.
just go out there and tear into them.
9 Oct 2011, 04:21 am
@whatever(whatever)-1053: BP is the Walter Mitty of Keo.
9 Oct 2011, 04:25 am
@ET.(ET.)-1058: History does repeat itself. Last RWC the two Saturday semis were won by the pool runners up and the Sunday semis by the pool winners. Rewind and reload.
9 Oct 2011, 05:13 am
@Samba Bok(JayDaFiveOh)-1072: As an outsider (and visitor for the WC) to this site, that was a very eloquent statement that you are more than entitled to make – as another responded – well said. However I would caution that there are those on this site that seem to have a penchant for constantly bringing politics into it and some of the abuse is just plain grubby and beneath maturity. These are the weeds you should also direct your efforts towards they tend to taint a broader pool than they should. But, all that to one side, as mentioned well said, and good luck for this morning (but go Wallabies!).
9 Oct 2011, 05:15 am
I meant I was the visitor, obviously not you SB
9 Oct 2011, 05:43 am
@cab(cab)-1074:
Janee, so praat die grootste gatlekker, Cab, deesdae op hierdie ‘blog’.
Hou jou Sarie Marais reg vir die trane wat gaan rol, of vandag of volgende week.
10 Oct 2011, 02:05 am
@JL1(JL1)-1018:
hows that
“good feeling” today, then ?
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-1011:
keep trying then.
10 Oct 2011, 02:10 am
@Samba Bok(JayDaFiveOh)-1072:
Funny isnt it, comparing stories of the past to those of today.
Only the Apologists could not see the links of Bok domination of the past built on the Gert Generation, and those of today – like yourself – blaming the neutral referee for the Boks demise in the wake of RWC defeat.
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