Same again for French
11 Oct 2011
Now we know it definitely was the best French team that the All Blacks whipped in the Pool Stages. They’re back for the World Cup semi-final.
French coach Marc Lievremont named the same 22 that played England in the quarter-final, 20 of whom played a role in the 37-17 defeat against the All Blacks.
When Lievremont named the side for the Pool match he was accused of throwing the game and not picking his best match squad. He defended it at the time and has made the biggest statement by entrusting the same players to beat Wales in Saturday’s semi-final.
‘Once again, the same team that played Tonga and England,’ Lievremont told the media. ‘I would not have hesitated to name a different team if I felt that would have been better. The danger is for the players to start thinking they are too good… we are Latin, so there is always a risk. The Anglo-Saxons are far more pragmatic.
‘I hope the prospect of playing in the final is enough.’
Wales have a couple of injury concerns and their match 22 has not yet been finalised.
France: Maxime Medard, Vincent Clerc, Aurelien Rougerie, Maxime Mermoz, Alexis Palisson, Morgan Parra, Dimitri Yachvili, Imanol Harinordoquy, Julien Bonnaire, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Lionel Nallet, Pascal Pape, Nicolas Mas, William Servat, Jean-Baptiste Poux. Subs: Dimitri Szarzewski, Fabien Barcella, Julien Pierre, Louis Picamoles, Francois Trinh-Duc, David Marty, Cedric Heymans
16 Comments
11 Oct 2011, 04:09 am
A French team with their heads up would be a different story altogether. Everybody knew they weren’t going to beat the All Blacks in a pool game, but a World Cup final would be a different story.
But the Welsh are a better team then France, and should hopefully beat them.
GO WALES!!! Make your tackles, and this World Cup is yours. Smother the All Blacks. Don’t even let them run at you.
11 Oct 2011, 08:57 am
Sacre blue! Zut alors!
Garcon, where’s ze fromage?
11 Oct 2011, 10:38 am
Looking forward to this match.
11 Oct 2011, 11:50 am
I am really enjoying this.
First, SA should beat the Aussies and “the cup is ours”.
Now Welsh should beat the Frogs and “cup is theirs”.
In any case ABs do not stand a chance, it seems. Brilliant, please do not go anywhere and keep entertaining.
11 Oct 2011, 11:50 am
Oh
thats right
the ‘France B’ team
~guffaw~
11 Oct 2011, 12:12 pm
@Nils(Nils)-4: why does it even matter? do you really need to have your ego constantly stroked? everyone on planet earth knows the ABs are overwhelming favourites to win, i suspect you’re trying to set up a “i told you so” scenario so you can have some sort of justification for rubbing it in when the ABs win, which they will.
11 Oct 2011, 12:22 pm
@fantasticbarnsmell(fantasticbarnsmell)-6: Nah, point is different. Now when their own not so long ago trumped up team is gone, all that remains is hope for a choke. In fact, that hope for a choke has been way stronger than support for their own team.
So after all these ridicules and taunts in recent years could you give me some slack or it is reserved for the locals only?
11 Oct 2011, 12:31 pm
@Nils(Nils)-7: okay you do have a point, but i think the hope for a choke is a vocal minority, or just reaction to the most recent BP trolling effort. all i’m saying is that this talk about anyone but All Blacks winning is just discussion, using that fact that the ABs are favourites as a given… it is annoying though, i can understand that. for what it’s worth i think most people on here would be happy with an AB win, they’re a good side with good fans, i think they’d be fine champions.
11 Oct 2011, 12:40 pm
@fantasticbarnsmell(fantasticbarnsmell)-8:
*chortle*
~ ~ ~ belly wobble ~ ~ ~
@guffaw@
11 Oct 2011, 21:45 pm
@Nils(Nils)-7: Its not “hope” for a choke, as in wishful thinking…. Rather it is “watch” for the choke.. as in factual observation… Choking is inevitable for the flakes…
………bellywobbling chuckle…….
12 Oct 2011, 00:53 am
The yarpies are SO desperate that they reckon it’s somehow their “triumph” as long as ANYONE beats the All Blacks! Pretty darned tragic, isn’t it?
AB fans don’t see a Bok defeat as something which miraculously covers AB fans in glory.
12 Oct 2011, 04:54 am
Is this the French v Wales thread?
Please guys give the semi-finalists the respect they deserve, bugger off to the threads featuring Boks, Wbs and ABs.
12 Oct 2011, 04:57 am
I am going to stay with my original thought process, I think the French will be the smokey.
12 Oct 2011, 05:01 am
@RugbyRulz(RugbyRulz)-12:
Hahahaha Rulz, numbnuts all over the place it seems!
And no, the Frogs showed us last week they can play rugby so they don’t have to repeat this weekend. Wales who are playing great finals rugby will take this one I expect.
12 Oct 2011, 05:10 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-14: Yes I agree Wales are playing great rugby, but in my opinion (not that it is worth much) France have what it takes to actually win the 2011 WCup.
I don’t get why they are so easily written off when there is no other team in the semis with depth at their disposal. The French, if the decide to pitch will run over the lot of us.
12 Oct 2011, 05:21 am
@RugbyRulz(RugbyRulz)-15:
No need to write off your own opinion, better than a fair percentage on here…
You do however answer your own question in your last sentence, if they pitch…
I was telling my son that when they on form I can hardly keep up with their passing it is so quick and slick. Of course just as I said it the TV picture jumped a little and missed a few milliseconds and a few passes…he was very quick to say…mmm I see what you mean!!! Blerrie youngsters, no respect!
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