France profit from moment of madness
15 Oct 2011
JON CARDINELLI writes that a reckless Welsh tackle proved to be the catalyst for an unlikely 9-8 World Cup semi-final win for France.
Up until the 18th minute of Saturday’s play-off at Eden Park, Sam Warburton had been one of the standouts for Wales and indeed one of the stars of the 2011 tournament. Sadly, the young Wales captain will not be remembered for his impressive displays against South Africa in the pool stages and Ireland in the quarter-final, but rather for one brainless tackle that would jettison the Dragons from the global tournament.
Wales were in firm control for much of the first quarter. While their scrum struggled against a lighter but technically superior French eight, they enjoyed the majority of possession and territory, and went to a 3-0 lead in the eighth minute thanks to the boot of James Hook.
France took a pounding at the collisions. Dimitri Yachvili floated a pass to Vincent Clerc well behind the gain line, and this proved to be the game-changing moment, as Warburton, in his enthusiasm to make the hit and possibly force the turnover, lifted Clerc beyond the horizontal and then let the winger fall to ground. Referee Alain Rolland brandished the mandatory red card, and as good as Wales had looked, they were always going to struggle to hang on for 62 minutes with only 14 men.
France used the numerical advantage to good effect at scrum time, but were woefully bad in general play. Morgan Parra had kicked them to a 6-3 lead by half-time, but it was the short-handed Wales that continued to control possession and territory. The French backs battled to field the high balls launched by the Wales halfbacks, and when they did, they often made some shocking decisions which allowed Wales to regain the pill.
It was here where Wales needed to make the best of a bad situation. Hook had done brilliantly to slot his first penalty attempt from the touchline, but proceeded to fluff two subsequent shots from midfield, as well as a drop-goal attempt. France were far too loose towards the end of the first stanza and may have scored more points had they kept it close, but Wales may also have gone to the break in the lead if they had kicked their goals.
Parra bisected the uprights in the 49th minute, but the plucky Welsh refused to lie down. They continued to pressure the French back three, and the tactical substitution of Stephen Jones had the desired effect as they played smarter and tighter. While they had wasted opportunities in the first 40, they took the first chance available to them when Mike Phillips breezed through the French defence for an important try. Tellingly, Jones missed the ensuing conversion to allow France to maintain a slender 9-8 lead.
At times the Tricolores looked like the team with the one-man disadvantage. They were guilty of being too casual in some instances, and too frantic in others. It’s the type of performance many would have expected after their strong showing against England, as they have a reputation for inconsistency. They battled to put a 14-man Wales side away, and in the end, they were the side that held on for the win.
It was always going to be too much to ask of a Wales side one man short. It would have been remembered as one of the great victories had they finished a multiphase attack at the death, but unfortunately it will go down in history as a game they lost in the 18th minute when their captain received his marching orders. Three missed penalty-attempts (Leigh Halfpenny didn’t have the distance with a 50m shot in the 76th minute) and a missed conversion, also cost them dearly.
624 Comments
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15 Oct 2011, 11:15 am
@JL1(JL1)-138:
Cool, but would like to hear from an adult, but thanks anyway JL1, you tried
15 Oct 2011, 11:16 am
@JL1(JL1)-148: I know its what you meant, and you are one hundred percent right.
And then we have Paddy – absolutely Priceless
15 Oct 2011, 11:17 am
The head of the IRB isn’t a Kiwi. Mike Miller is Irish.
15 Oct 2011, 11:17 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-144: What I meant
Point is the majority of refs seem to be on the take. There are too many mistakes happening right in front of their glass eyes that the do not officiate
15 Oct 2011, 11:17 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-145:
Hmmm kill bryce,shoot paddy, corrupt IRB, match fixing. You really are out doing yourself.
What will be next?
15 Oct 2011, 11:18 am
There is way way more kicking in this RWC than the previous … how boring.
15 Oct 2011, 11:18 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-145: since rugbys inception we,ve whinged about the refs.paddy goes, we’ll whinge about the next bloke,problem not solved.
15 Oct 2011, 11:19 am
Try Wales!!!!
15 Oct 2011, 11:19 am
Yeay, Wales!!!
15 Oct 2011, 11:19 am
Cracking try that.
15 Oct 2011, 11:19 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-151: Why so grumpy, did Dollie say no last night?
15 Oct 2011, 11:20 am
You beauty!
15 Oct 2011, 11:20 am
@JL1(JL1)-154: You’ll have to prove that. But, in the meantime, look at how much attention is paid to the refs! Way more than the poor stumblebums out there playing the game! The refs are the superstars and the fans are the ones making them the centre of attention!
15 Oct 2011, 11:20 am
Great MP try. Is their still hope for these tiring Dragons?
France playing stupid rugby.
15 Oct 2011, 11:21 am
Cmon wales beat that half french ref
15 Oct 2011, 11:21 am
Frogs do not want to win this match.
15 Oct 2011, 11:21 am
Fark, the Welsh are playing like Warriors.
French have fallen asleep.
15 Oct 2011, 11:21 am
Try Wales, nice. What a fitness.
WALES!!!!
15 Oct 2011, 11:22 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-143:
lol A kiwi??
Now i have heard it all
15 Oct 2011, 11:22 am
@dermie(dermie)-157: Oh all right then. Bring back rucking… And have two refs on the field.
Simple, okay…
15 Oct 2011, 11:23 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-170: Yes, bring back rucking
15 Oct 2011, 11:24 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-143: “the head of the IRB is a kiwi and I’m pretty sure they trot that line out in the middle of every World Cup”
Indeed. Never let the truth stand in the way of a good whinge.
15 Oct 2011, 11:24 am
@JL1(JL1)-161:
JL1, your pjs are folded and you hot water bottle is in ya bed, good night little one
15 Oct 2011, 11:24 am
The Welsh deserve to win this one big big time
15 Oct 2011, 11:25 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-170: 100% on the rucking,bring that back you won’t need 2 refs.
15 Oct 2011, 11:25 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-173: Your infatuation with age makes me wonder?
15 Oct 2011, 11:26 am
@frenchiebokfan(frenchiebokfan)-174: My Superbru picks deserve the French to win
15 Oct 2011, 11:27 am
Seems like someone forgot to tell the Welsh that the ref is supposed to determine the outcome – they’re playing as if though it is actually up to them to win or lose the game. Go figure.
15 Oct 2011, 11:27 am
@JL1(JL1)-176:
your young, course your mind is going to wonder.
Good dreams
15 Oct 2011, 11:28 am
@dermie(dermie)-175: Maybe, but I say that because in all honesty the game has got too fast at the highest levels for one ref. One ref in each half should do it… like field Hockey.
15 Oct 2011, 11:28 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-179: If I am young, then you must be a really old frt
15 Oct 2011, 11:29 am
These French are going to lose this if they don’t score soon.
15 Oct 2011, 11:29 am
When you have a prop by the name of Poux you really are inviting trouble.
15 Oct 2011, 11:30 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-153: Syd Millar was the irishman but he’s gone now
15 Oct 2011, 11:31 am
If the French can’t really dominate a team with one man down they have no chance against the winners of tomorrows game.
Come on Wales….Don’t give the Frogs the chance to go any further.
15 Oct 2011, 11:32 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-184: Yup, Tackler’s Wikipedia is not working for him again.
The dumbfck.
I think Mike Miller is Canadian actually.
15 Oct 2011, 11:33 am
Réveillez singes capitulards mangeurs de fromage!
15 Oct 2011, 11:34 am
Come on Wales for the sake of this world cup please win this game
15 Oct 2011, 11:34 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-186: Well, he’s not a Kiwi anyway. And he says it’s the best RWC ever.
15 Oct 2011, 11:35 am
France are not playing with passion. They going to lose this if they don’t wake up.
15 Oct 2011, 11:35 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-189: Nulled…
15 Oct 2011, 11:35 am
@ET.(ET.)-164: “Their”?
I think you need to go back to school fool.
15 Oct 2011, 11:37 am
Welsh look much better with ball in hand. Grind the French down.
15 Oct 2011, 11:37 am
Rolland is a joke. How was that a Welsh penalty. Anyway, France dont deserve to win this the way they have played.
15 Oct 2011, 11:37 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-184: IRB chief is a FRENCH.
I understand, if facts contradict your BS, screw the facts, so it’s alright.
15 Oct 2011, 11:37 am
9 mins to go and 1 point in it…
Will the ref decide this match too, Noaksie?
15 Oct 2011, 11:38 am
The French do not deserve to win this one, although they might.
One thing is certain, the French will be no match for whichever team wins the other semi…
Not on this performance.
Southern Hemisphere rugby is still king……
15 Oct 2011, 11:38 am
If that is not Wales playing the ball on the ground twice then what the H E LL is?
15 Oct 2011, 11:38 am
Justice, Frogs were nearly robbed.
15 Oct 2011, 11:39 am
@Nils(Nils)-195: that’s the chairman Lapasset, tackler is talking about Miller although lapasset has probably trotted out the same nonsense.
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