France profit from moment of madness

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.

Follow JC on Twitter

Follow SA Rugby on Twitter


624 Comments

Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 13 » Show All

  • 201.ET.: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:39 am

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-197:

    Agree with you.

  • 202.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:40 am

    @Big Hit(Big Hit)-184:
    have you been found out talking BS again? lol i think you have.

  • 203.Nils: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:41 am

    @Big Hit(Big Hit)-200: Chairman means head of the organization.

    So your “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” is what is is

    a BULLSHIT.

  • 204.James in NZ: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:41 am

    Something about the team that lost to Tonga in pool play, making the RWC finals just doesn’t seem right.
    The IRB cheif Mike Miller said last week that the Kiwi team could be ‘replaced’ at the next World Cup in England, if he is a kiwi, he’s not a very patriotic one.

  • 205.Auntie Mavis: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:44 am

    Welsh will make a mistake soon

  • 206.Auntie Mavis: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:44 am

    See!

  • 207.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:45 am

    France win, no easybeat final :)

  • 208.Auntie Mavis: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:45 am

    How sad!

  • 209.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:45 am

    Sorry Wales.

    Bravery and Honour.

    Respect!!!

  • 210.David: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:45 am

    Damn, damn, damn. Even with 14 men Wales dominated and should have won.

  • 211.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:45 am

    Game over

    Good night nurse.

    Nice try Wales, I’ll bet Sam is feeling a right @rse at the moment.

    The difference.

    Long live SH Rugby.

  • 212.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:45 am

    I jsy bought yself the new Polar RCX5 heartrate monitor.
    This is so next level,sheesh I am chuffed.
    Even has a dedicated swimming function.

  • 213.I am a stormer: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:46 am

    Well done France. But Wales can hold their heads high. Great performance when down to 14.

  • 214.ET.: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:46 am

    The WRONG team won this one, unfortunately.

    Great show Wales.

  • 215.James in NZ: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:46 am

    The AB’s two WC boogey teams OZ & France, between them they helped us exit 4x WC’s. Great.

  • 216.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:46 am

    jsy=just

  • 217.Cane 73: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:46 am

    Ripped off by a shite French team. ‘Tis the nature of World Cup rugby.

  • 218.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:46 am

    Outta here…

  • 219.RL: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:46 am

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-202:

    You know what this means … Frogs will be wearing deed blue in the final :grin:

  • 220.JEZ: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:46 am

    Worst team in the world get to the final! The final is tomorrow

  • 221.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:47 am

    France are going to win this World Cup chaps.

    You heard it here first.

  • 222.Slumtown: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:47 am

    Time to change the name of the Rugby World Cup to the Cheating Refs World Cup – each trying to outdo the other. Its a joke.

  • 223.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:47 am

    This is fast becoming the tournament of injustice.

    SA

    and now Wales.

  • 224.Slumtown: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:47 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-221: f0k jou.

  • 225.Nils: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:48 am

    Congratulations France, win is a win, hard luck Wales, proud of them, 14 men played on equal terms with 14 Frogs for more than an hour and they looked better even then.

    Bravo Cymru.

    The way France is playing, I can already congratulate them about the upcoming silver. No hope in hell vs 15 Kiwis or Ozzies.

  • 226.Slumtown: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:48 am

    @ET.(ET.)-214: yeah two weeks in a row.

  • 227.bananaboy: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:48 am

    @Nils(Nils)-203: you knnow what he meant. The head of the IRB refs is a Kiwi and you know that and he has made some bullshit decisions in his lifetime.

  • 228.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:48 am

    @Big Hit(Big Hit)-207:
    France look rubbish.
    Wales down 14 mean for an hour.
    Strange how you think Wales would have been easy beats.
    Mind you look at RWC 2007, easy beat england got through to the fianal after being
    Hammered by SA in pool play put up a good fight in the end so it can happen

  • 229.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:48 am

    Viva les Bleus for the final.

  • 230.dermie: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:48 am

    @RL(RL)-219: no,they’re letting the ABs wear black,apparently.

  • 231.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:49 am

    @RL(RL)-219:
    If the kiwis get past Aus.

  • 232.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:49 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-221: Wales to beat Nz in the 3rd/4th place play-off :)

  • 233.Slumtown: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:49 am

    @Nils(Nils)-225: agree to that they shouldnt even be in the final. Just like england last time round.

  • 234.RL: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:49 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-221:

    No I said that way back in Jan 2008 …. check the archives.

  • 235.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:49 am

    @Big Hit(Big Hit)-232: LOL

  • 236.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:50 am

    @RL(RL)-234: Well here’s a farken Noddy badge for you :wink:

  • 237.Slumtown: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:50 am

    right if the Kiwis dont win this one i´m going to despise you guys for ever. Have to keep it from the lame French or the Ozzies.

  • 238.RL: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:51 am

    @dermie(dermie)-230:

    Why would they do that, it is their right to wear blue, the chokers already wore black in the group match … Frogs must say stuff you chokers.

  • 239.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:51 am

    I feel for Warburton.

    A tremendous player in this World Cup.

    2nd only to Pocock as best openside.

  • 240.Nils: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:51 am

    @Nils(Nils)-225: 15 Frogs. :D

    Although I have to say Warburton’s tackle on Clerc looked very dangerous, deserving at least yellow and 50-50 red. It definitely changed the game but then again players should think for a second longer even it is a WC semi, so i will not blame the ref.

  • 241.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:52 am

    @Big Hit(Big Hit)-232:
    While England at home getting drunk and not bathing

  • 242.bananaboy: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:53 am

    If there is one thing this WC is proving its that the measurement of a refs performance is not scientific enough and that too much is left up to the refs interpretation. Whilst Bryce Lawrences performance in the light of the rules may have been poor what he achieved was to show that perhaps a return to the old simple rules of allowing players to scrap for the ball whilst off their feet is the best way forward. It takes out the interpretation porblems, let the breakdown be a free for all scrap. Our desire to open up the game to compete with League has led to interpretation issues.

  • 243.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:53 am

    @Nils(Nils)-240: Of course you wont blame the ref. Not in this WC anyway.

    My, oh my, how Kiwi sentiments have changed.

  • 244.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:53 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-239: yeah top man Warburton, tough to take for a 22 yr old and he didn’t deserve red, but then Graham Henry says Rolland is the best ref in the world, so it must be the right decision….

  • 245.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:54 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-239:
    Captain and a youngster aswell.
    He has a bright future.

  • 246.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:54 am

    Wales can feel rightly ripped off.. France dont deserve to be in their, ref overreacted and it was too late,,, yellow card imo..
    they did miss a lot of kicks though..

    @Big Hit(Big Hit)-232: been 7 days now since your team has been out of the tourney isnt it?

  • 247.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:55 am

    @Big Hit(Big Hit)-244: Hahahahaha. It must be! Classic!

    Go boy, on form.

  • 248.James in NZ: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:56 am

    @RL(RL)-238:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/5771983/France-to-cede-final-jersey-rights-to-All-Blacks
    Reluctant to post this as it may just add to the conspiracy paranoia as this was anounced last week.

  • 249.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:57 am

    @Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-245: Yeah. A reffing injustice. Nice and truly fcked up.

    I said last night that we haven’t heard the end of the reffing debacle. Not by a long shot.

    Tomorrow will be a train smash.

  • 250.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:59 am

    Sacre bleu! Les grenouilles sont en finale!

Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 13 » Show All

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

Have your say

You must be logged in to post a comment.