Dirty French to target McCaw’s foot
22 Oct 2011
France will employ underhanded tactics on Sunday in order to eliminate Richie McCaw and ultimately bring the All Blacks down.
According to Fairfax Media, France defence coach Dave Ellis has made it clear that the Tricolores will resort to some old-fashioned skullduggery in Sunday’s final.
The French know that McCaw has been battling with a foot injury over the past 12 months, and believe that the All Blacks will struggle without their captain. Ellis said that it’s an ugly but simple equation, take out McCaw, and you will take down the All Blacks.
‘McCaw is major player. Somebody will stand on his foot, no doubt,’ said Ellis.
Many have anticipated such tactics, with former All Black Buck Shelford writing in The New Zealand Herald on Friday that the French would come into this fixture with a dirty attitude in an attempt to unsettle the host team. Referee Craig Joubert will have his work cut out for him in a game where everything is on the line, as one instant of foul play could lead to a card and possibly decide the contest.
On the tactic to target McCaw’s foot, Ellis revealed that it was a ploy of the French to attack New Zealand’s key players, and that they had done so before.
Ellis said that the All Blacks crumbled in the 2007 World Cup quarter-final when Dan Carter left the field. Carter had been carrying a calf injury at the time, and Ellis suggested the French had something to do with his premature exit in that game. Ellis also pointed out that New Zealand were vulnerable without McCaw and Carter when France played and beat the All Blacks in Dunedin in 2009.
‘That was one of the major factors in 2007 when we managed to make him [Carter] leave the field with injury. That was the turning point. He wasn’t there in 2009 and neither was McCaw.
‘There’s other key players that if we can get to and influence, that’ll have a knock-on effect. Some of them are their experienced players.’
Meanwhile, France prop Nicolas Mas has hit back at those calling his side a dirty team. Mas maintains that the All Blacks are also capable of some underhanded tactics.
‘They are not angels, either. But that is the way the game is played. It is normal that games are aggressive,’ he told The Telegraph.
‘Two teams want to win and they will do everything in their power to win, and that’s aggression and passion. You can’t mix the two up. It is a complex sport and there will be a huge amount of passion involved.’
64 Comments
Pages: [1] 2 » Show All
22 Oct 2011, 03:01 am
I would do the same ….
22 Oct 2011, 03:04 am
Kiwis certainly pulling out all the stops to “influence” the ref and protect their players …..
BUT, if anyone deserves to lift the world cup it it Richie McCaw … he IS a legend.
22 Oct 2011, 04:11 am
What a **** article. Mind games and no more. An attempt to make Richie more wary of his injury. Unlikely to make much difference though.
22 Oct 2011, 04:45 am
If Cooper gets vilified for a tap to McCaw, good luck to a Filthy Frenchman getting out of the Country if he deliberately targets McCaws foot in the game.
22 Oct 2011, 05:32 am
Quelle horreurs! Sacre bleu!
Dirty leedle fromage-scoffeeng surrender minkeys!
22 Oct 2011, 05:54 am
As If !
22 Oct 2011, 06:28 am
A kiwi chick has a better chance to be targetted by a romantic frenchman for her “looks”.
22 Oct 2011, 06:48 am
Les bag-snatcheures! Le eye-gougeurs! And, now, zut alors, le Reechee stompeurs-a-piede! Zees is un embarrassemente grande!
22 Oct 2011, 06:54 am
Monsieur Graham Henri — importez la femme fatale from Afrique du Sud sil vous plait. Garconne de Suzie.
22 Oct 2011, 07:06 am
Tickles your “french” isn’t even bad pigeon french.
Pathetic.
22 Oct 2011, 07:12 am
And now the sanctimonious “experts” will tell us that this is against the grain. Opposition sides have targetted McCaws foot all tournament and anybody who says otherwise is disingenuous or naïve.
22 Oct 2011, 07:14 am
As in 2007..the All Bleats had to resort to match fixing to avoid the Boks…and blatantly so. This RWC has even been criticised by Colin Meads for the shocking refereeing and the worst display was ironically by a Kiwi.
22 Oct 2011, 07:27 am
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-10: Actually, the word is PIDGIN, not pigeon, pilgrim.
22 Oct 2011, 07:35 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-12:
and the whining continues…on and on…
22 Oct 2011, 07:37 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-14:
That’s from your Colin Meads pilgrim…
22 Oct 2011, 07:42 am
@ tickles.Go and brush your mommy’s hair and drink your hot chocolate you pathetic henpecked mommy’s boy.Early 50′s single and living with mom,did not watch any rwc games because mom did not allow you.Coming here for attention.Living the dream hey…
22 Oct 2011, 07:50 am
The whinging is comming out of the keeewee media dude, whinging about the French being dirty. Aaaawww shame poor little keewees, and the game has not even started yet…………..jeez grow a pair, er Shelford, that icludes you
22 Oct 2011, 07:55 am
@ whatever.When going to nz I know customs are going to search my bag so 2 days before I fly in I wipe my @ss with my underwear and pack them right on top of my luggage:-).Should see their reactions.Priceless.
22 Oct 2011, 08:02 am
“Pigeon” French?
What’s next? Duck Dutch? Sparrow Spanish? Aardvark Afrikaans? Oink oink?
Bwaahhahaha!
22 Oct 2011, 08:08 am
@ Tackler.
Jou ma se aap.
22 Oct 2011, 08:13 am
A4Y sad ma se yarpie!
22 Oct 2011, 08:15 am
Tickles sees p.ussy every day when he gives his mom a bedbath.
22 Oct 2011, 08:19 am
of course they going 2 target his foot, this is rugby, whingeing before the game has even started.
I dont think he is that good a player anymore, so bench him if he is injured, i think they know he is not, but they/he wants him 2 be on the field when the whistle goes.
22 Oct 2011, 08:20 am
@ Tickles.
Rugby is not the be all and end all to me.
I have a awesome gf,fam and friends.
I also have a career,money and are busy designing my bigger better house I am going to build at the dam.
How about you?
22 Oct 2011, 08:25 am
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-24: And you still can’t spell…
22 Oct 2011, 08:28 am
So what do you have besides mom and spelling?
Failure!
22 Oct 2011, 10:14 am
If Le Frogs win by stomping on Richie’s foot there will be riots.
If Le Frogs win at all, there will be riots.
22 Oct 2011, 10:25 am
@cane(cane)-27: They wont. I know you covering all your bases but you can relax. Bill is yours.
22 Oct 2011, 10:54 am
27@cane lololol, can u imagine if they did go bananas when they stomp his foot, cos they will, to funny, imagine the headline, but i think this game is pretty much in the bag 4 the ABs.
22 Oct 2011, 11:14 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-13:
HA HAAAAA !
one of your very Best, George.
Notice the way Fornicator then resorts to the cliche “your Mum” retort. We’re not dealing with a rocket scientist here y’know.
22 Oct 2011, 11:15 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-28: I hope you are right! The Ab’s need to break this hoodoo they have with the French… they are the only Northern Hemisphere that has regularly beaten the Ab’s since the hey day of the Welsh (and that is going back over 50 years!) The French have been particulalry effective against the Ab’s since the Boks came back into the rugby fold and the game went professional. No idea why that is.
22 Oct 2011, 11:16 am
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-22:
you truly ARE scum, Fornicator.
22 Oct 2011, 11:16 am
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-24:
@GUFFAW@
L O S E R !
22 Oct 2011, 11:33 am
There’s nothing wrong with testing McCaw’s foot. Hopefully Joubert doesn’t fall into the trap that is being set by the NZ media and over protect players on the field.
22 Oct 2011, 11:41 am
Allons enfants de la Patrie, Arise, children of the Fatherland,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé ! The day of glory has arrived!
Contre nous de la tyrannie, Against us of tyranny
L’étendard sanglant est levé, (bis) The bloody banner is raised, (repeat)
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes Do you hear, in the countryside,
Mugir ces féroces soldats ? The roar of those ferocious soldiers?
Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras They’re coming right into our arms
Égorger nos fils et nos compagnes ! To cut the throats of our sons and women!
Aux armes, citoyens, To arms, citizens,
Formez vos bataillons, Form your battalions,
Marchons, marchons ! Let’s march, let’s march!
Qu’un sang impur That an impure blood
Abreuve nos sillons ! Waters our furrows!
Que veut cette horde d’esclaves, What does this horde of slaves,
De traîtres, de rois conjurés ? Of traitors and conjured kings want?
Pour qui ces ignobles entraves, For whom are these vile chains,
Ces fers dès longtemps préparés ? (bis) These long-prepared irons? (repeat)
Français, pour nous, ah ! quel outrage Frenchmen, for us, ah! What outrage
Quels transports il doit exciter ! What fury it must arouse!
C’est nous qu’on ose méditer It is us they dare plan
De rendre à l’antique esclavage ! To return to the old slavery!
Aux armes, citoyens… To arms, citizens…
Quoi ! des cohortes étrangères What! Foreign cohorts
Feraient la loi dans nos foyers ! Would make the law in our homes!
Quoi ! Ces phalanges mercenaires What! These mercenary phalanxes
Terrasseraient nos fiers guerriers ! (bis) Would strike down our proud warriors! (repeat)
Grand Dieu ! Par des mains enchaînées Great God ! By chained hands
Nos fronts sous le joug se ploieraient Our brows would yield under the yoke
De vils despotes deviendraient Vile despots would have themselves
Les maîtres de nos destinées ! The masters of our destinies!
Aux armes, citoyens… To arms, citizens…
Tremblez, tyrans et vous perfides Tremble, tyrants and you traitors
L’opprobre de tous les partis, The shame of all parties,
Tremblez ! vos projets parricides Tremble! Your parricidal schemes
Vont enfin recevoir leurs prix ! (bis) Will finally receive their reward! (repeat)
Tout est soldat pour vous combattre, Everyone is a soldier to combat you
S’ils tombent, nos jeunes héros, If they fall, our young heroes,
La terre en produit de nouveaux, The earth will produce new ones,
Contre vous tout prêts à se battre ! Ready to fight against you!
Aux armes, citoyens… To arms, citizens…
Français, en guerriers magnanimes, Frenchmen, as magnanimous warriors,
Portez ou retenez vos coups ! You bear or hold back your blows!
Épargnez ces tristes victimes, You spare those sorry victims,
À regret s’armant contre nous. (bis) Who arm against us with regret. (repeat)
Mais ces despotes sanguinaires, But not these bloodthirsty despots,
Mais ces complices de Bouillé, These accomplices of Bouillé,
Tous ces tigres qui, sans pitié, All these tigers who, mercilessly,
Déchirent le sein de leur mère ! Rip their mother’s breast!
Aux armes, citoyens… To arms, citizens…
Amour sacré de la Patrie, Sacred love of the Fatherland,
Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs Lead, support our avenging arms
Liberté, Liberté chérie, Liberty, cherished Liberty,
Combats avec tes défenseurs ! (bis) Fight with thy defenders! (repeat)
Sous nos drapeaux que la victoire Under our flags, shall victory
Accoure à tes mâles accents, Hurry to thy manly accents,
Que tes ennemis expirants That thy expiring enemies,
Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire ! See thy triumph and our glory!
Aux armes, citoyens… To arms, citizens…
(Couplet des enfants) (Children’s Verse)
Nous entrerons dans la carrière[5] We shall enter the (military) career
Quand nos aînés n’y seront plus, When our elders are no longer there,
Nous y trouverons leur poussière There we shall find their dust
Et la trace de leurs vertus (bis) And the trace of their virtues (repeat)
Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre Much less keen to survive them
Que de partager leur cercueil, Than to share their coffins,
Nous aurons le sublime orgueil We shall have the sublime pride
De les venger ou de les suivre Of avenging or following them
Aux armes, citoyens… To arms, citizens…
22 Oct 2011, 11:41 am
We are all French tomorrow, allez les Bleus!
22 Oct 2011, 11:48 am
Why the need to try and blog in french?
I hope the AB’s win handsomely tomorrow. If they don’t then the world cup is truly a flawed comp.
22 Oct 2011, 11:51 am
It’s their anthem numbnuts.
22 Oct 2011, 11:52 am
All of South Africa is behind France! Down with arrogance, down with the sense of entitlement, down with writing off your opponents before the game has been played!
Viva the upset! Viva la France!
22 Oct 2011, 12:01 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-39: I agree. NZ engineered their way to a final and sometimes sport can be a great leveller.
22 Oct 2011, 12:05 pm
@XV(XV)-40: agree!
22 Oct 2011, 12:06 pm
There is something unsettling about New Zealand’s and the world’s over confidence in the All Blacks…
22 Oct 2011, 12:08 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-39:
“Down with arrogance, down with the sense of entitlement”
@@@@G G G G G G GUFFAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW@@@@@@
22 Oct 2011, 12:15 pm
@panty and tackle ****
I am willing to put money down that Fern will flatten you two little bleaters with one solid PK.
Keewee wannabe and a coconut idiot.
22 Oct 2011, 12:24 pm
@jondood(jondood)-44:
Fornicator is nothing but a big girls BLOUSE
the ones that only talk the talk always are.
by the same adage that the ones who talk about Fornicating the most are also the ones who get the least in reality. Imagine being so desperate that you have to rock up on an anonymous BLOG to find that forum. My guess is the Fornicator is shooting blanks with his popgun.
22 Oct 2011, 13:29 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-36:
“allez les Bleus”.
Le Froggie will be wearing white tomorrow.
Allez les blanc, does not have the sames ring to it.
Jo Maso won the flip of the coin, to see which Team would wear their preferred strip.
He graciously allowed NZ to wear Black.
He said afterwards, it was out of respect to the way the Tournament had be run, and the way his Team had been welcomed in NZ.
Apparently several of his senior players were livid.
22 Oct 2011, 13:32 pm
@jondood(jondood)-44:
Fernly certainly isn’t going to beat BP or TT in a debate now is he Jonny?
8)
22 Oct 2011, 14:42 pm
I guess there is a strong correllation between strenght of Frogs support vs Blacks and time Boks spent on their sofas.
22 Oct 2011, 16:27 pm
Buck Shelford. Can you remember the name O’Driscoll?I think he was a KEY player of the British Lions on their last tour to NZ. Maybe you can tell us what happened to him.
By the way. How convenient to have the same ref twice in a row.Is that fair to the French?
22 Oct 2011, 16:35 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-39: I for one would like to see NZ win. But articles like this one above makes me wonder.Definitely a sense of entitlement.And bad sportmansship.Dan Carter wasn’t “taken out” in 2007.The better team on the day won.The AB supporters on this site should be condemning this article ,but not a single one comes out against it.Talk about conspiracy theories.
Pages: [1] 2 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.