Respectfully disagree with a few points – and agree with most.

Firstly – you couldn’t compare France to NZ on purely temperamental grounds – I was speaking at length with somebody this week about how CONSISTENT and for that matter how RUTHLESS the All Blacks are. I can’t think of one actually ‘bad’ game the AB’s have ever played – I can’t think of one ‘bad’ team they have ever had. If you want to beat them you have to be at your very best for the WHOLE game or they will kill you. That there is the reason they are the best – their mentality is unbelievable.

That is is the main difference – French temperament is exasperating to say the least and often they get the ‘surrender ******’ tag which is simplistic and a disgusting thing to say when we know how courageous they can be. You just never know when they will come to play; but watch out when they do. (The AB players and management knew that prior to the WC final, but it seems the national population thought it would be a walk over).

But the their actual play is different. The thing to say, of many things, about NZ play is how techically good it is in every department; pretty close to perfection. And, having toured South Island, I can see where they get their physicality. But the play itself is different and you want to read how Josh Kronfeld describes their play (when they are playing) – as it being more about “movement and swell” than technique, even a symphony (it’s a fascinating observation) – a very strange thing; and that strange enigmatic mind of theirs. He rolled up for French Barbarians to play the Boks – nobody interested in team talk beforehand or discussing the game; lots of them smoking Gaullois cigarettes and one fellow player drinking 12 espressos in the morning before – fitness fanatic Kronfeld was horrified and thought they were going to their death. French Barbarians won. No rhyme nor reason. The only clue you’ll get of what is coming is if any of the forwards are crying during the national anthem. That usually means the passion is up and they are coming to play.

No rhyme nor reason – so that for me is why they are a more interesting side, intellectually – for all their brilliance – and you guys are brilliant mate – it sort of is predictable (much like Bradman batting) – and finally, Ireland are another team that can play awfully and whereas 60-0 is murder, not quite the same, nor as impressive, as 33-6 vs the Wallabies who we both know have huge ticker and fight to the end, which they did in Paris. They just had no answer – the Frogs were unbelievable – their best game since 1999 WC semi-final.

Will post again later; am in the pyschologist’s waiting room awaiting counselling…

@J.B. Cowper-45:
I would never say this is the greatest AB team ever, thats silly. Just as silly as a few SA posters saying the AB side is average or rubbish.
I think this AB side is a damn good side, actually the last 10 years we have had really good teams.
France is one of those teams as we all know. Thing is with them they can turn a game on its head in a matter of 10 mins. A few times the ABs have looked to have the game sealed and 10 mins later France are ahead.I think these guys are the ABs of the NH without the consistency.
Good running backs, normally have a good #10 and with a good balance of forwards.
These guys are due for a RWC title, if they sort the consistency out that is.
But if any team can turn it on the best, that team is the ABs…. who has ever smashed the Irish by 60-0.

Hurricane – when you consider this same Aussie team beat the Pumas in Argentina (who culled Wales in Cardiff) and drew 18-18 with the so-called “greatest All Blacks side ever” (that’s a load of bollocks for a start) – but nevertheless … when you consider that the Frogs massacred them 33-6 it puts into perspective how incomparable France is when they are firing on all five cylinders. There isn’t a side on earth who can defeat them when they are like this – unstoppable.

I was amazed at their front rank play – how they had heavy-duty to begin with and then replaced it with even heavier artillery off the bench … have you seen a tighthead take his opposite down into the mud and then using sheer back and thigh strength LIFT THE WHOLE OPPOSITION PACK coming up for the floor for a penalty try drive. Never seen anything like that in my life – study that game – when they play like that (which they always can and will do, but you never know when) … when they play like that, it doesn’t matter who you are you will get taught a rugby lesson: just brilliant, brilliant, brilliant – what a joy to watch. (How was the defence, all the loose forwards, Michalak – what a comeback – you could go on for hours about: breathtaking stuff).

And the next week they could lose to Tanzania … by far and away the most interesting team, academically speaking.

I would love Blacks, too, playing French each and every year in Europe, instead of giving the Welsh every year the false hope.

This game was reverse mirror image of the last game when Aussies gave them a thrashing of biblical proportions, scoring 46 unanswered points in the last 30 minutes or so.

Commiserations SAussie.

Best of luck going forward.

i thought they would at least have had the guts and mental strength to force through a consolation try, but oh farking nooooo… the frogs had other ideas… beeyootiful

74th min: The Wallabies are becoming a shambles. They are being brutalised at the breakdown, traumatised at the scrum and left for dead on the scoreboard. When the French forward pack ran out on to Stade de France, they saw the road sign “Wallabies, next 80 mins”. They hit the accelerator and have mowed them down – it’s Wallabies road kill. Yet another penalty against that flimsy wall of gold masquerading as a scrum.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/rugby-union-match-centre/live-france-v-australia-20121110-294f9.html#ixzz2BrTKsBsx