Planet Rugby Forum

Xupi

I've watched that final a few times. The French had nothing. They never fired a single shot in the first half, anytime they got near the All Black 22 they lost the ball, got turned over, and gave away penalties. The first half isn't even worth watching, the All Blacks barely made a mistake for half...

Xupi

Definitely involving a French side yes. I'm obviously biased but no, for me this is THE game of rugby in History. It has everything. Your team was outstanding in a 2nd half where EVERYTHING went your way - seriously - even Jeff Wilson couldn't get the bounce of the ball to go his way.....and Jeff W...

Xupi

1987 : brilliant world cup, legend SF, lost to a much better side in Final. 1991 : we were on the downtrend; beaten by the most vicious England side targeting big Serge. Not a good memory but were not up to it. 1995 : should have won, were robbed of the SF, were probably the best team with NZ. proba...

Xupi

'99 after that, we just fell apart and everything went the French way. We lost to a team that had a fullback who actually just got out of Lomu's way, that peroxide heading powder puff. Nothing will ever grate me more than Bernart-Salles doing his stupid double peace sign after scoring. :frown: Oh y...

Xupi

I feel so underwhelmed. I just can't get the excitement this time. Hopefully the French will surprise me and wake me up, but for now I haven't yet gone into proper RWC mood. I feel exactly the same. I think it's partly due to the scheduling of games in the morning, which is just awful, I basically ...

Xupi

What an exciting parcours for 2020, love it, especially the first few stages which will be brutal around Nice and southern Alps. Last year TdF was as exciting as it gets, best in a long time, mainly because Ineos failed to arch-dominate the race. The 2020 TT remains long and the first two thirds are...

Xupi

Ireland

England

France

Japan

Xupi

Frodder wrote: C69, if we ever got to the promised land of a final against NZ the whole world would turn Kiwi

No way, most of us neutrals would support Wales that's for sure !

Xupi

Frodder wrote: Are they defo out? I thought they were struggling

No they're not out out, it is just reported that they are trying to recover in time from what appears to be slight injuries.

Xupi

Argentina's failure to kick their points is rather lucky. France's failure to defend on basic rolling mauls is rather unlucky too, you actually never see that at that level. N'tamack also missed one at the very end, one that he should have scored. We can go on and on. In fact, had we lost that Arge...

Xupi

That first half was the worst 40 minutes I've seen from Argentina in a long while. As far as I'm concerned, we got lucky they were so shite. I'm delighted with the result, but I'm under no illusions. And as you you said yourself, we were poor against USA and Tonga. Reread that sentence and realise ...

Xupi

Laurent wrote: I am not pessimistic the coaching and management is seriously lacking.

Some of the players should not even be in the frame.

this is realism.

Fair enough, but we beat Argentina fair and square and I don't see what luck has to do with our presence in the QF's.

Xupi

to be honest we are at this point through luck more than talent and proper organization/coaching. luck? it's one thing to be realistic about France's level, quite another to slide into full blown pessimistic mode. We dominated quite comprehensively Argentina in that first half, that on its own meri...

Xupi

Based on everything so far, France are going to absolutely muller our scrum. The French front row is one of the best scrummaging units in the tournament, and the Welsh probably the weakest of the QF teams. What also worries me is that our tight 5, AWJ aside, are pretty pathetic in the loose too. Fo...

Xupi

The Ramos saga... absolutely incredible stuff.

So what do we think about the Wales game? we have a chance don't we? they've done f*ck all for 2 weeks but train and wait to dash out...

Xupi

We should not win, but we may win this. It usually is close against the Welsh. It's like our world cup has not really started, we've played one game really the first against Argentina - in fact we've played the first half of the first game. And we're in the quarters. The worry is our pack, now a tie...

Xupi

What a game, watched with the kids, we all loved it. So much intensity, skills and intensions... Two superb teams, sad to see Scotland go. Very well done Japan, superb rugby being played, all basics covered and I believe they can still improve. Difficult to see them topple the mighty Boks but it wil...

Xupi

Of course he's frustrated, as is every single AB fan. But the reality is that this is a natural disaster, and claiming that this is some sort of World Rugby conspiracy against "1.5 teams" is beyond laughable. His point is that, unlike France vs England who were both qualified before their final gam...

Xupi

I agree this is a disgrace for the players, fans and sport.

On top of that, Italy actually played much better in this tournament than most anticipated (gave troubles to the Boks in the first half), it's a shame they cannot give it all against the world champions.

Xupi

Actually, from a french point of view, a cancellation of the Crunch would be ideal as you both get the easiest run on paper for the remaining of tournament and avoid a loss which is never a good thing for a squad's confidence, even if it might result on a better draw. On the other hand, a Crunch is...

Xupi

so we have Eng vs Aus and Fra vs Wal, right?

England top the group?

Xupi

je peux avoir ce que tu fumes ? On va prendre 2 branlées... I did put a smiley Laurent... No seriously, we play (and lose) to Wales every winter in the 6N. I'd prefer we lose vs Australia in a flamboyant game. After all we did beat England in Paris recently so if they decided they wanted to avoid N...

Xupi

We barely deserve our QF slot but at least they did it. Anything beyond that would be a miracle. Therefore we should field our best team vs England and do ALL WE CAN to beat what is one of the world's best teams who I believe will make it to the SF. Now another reason we should try our best vs Engla...

Xupi

Just saw the scoreline and how the game went. I was fearing the worst, this is typically the kind of game we hate to play, reminds me of the pool game vs Japan and Canada in RWC 2011. We were poor but a victory with BP is very sweet for us. Ideal start in the competition for France, am not too worri...

Xupi

Caught the last 25mn of the game, in an airport bar as I had just landed. Never thought we'd win that one after blowing up such a lead. Beating Argentina for us, in such circumstances, is no small feat. Congratulations to the lads, happy for Lopez too. Very well done on young N'tamack, was fearing f...

Xupi

Well it’s definitely a bold selection from France. Lots of attacking potential but also looks a little fallible in defence. How often has Vakatawa played at 12? I’ve only ever seen him at 13 or wing which are both very different to 12 - particularly from a defensive point of view. Fickou will play ...

Xupi

Last minute changes around the fly-half, where it matters most. For the most important game since 2015. Crazy. I do not trust our 10-12-13 axis. N'tamack and Fickou are defensive liabilities and I have doubts about their ability to handle and steer such a huge pressure game. I like our forwards thou...

Xupi

Remco Evenepoel is the new Eddy Merckx.

Xupi

Without a supporting team, its next to impossible to successfully defend the maillot in week 3 of the Tour, or any other three week race against riders who have numbers in their team still. It's indeed very tough (Roglic in this year's Giro) but it's been done before. Can't remember Cadel Evans hav...

Xupi

Also testament to how backloaded the big climbs have been in this tour. It's one of the most mountaineous Tours in recent History. Julian Alaphilippe's performance is second to none, he's been the grain of salt in Ineos plans much longer than anyone would guess. He's not UCI n°1 for no reason, what...

Xupi

He finished only 3 of 7 TDF, but it looks like this withdrawal will be the toughest one as he felt great, in all his interviews he showed for once a very positive attitude, I feel sorry for him, maybe more than Julian Alaphilippe loosing his yellow. This one is going to be very hard to swallow, he ...

Xupi

DB did say a few years ago he wanted to win the tour with a French rider and I thought he meant Pinot when he said it then. Not sure Pinot would fit at Skineos though given what's been said about his training regime He would not fit in. He's an extremely faithful guy who hates urban life and is onl...

Xupi

Classy comments from Brailsford.... “.....He’s been a great contributor to the race and to French cycling,” he said. “I really, really like Thibaut Pinot, I always have. You couldn’t help but watch those images without being really genuinely upset and sorry for him. The French fans can feel really ...

Xupi

Spyglass wrote: They don't have to drop Kruijswijk, Buchman or Landa, they just have to ride AP of their wheel and gain 29 seconds on him

Correct, I was just answering another poster's question.

Xupi

Of those 3 you would certainly expect Bernal and Froome for Le Tour. Would it be usual for Thomas now to focus on getting all 3 GC jerseys - the maglia rosa and the maillot rojo. What improves a rider's palmares 2x Le Tour or 1 Le Tour + 1 Giro + 1 Vuelta? I honestly do not know how they will decid...

Xupi

Tomorrow stage is now 59 Km looks like Alaphilippe will be able to hold onto the podium. https://twitter.com/LeTour/status/1154830879048589317 If he was not that cooked I'd actually fancy him to win the stage and potentially the Tour. It's a long climb but he's the world's best puncher. He's got th...

Xupi

If Kruijswijk and Buchmann fall as well, then I don't see why Thomas doesn't go for it. Chances then though would be very small as officially 1'16" gap. Ineos do not have the muscle to drop Kruijswijk nor Buchman nor Landa, not even Porte or Barguil actually. Their train may be enough to drop an ex...

Xupi

Sky machine is actually even more dominant now... Without Froom. I cannot disagree more. They remain the best team but they do not destroy the field like they used to. If Bernal win he will not owe much to his team, 90% to his climbing skills at high altitude. They could actually be 1,2 and 3 if he...

Xupi

Wyndham Upalot wrote:So, can we expect a Bernal Thomas one two?

yes, Kruijwijk 3rd.

Xupi

G Thomas did produce his shocking attack in the Galibier which had the direct effect to have all other GC contenders, led by Pinot, to clawback some time on Bernal (I'd say ~20"). Will he dare attack when the YJ is in his team? highly unlikely. But he may counter if another GC contender tries to bre...

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