Comments on: All Blacks France: cheers for a great Test series

By: pothale

pothale — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:51:35 +0000

Why would you not want to send a full strength team to the most taxing battlegrounds of world rugby, we ask the North?

ANSWER: OH GOD. They already do send full-strength teams. And guess what, even when they do, the SH teams generally win. For the moment, anyway.

One more time with feeling:

COULD YOU STOP ADDRESSING THE INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES OF THE NH AS ONE AMORPHOUS GLOB, AND ASSUMING THAT OCCASIONAL BEHAVIOUR BY ONE OR TWO TEAMS CAN BE APPLIED TO ALL?

PLEASE.

WITH SUGAR, CREAM AND A GLACE CHERRY ON TOP.

By: ABMAN

ABMAN — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:27:22 +0000

The problem being the story from the Frenchman doesn’t add up Police have serious doubts about his story he has refused to lay a formal complaint hmmm if I had been mugged I sure as hell would’ve made a formal complaint. The fact he was suppossedly assaulted outside a hotel with big glass windows and noone seen anything is also a bit odd.
Seems some little frenchman had one to many and has made allegations that even he isn’t so sure of anymore. So before you who are not in the country start jumping to conclusions it would pay to do your homework first. But then again I understand as foreign media would’ve only ran with the sensationalised version.

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:05:42 +0000

Mark
I agree bring in Masaga, joe has lost that explosive game he once had he has been out of big rugby to long, or maybe he should try another franchise

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:59:21 +0000

Being a kiwi living in aussie, yeah i am disappointed to read about bottle throwing and the bashing on the weekend of french player??? The conditions in wellighton were bad for good rugby but i thought the allblacks played great wet weather rugby, a big improvement on the weekend earlier should have won by more if donald had kicked a couple more goals and the try in the corner by jane had been allowed and to me it was a try, the referee should have over-ruled the video call and given the try in my opinion .. Think italy might be in for a torrid time playing the allblacks though, i expect them to do better than aussie ???

By: ohtani's jacket,

ohtani's jacket, — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:38:30 +0000

It was a great series, but if I were the French I wouldn’t be in any hurry to come back.

They had bottles thrown at them after the first Test and a player attacked on the weekend. All this from the country hosting the next Rugby World Cuo? That’s a joke.

By: Acer

Acer — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:46:13 +0000

Great comeback by the Blacks so what they lost a Trophy most people didn’t even knew existed let alone had.
The Wallabies are going to have to be on their game this weekend. It’s going to be a huge step up in intensity.

The Italians are going to be in for a spanking this Weekend they will certainly feel the Wrath of the Kiwis and will be given a leason in the basics of rugby. As for my boys well lets say I might just have to head down and put a lazy 50 on the……..

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:14:03 +0000

Jerry,
I was thinking Masaga for Joe until Siv’s fit. Jane’s nailed his chance really well from what I saw.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:03:53 +0000

Jane set up a good try in the first test and (probably) scored a try in the second, I think he performed pretty well and I doubt any of the fit specialist wingers would have been an improvement. Gear played well for the JAB’s but I think Henry’s wanting at least one wing with a solid kicking game (eg Wulf or Jane). Not sure I agree with that.

By: Show and Go

Show and Go — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:54:09 +0000

The terrible conditions always make these sorts of games a lotery but the fact is the AB pack absolutely dominated the French from start to finish. At no stage were France in control of the game. Monster effort from Thorne.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:48:34 +0000

JamesB – that try was incredible, yes Jane was out of position but there were 3 cover defenders who he got past all while within a metre or 2 of the sideline. Felt bad forJjane, his first test try disallowed then that but he had a good game. You’re right re:10 but Donald didn’t get any favours last week from his forwards & this week was a lot better except for his kicking. The question is who’s going to be backup when Carter’s back, I’d say McAllister covers more positions & does it better. Masaga must be close to getting a go for Italy.

Good to see the new blood standing up, but what a great contest in both games from the French teams.

BTW, has anyone seen Viscount ? He seems to be MIA………………

By: Bob McGregor

Bob McGregor — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:41:40 +0000

This was a great absorbing match with the AB’s worthy winners.
Bet the ARU is cock-a-hoop with the performances of Les Bleus as it should put more bums on seats at ANZ Stadium next Saturday night. I for one am really looking forward to the encounter. Bring it on!
As close as the result was in Wellington, France could have been unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty try when Vincent Clerc’s right arm was pulled back by Thorne’s left arm ‘locking’ Clerc’s right arm and pulling it back right on the try line as he was about to gather, fall over and score. To say he was stripped of the ball – as suggested by Wayne Smith in the OZ is fanciful. At no stage did he have the ball in hand; he was reaching out for it when pulled back. Perhaps this incident could be seen as a trigger for a Captains referral to the TMO – should it exist at some time in the future?
Despite this incident I thought Thorne was best on ground. Perhaps that balances the TMO George Ayoub ‘no’ try decision? But such TMO decisions are always a lottery. How can we be ever certain the ball was always under control of ball carrier and grounded when subjected to all the ‘push-me-pull-me’ going on at such times?
Guess it’s something we will never know.

By: Amateur Hour

Amateur Hour — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 03:51:53 +0000

I watched this game with interest and have to say that the ABs just don’t look like themselves without Richie and Dan.

For a few horrifying moments I thought that George Ayoub (the TMO) was going to be man of the match after disallowing what I thought was a certain try – if you have to look at a replay that many times, surely there’s doubt and that doubt should go to the attacking side.

Heymans try will be shown many times over the coming years.

By: JamesB

JamesB — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:24 +0000

The good news for NZ is that they have blooded some players against very good opposition and under immense pressure to perform, and most of them responded well. In Latimar, Read and Ross NZ has some bright stars for the future.

The problem position this year remains No.10, and I can’t help but feel that Donald is slightly out of his depth at this level, and by that I mean playing against top sides under pressure. He’ll probably get one more chance in the Tri-Nations opener. If he fluffs that and NZ lose, he’s gone! The selectors will be tempted to try McCallister at 1st-five, who overall is a classer and better all round footballer.

Regarding Cedric Heymans try, it was wonderful, but only happened because Cory Jane (normally a full-back) was out of position. Had he been in the correct position (i.e. drifted further out) the try would have been snuffed out on the half-way line. But after he beat Jane, it was poetry in motion (I just happened to be sitting where it happened, and it was pretty special to see live before your eyes). As much as I rate Jane as a quality footballer, you do have to wonder what Henry is doing playing him as a winger instead of picking a specialist, though Jane does bring a very good kicking game, and maybe the selectors like this balance at the back. I believe Hosea Gear has been playing very well for Junior AB’s since returning from injury. Maybe he is in the mix?

By: Knives out

Knives out — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:27:41 +0000

‘Why would you not want to send a full strength team to the most taxing battlegrounds of world rugby, we ask the North?’

Is this a serious question?

By: Jerry

Jerry — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:30:17 +0000

It was definitely Heymans, but the commentators thought it was Clerc at first.

By: USRugbyFan

USRugbyFan — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:23:43 +0000

I think it was actually Vincent Clerc who scored the French try.