All Blacks' incredible World Cup record in ruins as French off to a flyer: How the opening game unfolded

True, but France scored 9 points in first half for precisely nothing, after making zero inroads against NZ. One for hanging on for slightly too long after kickoff - ball only in NZ half because they had just scored a try. Another for scrum penalty on halfway after France offside at kickoff, again after NZ had scored. Penalty for prop slipping over, not because NZ scrum under pressure. Third for de Groot slipping over again at scrum 38 metres out. More money for old rope. Another 3 points in second half 48 metres out for ridiculous second penalty against Jordan when he was pushed into contact with Frenchman. Add four extra points from conversions by France to these 12 and you have the points difference. Not that they didn’t deserve to win in the very end. But everyone is finding reasons to make sense of points when sometimes there is none. Apart from referee and kicker. And the ref missed several penalties/infringements by France - eg offside at every kick off and many garryowens. But refs only care about scrums, breakdowns and holding up the game to check head contact on the screen for five minutes.

Indeed, 29 minutes of dead time with the clock ticking for packing scrums, kicking penalties and a couple of conversions. The three- point penalty is a blight on the game.

Sounds like E Blackadder might be on the plane. If he can stay injury free he will help with the ‘physicality’ aspects. Fingers crossed.

I tried to remember but my hands started shaking and I had to have a lie down when I thought about that 2007 QF. Sure upset Graham Henry enough for him to go into print over it.

An Aussie loosehead was your worst player. Time for him to be jettisoned.

De Groot is not over-rated.

Foster doesn't drop balls and miss tackles. Players are not good enough.As you said.He hasn't got the cattle.

Totally agree. That said I think Jeff Wilson was out of line. But then again, that is Wilson for you. Much prefer Justin Marshall.

Fans will be fans. And pundits often eat their own words. That's footy. But the tournament is never won in the first game and losing a pool game isn't the end. Like your blokes in Japan. The pressure is certainly on them. I'll just reserve judgement for the time being and see if they can perform. Also couldn't be happier that the gap has been closed. Gunna make for an epic cup. Any of 4 teams could win this one. Exciting times.

If Cane's the best number 7 we have, then we are in big trouble.

Scooter had a good game. Ardie added a short kick to his skill set, but is not as physical as he used to be. Brodie is also not his vicious confrontational self yet. The lack of depth among the locks and front row must be a serious concern, it impacted the back row.

Chook, The infamous match Wayne 'What forward pass?' Barnes controlled that saw an earlier iteration of All Blacks dispatched was, if memory serves, special for the fact that France didn't concede a penalty for the final fifty minutes or so. People with better memories than mine could possibly throw some light on this if they are reading?

It’s not “angry” enough. Too “nice” except for Scooter

Beeeeeeeeeeast! What a man

Found one : 2018 6N (Ireland pinged 3 times v Italy)

I expected a much bigger response from the AB. There is no such thing as a bad All Blacks side, this one seems to be less good. They have serious issues in the scrum, their game plan doesn’t really work, but as they are still able to score quickly and therefore remain a threat.

Great summation Harry. I might add you predicted months ago that the big games would be dominated by the boot with many of us myself included seeing it differently ... Also great podcast last week with The Beast ....Only picked it up on You Tube yesterday . Brett particularly looked like he was having such a gas . Highly entertaining stuff . :thumbup:

Not writing the AB’s off at all, they are too good, and proud a rugby nation. Just saying, that the aura is no linger there. A few years ago their would be debate about by how big a margin they would win, now it is more about if they will win. That is actually, my point. Some AB fans still have the mindset that a loss was simply just a bad day, and that the usual fare would resume should they play well, ignoring the elephant in the room, which is that the gap between the top teams is slight. Jeff Wilson is a case in point, arrogantly proclaiming, “We know that, that was the best the Boks can play, nut the AB’s can play better” He must be eating his words now, as apart from the Barrett’s, Telea and Aaron Smith, there wasn’t much improvement

Congratulations for a well deserved victory to France and another losing result, to add to Fozzie’s long list of failures – his legacy is fast moving to insignificant levels, with each aspiring defeat.

Seriously most of you are in denial, I love the All Blacks, but we're not good enough, Foster is awful, his coaching record is terrible, we will not win this world cup, stop making excuses for our team, we ain't good enough.