The Final: France vs NZ

[KiWiNiNjA]

Originally Posted by Athlai

I can't decide what I'd enjoy more tbh. The All Blacks winning the world cup or the **** storm that would follow if we didn't and choked once more against the French

Haha, yeah.

[Tricia McMillan]

Do we even have any French fans on this forum?

[ripper868]

Sure do!


NZ by a fair margin in this, and this isn't using the patented 'post opposite to what I want to happen thing' either.

The frogs couldn't penetrate a 14 man Welsh side minus their best player. They stand little to no chance of breaching the AB line.

[wellAlbidarned]

All Blacks to be eating Frog's legs late Sunday evening. Will be pleasantly surprised if there's any real contest tbh.

[Uppercut]

Well the good news for the French is that they haven't used up their one good performance per tournament yet, and they've been known to use it against the All Blacks.

The bad news is they're a bit crap and New Zealand are a bit good.

[Flem274*]

Originally Posted by Athlai

Reckon despite Weepu being a very very talented player he still lacks in fitness and discipline so puts him at a lower standard than a few of the other great NZ 9s. Never know where he could be in a few years time though.

Weepu (N)
Carter (Y)
Kahui (?) ...probably not right up there but solid
Nonu (Y)
Smith (A begrudging Y) Solid as heck if sort of unremarkable
Jane (Y)
Dagg (YY) Makes Mils look like a talentless hack.

Doesn't match up to the 97 backline
Marshall
Mehrtens
Lomu
Little
Bunce
Wilson
Cullen

And after Bunce left Umaga came in.

Conrad Smith > everything.

[Tricia McMillan]

Originally Posted by Flem274*

Conrad Smith > everything.

Ma'a Nonu > Conrad Smith.

[Hurricane]

France only have one weak link and it is Parra at 10. He is playing out of position. And in watching the replay today he seems to take the wrong options.

But Rugby is a 15 man game and one weak link will hurt you.

[Hurricane]

Just a few hours away now.

[Somerset]

Probably should be more excited but after our performance last week against Australia - the side I thought would be the most likely to defeat us - and then the performance of France so far, it should be a comfortable victory. I guess nothings ever that simple in RWCs for us though. I wouldn't be surprised if the match follows a similar pattern to the Argentina match, in that France front up and threaten to make a game of things before the ABs take control afer 60 minutes and win by 20 or so points. Compared to recent WCs I'm very pleased the ABs have selected the same XV which, in my view, is our strongest line-up - certainly differing to the rotation policy of 2007 and some of the debatable decisions in 2003.

[Hurricane]

Originally Posted by Somerset

Probably should be more excited but after our performance last week against Australia - the side I thought would be the most likely to defeat us - and then the performance of France so far, it should be a comfortable victory. I guess nothings ever that simple in RWCs for us though. I wouldn't be surprised if the match follows a similar pattern to the Argentina match, in that France front up and threaten to make a game of things before the ABs take control afer 60 minutes and win by 20 or so points. Compared to recent WCs I'm very pleased the ABs have selected the same XV which, in my view, is our strongest line-up - certainly differing to the rotation policy of 2007 and some of the debatable decisions in 2003.

Please find some wood and knock on it after writing this. Lets not tempt fate etc. Even though I have tipped the aBs to win by 18 points in the tipping comp - I think anything could happen with France. They are our Nemesis.

[centurymaker]

yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Almost game time!!!

all blacks to win by 20!!!
touch wood

[Bahnz]

Score to be NZ 31, France 15.

[Hurricane]

Just listening to some sound bites from Keith Quinn that have been immortalized. I can't really imagine Grant Nisbett saying anything as memorable - he is more cerebral - and less passionate in the moment.

Here is one of his calls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pKK67-leAY

Here is highlights of '87 great calls throughout

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T7Gaq4CjHU

[Somerset]

Never been a huge fan of Nisbett, and he seems to be getting worse at actually calling the right players which is kind of fundamental for a commentator. Would've been brilliant if one of the stations had picked up Quinn to call the matches.