Where are the Welsh ?

[Paddington Bear]

CANNOT WAIT to piss on their party

In 2024? Can't see our lot doing it at present.

Team we beat nearly beat overrated team = possibilities

[Line6 HXFX]

Decent effort from Wales, scrum, lineout and defence went well.

Think losing Tomas Williams early affected the Welsh attack. They needed some random flighty insanity from nine, and Hardy was just too conservative.

We missed guys like Tompkins too, to really make something happen in Midfield.

For a team that garners zero respect from the UK/World Rugby media, Wales are not that far off from being blyddi great.

[laurent]

smashed him

[Slick]

In a world cup, Eng, SA and NZ will eat Fra on this performance.

Odd post

Is a man not allowed to post after beer?

Indeed! All is forgiven!

[GogLais]

smashed him

Recycled it and got up though.

[laurent]

smashed him

Recycled it and got up though.

Yep lovely hit though.

[sockwithaticket]

CANNOT WAIT to piss on their party

In 2024? Can't see our lot doing it at present.

Team we beat nearly beat overrated team = possibilities

I'd wager we have to wait a good while for France to be that poor again.

[Hal Jordan]

smashed him

Recycled it and got up though.

Something about Henson and Tait.

[TheFrog]

Exactly the type of game I expected. Glad the boys held on an won.

We know we are weak under the high ball and the Welsh exploited that. Our kicking game needs work, both Jaminet and Ntamack have to practice more.

Defense was top notch though and the Welsh had nowhere to go. Even on that overlap ended by Dupont's intercept, the boys had it covered.

Not a great game by France, but under pouring rain and against Wales, they were able to win ugly.

Hope we do not have more "flu" or COVID event next week, it disrupted the team preparation. They need to up the intensity two levels to finish on a high.

[Torquemada 1420]

Exactly the type of game I expected. Glad the boys held on an won.

We know we are weak under the high ball and the Welsh exploited that. Our kicking game needs work, both Jaminet and Ntamack have to practice more.

Defense was top notch though and the Welsh had nowhere to go. Even on that overlap ended by Dupont's intercept, the boys had it covered.

Not a great game by France, but under pouring rain and against Wales, they were able to win ugly.

Hope we do not have more "flu" or COVID event next week, it disrupted the team preparation. They need to up the intensity two levels to finish on a high.

You don't get it, do you? It's not technique that is missing from Ntamack's kicking (although his dead ball kicking is weak...... which is why Jaminet always has to start) but that he cannot read or make the right decisions.

Perfect example: France pressurising with ball in hand but everyone is flat outside him and Welsh defence is up flat. You have 3 realistic options
- hold it and be tackled
- pass and set up the ruck
- chip OVER the top and beat onrushing defence (Thomas, Villiere and Penaud are good at this)
and there is one option you should NEVER DO
> try and chip through along the ground. Why? Because it's a f**k all % option. If, as is likely (and what happened) it hits an onrushing defender, then they are in behind you and you are screwed. So, what does Ntamack do........
Seriously? Take a reality pill because this kind of idiocy will kill Fra just as Russell frequently does the same to Sco.

[Torquemada 1420]

10 Romain Ntamack: Has been quiet this Six Nations and struggled to exert any influence once again.

[Paddington Bear]

In 2024? Can't see our lot doing it at present.

Team we beat nearly beat overrated team = possibilities

I'd wager we have to wait a good while for France to be that poor again.

Appreciate it’s a FACT that France are the greatest team there ever was or will be but in every game this tournament they’ve shown major vulnerabilities at some point. Add into that the weight of expectation of their crowd, I think we can make them bottle it. Will put my money where my mouth is and stick £20 on us to beat them

[C69]

Better team lost yesterday.
Great defence from France and some very streeetwise play. Very dissappointed that the ref missed 2 or 3 high shots from the Frence and a couple of potentially dangerous clear outs.

That said had Foxy held on to that ball we would have won.

[Slick]

Team we beat nearly beat overrated team = possibilities

I'd wager we have to wait a good while for France to be that poor again.

Appreciate it’s a FACT that France are the greatest team there ever was or will be but in every game this tournament they’ve shown major vulnerabilities at some point. Add into that the weight of expectation of their crowd, I think we can make them bottle it. Will put my money where my mouth is and stick £20 on us to beat them

I agree that the hype train has steamed away but they are a different team from a lot of recent French team. Cardiff is a bloody difficult place to win and I never really thought they were in danger of losing last night.

Also think this team thrive off that home support where others have frozen. I think they will tear you a new one to be honest

[GogLais]

Better team lost yesterday.
Great defence from France and some very streeetwise play. Very dissappointed that the ref missed 2 or 3 high shots from the Frence and a couple of potentially dangerous clear outs.

That said had Foxy held on to that ball we would have won.

Oh for the golden days of Hadleigh Parkes, at least he could pick a great angle now and then.

[Paddington Bear]

I'd wager we have to wait a good while for France to be that poor again.

Appreciate it’s a FACT that France are the greatest team there ever was or will be but in every game this tournament they’ve shown major vulnerabilities at some point. Add into that the weight of expectation of their crowd, I think we can make them bottle it. Will put my money where my mouth is and stick £20 on us to beat them

I agree that the hype train has steamed away but they are a different team from a lot of recent French team. Cardiff is a bloody difficult place to win and I never really thought they were in danger of losing last night.

Also think this team thrive off that home support where others have frozen. I think they will tear you a new one to be honest

If they get well ahead we don’t have a hope, sure. If we score early that crowd turns rapidly…

[sockwithaticket]

Team we beat nearly beat overrated team = possibilities

I'd wager we have to wait a good while for France to be that poor again.

Appreciate it’s a FACT that France are the greatest team there ever was or will be but in every game this tournament they’ve shown major vulnerabilities at some point. Add into that the weight of expectation of their crowd, I think we can make them bottle it. Will put my money where my mouth is and stick £20 on us to beat them

They've won them all, though. There's a level of resilience in this French side that we haven't seen in a loooong time. Even in other 6N with Galthie they've had meltdowns, individual or collective which cost them games, but they seem to be ironing that out.

I'd be putting my money on them beating us by at least 10, but fair play on being that convince.

If they get well ahead we don’t have a hope, sure. If we score early that crowd turns rapidly…

I'm not sure the Paris crowd is so quick to turn now. It has been in the past when France teams have been crap or brittle, but they know this lot can problem solve and come back into a game. Probably buys them a bit more time before the whistling starts.

[Paddington Bear]

I'd wager we have to wait a good while for France to be that poor again.

Appreciate it’s a FACT that France are the greatest team there ever was or will be but in every game this tournament they’ve shown major vulnerabilities at some point. Add into that the weight of expectation of their crowd, I think we can make them bottle it. Will put my money where my mouth is and stick £20 on us to beat them

They've won them all, though. There's a level of resilience in this French side that we haven't seen in a loooong time. Even in other 6N with Galthie they've had meltdowns, individual or collective which cost them games, but they seem to be ironing that out.

I'd be putting my money on them beating us by at least 10, but fair play on being that convince.

If they get well ahead we don’t have a hope, sure. If we score early that crowd turns rapidly…

I'm not sure the Paris crowd is so quick to turn now. It has been in the past when France teams have been crap or brittle, but they know this lot can problem solve and come back into a game. Probably buys them a bit more time before the whistling starts.

I'm not totally disagreeing with you, I just feel:
1) France still have weaknesses to exploit
2) We are not as bad as the general tone on here would suggest.

France are clearly growing as a side but if I were French I'd be watching next week from behind the sofa if it gets at all close.

[Torquemada 1420]

Better team lost yesterday.
Great defence from France and some very streeetwise play. Very dissappointed that the ref missed 2 or 3 high shots from the Frence and a couple of potentially dangerous clear outs.

That said had Foxy held on to that ball we would have won.

Mehh. You should have won but in the end your paucity of attacking threat prevented it.

[Torquemada 1420]

Appreciate it’s a FACT that France are the greatest team there ever was or will be but in every game this tournament they’ve shown major vulnerabilities at some point. Add into that the weight of expectation of their crowd, I think we can make them bottle it. Will put my money where my mouth is and stick £20 on us to beat them

That's all you guys talking this sh*t although I admit there are plenty in France getting carried away with the hype too. There are weaknesses
1) Atonio is still a lard arse.
2) Golden boy Jelonch is over rated and, ironically, has been largely covered by his lesser luminary team mate Cros who has been superb.
3) Ntamack is a joke and has been shown several times now since the AIs that you can have world class fwds and backs but that is useless unless your half backs can unite them..... and I doubt Dupont is the problem.
4) Jaminet is still very green (hardly surprising since he was in the 2nd division last year) BUT
- there are no really obvious candidates in his stead: maybe Bouthier
- and since Ntamack can't kick pens, Jaminet has to start. Funny to see Frog and co ragging Jaminet when the reason he has to be in the side is Ntamack can't do one of his own jobs.

Eng absolutely can win next week but I'd bet they'd not even get close if Jalibert started and preferably Macalou came in for Jelonch.

[C69]

Better team lost yesterday.
Great defence from France and some very streeetwise play. Very dissappointed that the ref missed 2 or 3 high shots from the Frence and a couple of potentially dangerous clear outs.

That said had Foxy held on to that ball we would have won.

Mehh. You should have won but in the end your paucity of attacking threat prevented it.

Absolutely our Centres are abject and if we had a fit Anscombe and a choice of a fit North Tompkins or willis in midfield then we wouldn't be far off a decent team.
Tips and Owens are a big loss and AWJ is back soon.
Nice to see a cameo from LRZ yesterday but hey.
It's only England for the GS.
Its in the bag

[sefton]

Kings of the moral win yet again.

[Torquemada 1420]

Kings of the moral win yet again.

Wrong thread?

[C69]

Kings of the moral win yet again.

Wrong thread?

Boom headshot

[sefton]

Kings of the moral win yet again.

Wrong thread?

Why, I don’t see any English posters claiming the better team lost.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

10 Romain Ntamack: Has been quiet this Six Nations and struggled to exert any influence once again.

He was alright. If you wanted to take a swipe at ruining the French attack you'd have a word with the forwards and their miserable day in the lineout. Plenty of stuff to take a pop at Dupont and Natmack for yesterday, but really most of the problems came from giving up 1st phase possession and shifting momentum to Wales in the set piece, and that's much harder to blame on the halves

Unless you just wanted to whine about Ntamack whatever happens, in which case just carry on ignoring reality

[TheFrog]

10 Romain Ntamack: Has been quiet this Six Nations and struggled to exert any influence once again.

He was alright. If you wanted to take a swipe at ruining the French attack you'd have a word with the forwards and their miserable day in the lineout. Plenty of stuff to take a pop at Dupont and Natmack for yesterday, but really most of the problems came from giving up 1st phase possession and shifting momentum to Wales in the set piece, and that's much harder to blame on the halves

Unless you just wanted to whine about Ntamack whatever happens, in which case just carry on ignoring reality

I agree with that.

I thought our forwards were much less ruthless in the rucks, which allowed the Welsh to slow down the few ball we had. We were never able to put the pressure up the center that we use to put normally, nor the pace on the rucks that allows us to overwhelm the opposition's defense.

Against England, we need a pack back to full fitness as this is England's only strength, but it is a bloody powerful one.

The fact that half the team had been sick the week before the game may explain why the boys were not at their best either. Hopefully, they have an uneventful week now.

I have no doubt they will raise the intensity for England.

[TheFrog]

I'd wager we have to wait a good while for France to be that poor again.

Appreciate it’s a FACT that France are the greatest team there ever was or will be but in every game this tournament they’ve shown major vulnerabilities at some point. Add into that the weight of expectation of their crowd, I think we can make them bottle it. Will put my money where my mouth is and stick £20 on us to beat them

They've won them all, though. There's a level of resilience in this French side that we haven't seen in a loooong time. Even in other 6N with Galthie they've had meltdowns, individual or collective which cost them games, but they seem to be ironing that out.

I'd be putting my money on them beating us by at least 10, but fair play on being that convince.

Absolutley, and that is a massive difference with how the french team behaved in the past. Nowadays, they make mistake, they have a bad day in the office, but they keep their cool and remain focused. They are much more cold blooded than any other French team I have seen. At times, I wonder if they are not irish.

[TheFrog]

Exactly the type of game I expected. Glad the boys held on an won.

We know we are weak under the high ball and the Welsh exploited that. Our kicking game needs work, both Jaminet and Ntamack have to practice more.

Defense was top notch though and the Welsh had nowhere to go. Even on that overlap ended by Dupont's intercept, the boys had it covered.

Not a great game by France, but under pouring rain and against Wales, they were able to win ugly.

Hope we do not have more "flu" or COVID event next week, it disrupted the team preparation. They need to up the intensity two levels to finish on a high.

You don't get it, do you? It's not technique that is missing from Ntamack's kicking (although his dead ball kicking is weak...... which is why Jaminet always has to start) but that he cannot read or make the right decisions.

Perfect example: France pressurising with ball in hand but everyone is flat outside him and Welsh defence is up flat. You have 3 realistic options
- hold it and be tackled
- pass and set up the ruck
- chip OVER the top and beat onrushing defence (Thomas, Villiere and Penaud are good at this)
and there is one option you should NEVER DO
> try and chip through along the ground. Why? Because it's a f**k all % option. If, as is likely (and what happened) it hits an onrushing defender, then they are in behind you and you are screwed. So, what does Ntamack do........
Seriously? Take a reality pill because this kind of idiocy will kill Fra just as Russell frequently does the same to Sco.

I don't get the anger to be honest.

Jaminet is in because nobody in France has the kicking length he brings, nor the kicking accuracy of the tee he has. And ball in hand he is fast and creates scoring opportunities. This has nothing to do with Ntamack. He would be in Jalibert played, or Hastoy or any other fly-half you think is better than Ntamack.

So far, Ntamack hasn't killed France.

He hasn't been outstanding and did a few mistakes, but keeps a cool head at all times.

[Biffer]

WRU has issued a statement saying they’re delighted with the 63,000 crowd.

Looks like more Friday night games on the horizon for Cardiff then.

[GogLais]

Better team lost yesterday.
Great defence from France and some very streeetwise play. Very dissappointed that the ref missed 2 or 3 high shots from the Frence and a couple of potentially dangerous clear outs.

That said had Foxy held on to that ball we would have won.

Mehh. You should have won but in the end your paucity of attacking threat prevented it.

AWJ is back

I hope it’s on merit and not emotion. If I were Beard or Rowlands I’d be pissed off if I were dropped for him now.

[C69]

Pivac rolling the dice for the Italy game.
AWJ back seems a bit misguided imho

[GogLais]

Pivac rolling the dice for the Italy game.
AWJ back seems a bit misguided imho

I might understand it if it were a GS decider and I thought his experience might come in handy. Conspiracy theory on BBC HYS is that it’s a cunning plan to boost ticket sales.

[SaintK]

Pivac rolling the dice for the Italy game.
AWJ back seems a bit misguided imho

I might understand it if it were a GS decider and I thought his experience might come in handy. Conspiracy theory on BBC HYS is that it’s a cunning plan to boost ticket sales.

Rowlands should feel mightily pissed off that he's been dropped to the bench if that's the case
Just how many 1st class matches has AWJ played prior to his recall

[TheFrog]

I hope you boys win with a BP and jump ahead of England.

Also hope the Scotts beat Ireland.

[GogLais]

Pivac rolling the dice for the Italy game.
AWJ back seems a bit misguided imho

I might understand it if it were a GS decider and I thought his experience might come in handy. Conspiracy theory on BBC HYS is that it’s a cunning plan to boost ticket sales.

Rowlands should feel mightily pissed off that he's been dropped to the bench if that's the case
Just how many 1st class matches has AWJ played prior to his recall

None.