Pasta with frog legs

[Torquemada 1420]

Kay points out that kicking to corner not been accurate.......

[TheFrog]

Dupont MOTM

Had to be Woki, Villiere or Penaud,

So you agree that Woki at lock is a good solution

[Torquemada 1420]

See: when the FH actually gets the ball out to this backline.....

[sturginho]

Shame about the try at the death, the defensive effort deserved better

[Torquemada 1420]

Dupont MOTM

Had to be Woki, Villiere or Penaud,

So you agree that Woki at lock is a good solution

No, I do not. He is such a good player he even does well there. Le Roux should be there. This dicking around is all to accommodate Jelonch

[C69]

Very easy win, never in doubt BP win with France easing to a win before next weeks Grand Slam decider.

[TheFrog]

Well, job done. As expected, the side was rusty and not focused but they take easy the 5pts.

Huge work to be done on discipline before Ireland as these guys know how tonl squeeze penalties out of their opposition.

[ASMO]

France going to need to seriously up their accuracy next week for the grand slam decider

[TheFrog]

Dupont MOTM

Had to be Woki, Villiere or Penaud,

So you agree that Woki at lock is a good solution

No, I do not. He is such a good player he even does well there. Le Roux should be there. This dicking around is all to accommodate Jelonch

Who had a good game.

[Torquemada 1420]

Shame about the try at the death, the defensive effort deserved better

Ita defence and fitness held up really well. Last season was all too harum scarum. You need to find a balance though between gallant defence and headless chicken attacking.

[TheFrog]

France going to need to seriously up their accuracy next week for the grand slam decider

Grand Slam decider?
Every game is, until you lose your first game that is, isn't it?

[Torquemada 1420]

No, I do not. He is such a good player he even does well there. Le Roux should be there. This dicking around is all to accommodate Jelonch

Who had a good game.

I don't think so. You are being blinded by him being gifted a try. His effectiveness cw with, say Aldritt, is a yawning gap. Too many ST players in there just because they play for ST.

[Torquemada 1420]

France going to need to seriously up their accuracy next week for the grand slam decider

Like I said, if it rains and Ntamack is at FH, Ire will win. Ire beat Wal by pretty much the same margin.

[TheFrog]

Mauvaka is a gem.

[sturginho]

Shame about the try at the death, the defensive effort deserved better

Ita defence and fitness held up really well. Last season was all too harum scarum. You need to find a balance though between gallant defence and headless chicken attacking.

Last year we'd have conceded the BP before half time and had about 60 pts on us by the end

[Torquemada 1420]

Ooops. Of course, Aldritt had a good claim for MOTM.

Commentators talking cr*p. Thomas is not in the frame whilst Penaud is on the wing because Villiere is too good in defence.

[Torquemada 1420]

Mauvaka is a gem.

He is slowly winning me over. Not yet convinced he's ahead of Chat in a WC campaign when you are facing the likes of SA.

[sockwithaticket]

France going to need to seriously up their accuracy next week for the grand slam decider

They raise their level for opposition they care about. Can't remember who it was they played in the autumn before the All Blacks, but there was a lot of similar 'they'll need to be much better next week for the ABs' after that match. And they were.

[TheFrog]

No, I do not. He is such a good player he even does well there. Le Roux should be there. This dicking around is all to accommodate Jelonch

Who had a good game.

I don't think so. You are being blinded by him being gifted a try. His effectiveness cw with, say Aldritt, is a yawning gap. Too many ST players in there just because they play for ST.

Nothing to do with his try (though this showed good anticipation) but his work rate has been one of the best of the whole pack.

[TheFrog]

Mauvaka is a gem.

He is slowly winning me over. Not yet convinced he's ahead of Chat in a WC campaign when you are facing the likes of SA.

Chat doesn't know how to play ball in hand. He is a flat track bully. And is poor at the lineout.

Mauvaka had punch, pace and has ball skills. What a great sub to bring onto the pitch. He made the Penaud try.

[Torquemada 1420]

Who had a good game.

I don't think so. You are being blinded by him being gifted a try. His effectiveness cw with, say Aldritt, is a yawning gap. Too many ST players in there just because they play for ST.

Nothing to do with his try (though this showed good anticipation) but his work rate has been one of the best of the whole pack.

Work rate does not equate to effectiveness. You can run around all game and achieve nothing: which is what he tends to do. You can only compare with the back 5: unreasonable to expect a front row to have the same rate. And in that context, you reckon he did more than Woki or Aldritt? And that's my point. They've forced Woki into lock just to get Jelonch in to flanker when he is nowhere near as good as the UBB man.

[Blackmac]

We are at an odd place in the game where the slightest contact with an arm to the head can be penalised however a player jumping for the high ball can lead with his knee directly into an opponents face and the penalty goes the other way.

Two things. First Ramos is not leading with the knee, second the Italian doesn't make an effort to challenge for the ball and his standing below the player who jumps is dangerous for both.

It's not specifically aimed at this incident but there is no doubt his knee is raised to protect him. Second, players can't just disappear. The Italian clearly realised he couldn't challenge safely so pulled out from the challenge, however was still clattered by the players momentum. Given so much of rugby penalties are around safety and based on outcome rather than intent, it is certainly an area that needs looked at.

[Slick]

Italy have some decent players but as a side they just make such amateur decisions again and again?

2 examples in the 2nd half - Penaud’s try, he draws the Italian winger and passes inside. Italian winger let’s him run past and get the return pass. Any other team, Penaud is in the stand and out the game after passing.

Penalty on the French line. They go for the corner then throw to the back setting up a ruck pretty much exactly where the penalty was. Why risk a lineout when a tap or scrum is much less risky just to make a call like that

[TheFrog]

So are the stats that worry me.

France 54% possession, 66% territory.

Yet 12 penalties conceded to 8.

That will kill us against Ireland. Because Ireland will know how to make these penalties count.

[Paddington Bear]

Much better from Italy, actually felt like watching a proper international team.

[TheFrog]

Dupont MOTM

Had to be Woki, Villiere or Penaud,

So you agree that Woki at lock is a good solution

No, I do not. He is such a good player he even does well there. Le Roux should be there. This dicking around is all to accommodate Jelonch

By the way, this is plain wrong. Woki played 4 because Geraci (the staff's first choice) was injured. Marchant has COVID. And then, between Leroux and Woki, the staff chose to rely on Woki. If Leroux is picked, then Cretin goes out of the team, and Woki moves in his place.

Jelonch is picked for the dark tasks. He and Woki have two different roles.

[TheFrog]

Much better from Italy, actually felt like watching a proper international team.

Defense was top notch. Commitment was there. First try was well taken. But then, too many mistakes when France gifted them territory and possession.

[Paddington Bear]

Much better from Italy, actually felt like watching a proper international team.

Defense was top notch. Commitment was there. First try was well taken. But then, too many mistakes when France gifted them territory and possession.

Pretty much. Not asking for them to win the whole thing, just make it worthwhile sitting down to watch their games. Felt that hit the latter category. They’re a young side and can improve

[sturginho]

Much better from Italy, actually felt like watching a proper international team.

Defense was top notch. Commitment was there. First try was well taken. But then, too many mistakes when France gifted them territory and possession.

Pretty much. Not asking for them to win the whole thing, just make it worthwhile sitting down to watch their games. Felt that hit the latter category. They’re a young side and can improve

I usually get really angry watching Italy play, today I didn't so I'm taking that as a good sign

[Hugo]

Italy have some decent players but as a side they just make such amateur decisions again and again?

2 examples in the 2nd half - Penaud’s try, he draws the Italian winger and passes inside. Italian winger let’s him run past and get the return pass. Any other team, Penaud is in the stand and out the game after passing.

Penalty on the French line. They go for the corner then throw to the back setting up a ruck pretty much exactly where the penalty was. Why risk a lineout when a tap or scrum is much less risky just to make a call like that

Yup. I think I am right in saying that the try France scored right before half time was after they had pissed around with the ball in their 22. It just needed clearing.

Those scores right before or after HT are morale killers.

[sturginho]

Italy have some decent players but as a side they just make such amateur decisions again and again?

2 examples in the 2nd half - Penaud’s try, he draws the Italian winger and passes inside. Italian winger let’s him run past and get the return pass. Any other team, Penaud is in the stand and out the game after passing.

Penalty on the French line. They go for the corner then throw to the back setting up a ruck pretty much exactly where the penalty was. Why risk a lineout when a tap or scrum is much less risky just to make a call like that

Yup. I think I am right in saying that the try France scored right before half time was after they had pissed around with the ball in their 22. It just needed clearing.

Those scores right before or after HT are morale killers.

Unforced errors and brain dead decision making, it's been the problem for years

[Slick]

Italy have some decent players but as a side they just make such amateur decisions again and again?

2 examples in the 2nd half - Penaud’s try, he draws the Italian winger and passes inside. Italian winger let’s him run past and get the return pass. Any other team, Penaud is in the stand and out the game after passing.

Penalty on the French line. They go for the corner then throw to the back setting up a ruck pretty much exactly where the penalty was. Why risk a lineout when a tap or scrum is much less risky just to make a call like that

Yup. I think I am right in saying that the try France scored right before half time was after they had pissed around with the ball in their 22. It just needed clearing.

Those scores right before or after HT are morale killers.

Unforced errors and brain dead decision making, it's been the problem for years

We went through a good few years of it

[laurent]

Catching up on the game (we were playing at 3 france at 4 )

Team look rusty and will need to improve next week.
(comment is same for both my team and France )

Villière had a blinder

[TheFrog]

Catching up on the game (we were playing at 3 france at 4 )

Team look rusty and will need to improve next week.
(comment is same for both my team and France )

Villière had a blinder

On a positive note, the last French player having scored a hat trick in the 6N was Clerc in 2008...

[TheFrog]

Was watching the highlights of the game.

Ntamack and Penaud's passes on the first Villiere try were just amazing.

And I realized that it was Moefana and not Mauvaka who created the Penaud try. No wonder I was impressed by his acceleration!

[sturginho]

OnRugby analyses the Azzurri's performance:

https://www.onrugby.it/2022/02/07/sei-n ... ia-italia/

[sturginho]

[Torquemada 1420]

By the way, this is plain wrong. Woki played 4 because Geraci (the staff's first choice) was injured. Marchant has COVID. And then, between Leroux and Woki, the staff chose to rely on Woki. If Leroux is picked, then Cretin goes out of the team, and Woki moves in his place.

Jelonch is picked for the dark tasks. He and Woki have two different roles.

I can see him acquiring the nickname "Valise".

[ASMO]

I really like Monty Ioane, very hard working, a bugger to stop, always seems to make ground and has some decent pace too.

[TheFrog]

After a night sleep, I think the key points to take away for the Italians were the massive performance of their pack in the rucks and on the gain line. They spoiled French ball all afternoon, and didn't allow the French to make many inroads, at least until they tired out.

The Italian set piece was more suspect, lineout was wobbly and the scrum was crumbling, until Bamba came on for France, when the pressure reversed.

With a better set piece and a bit more composure, Italy could have won that first half. Now is a matter of lasting 80 minutes.