RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C)
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@Stargazer said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
Well done, Tonga! Only just running out of time.
France should be worried about this performance.
Argentina will leaving wondering what if?
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@Stargazer World Cups are funny though. France lost to the same opposition in 2011 and then nearly won the bloody thing, same as 1999, as well as England in 2007 and SA in the last WC losing to Japan before coming very close to knocking us out in the semi. Infact, even SA in 1995 and Australia in 1991 had their struggles before taking out those tournaments so the moral of the story is that it doesn't matter how you win them, as long as you do win them.
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@African-Monkey said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
@Stargazer World Cups are funny though. France lost to the same opposition in 2011 and then nearly won the bloody thing, same as 1999, as well as England in 2007 and SA in the last WC losing to Japan before coming very close to knocking us out in the semi. Infact, even SA in 1995 and Australia in 1991 had their struggles before taking out those tournaments so the moral of the story is that it doesn't matter how you win them, as long as you do win them.
What isn’t funny are grey All Black jerseys and world cups...
Seriously though, I agree and that is why trying to predict playoff outcomes on pool play is pretty fraught. The variables are even greater in World Cup play because of things like turnaround time, opposition etc. This is quite different to say one off EOYT tests or Rugby Championship etc.
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@ACT-Crusader said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
@African-Monkey said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
@Stargazer World Cups are funny though. France lost to the same opposition in 2011 and then nearly won the bloody thing, same as 1999, as well as England in 2007 and SA in the last WC losing to Japan before coming very close to knocking us out in the semi. Infact, even SA in 1995 and Australia in 1991 had their struggles before taking out those tournaments so the moral of the story is that it doesn't matter how you win them, as long as you do win them.
What isn’t funny are grey All Black jerseys and world cups...
Seriously though, I agree and that is why trying to predict playoff outcomes on pool play is pretty fraught. The variables are even greater in World Cup play because of things like turnaround time, opposition etc. This is quite different to say one off EOYT tests or Rugby Championship etc.
A team only has to get hot for 3 games and they could win it all. No do overs, no second chances. Just four more years
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@canefan said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
A team only has to get hot for 3 games and they could win it all.
The history of the RWC shows that even the champions struggle to get hot for three games in a row and have at least one very near miss or sub-par performance they just squeak out.
If we get a surprise champion it is more likely to come in the France 2011 form (and to a lesser extenet 2007 England) where they make the final without actually playing great rugby, maybe winning one ugly coin-toss QF and one game with an early red card/or huge blunder from an official.
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@Machpants said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
@canefan said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
France might be the jammiest country in RWC history
Might?
Yes, though except when it comes to the final. Are they 0/3 now?
Though your point being they’re lucky to get there in the first place.
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@ACT-Crusader Yup and also, the T2 nations spend a lot more time together during these tournaments instead of flying from all parts of the world for one-off tests where they struggle to get a lot of players to join in the first place, hence relying on local players/Auckland club payers to fill the void which gives them more time to gel, and also getting to play infront of packed stadiums with the crowd behind them is not something they get every day, compared to playing infront of 2000 or so people back home.
One thing I have been impressed with is the Tongan's fitness. They've finished far stronger in the last 2 games than Argentina and France and didn't really fall away against England.
At the end of the day, France is 3 from 3 and in World Cups, that's all that matters.
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@Rapido said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
Both France and England can put out a B team against each other next week. Let the cards fall where they may, prep for the potential 3 big consecutive knockouts.
Damn you Argentina ....
I think France will be more than keen to get a win here - they haven't exactly set the world on fire, and it's been a while since they beat anyone of note (ie not Italy or Scotland). Although it might seem a pointless game, the winner in theory gets to avoid NZ in a semi-final. I doubt England will want to head into the quarters off the back of a loss to France. Suspect strong teams, with England to sub on early, especially if game in the bag.
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@Billy-Tell said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
@Rapido said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
Both France and England can put out a B team against each other next week. Let the cards fall where they may, prep for the potential 3 big consecutive knockouts.
Damn you Argentina ....
I think France will be more than keen to get a win here - they haven't exactly set the world on fire, and it's been a while since they beat anyone of note (ie not Italy or Scotland). Although it might seem a pointless game, the winner in theory gets to avoid NZ in a semi-final. I doubt England will want to head into the quarters off the back of a loss to France. Suspect strong teams, with England to sub on early, especially if game in the bag.
I think it's the opposite .
Winner gets likely Australia quarter, NZ semi.
Loser likely gets Wales quarter, South Africa semi.I wouldn't suggest throwing a game, though. For any side of the draw permutations. But breaking up a brutal run of games with the dirtrackers
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@rotated said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
@canefan said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
A team only has to get hot for 3 games and they could win it all.
The history of the RWC shows that even the champions struggle to get hot for three games in a row and have at least one very near miss or sub-par performance they just squeak out.
If we get a surprise champion it is more likely to come in the France 2011 form (and to a lesser extenet 2007 England) where they make the final without actually playing great rugby, maybe winning one ugly coin-toss QF and one game with an early red card/or huge blunder from an official.
Or, like England in 2007, they come up against a team who has already played their RWC Final by knocking out one of the tournament favourites a week before.
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@Rapido said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
@Billy-Tell said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
@Rapido said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
Both France and England can put out a B team against each other next week. Let the cards fall where they may, prep for the potential 3 big consecutive knockouts.
Damn you Argentina ....
I think France will be more than keen to get a win here - they haven't exactly set the world on fire, and it's been a while since they beat anyone of note (ie not Italy or Scotland). Although it might seem a pointless game, the winner in theory gets to avoid NZ in a semi-final. I doubt England will want to head into the quarters off the back of a loss to France. Suspect strong teams, with England to sub on early, especially if game in the bag.
I think it's the opposite .
Winner gets likely Australia quarter, NZ semi.
Loser likely gets Wales quarter, South Africa semi.I wouldn't suggest throwing a game, though. For any side of the draw permutations. But breaking up a brutal run of games with the dirtrackers
Yep, this is true. I can see France being fairly disinterested in this game and then going all 2007 / 2011 on Wales in a QF. They'll inevitably be half asleep a week later against RSA / IRE in the semi.
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@junior said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
@Rapido said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
@Billy-Tell said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
@Rapido said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
Both France and England can put out a B team against each other next week. Let the cards fall where they may, prep for the potential 3 big consecutive knockouts.
Damn you Argentina ....
I think France will be more than keen to get a win here - they haven't exactly set the world on fire, and it's been a while since they beat anyone of note (ie not Italy or Scotland). Although it might seem a pointless game, the winner in theory gets to avoid NZ in a semi-final. I doubt England will want to head into the quarters off the back of a loss to France. Suspect strong teams, with England to sub on early, especially if game in the bag.
I think it's the opposite .
Winner gets likely Australia quarter, NZ semi.
Loser likely gets Wales quarter, South Africa semi.I wouldn't suggest throwing a game, though. For any side of the draw permutations. But breaking up a brutal run of games with the dirtrackers
Yep, this is true. I can see France being fairly disinterested in this game and then going all 2007 / 2011 on Wales in a QF. They'll inevitably be half asleep a week later against RSA / IRE in the semi.
You still think Ireland will finish top of the pool? Even if they do, they ain’t beating the Boks IMHO.
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@ACT-Crusader said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
@junior said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
@Rapido said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
@Billy-Tell said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
@Rapido said in RWC: France v Tonga (Pool C):
Both France and England can put out a B team against each other next week. Let the cards fall where they may, prep for the potential 3 big consecutive knockouts.
Damn you Argentina ....
I think France will be more than keen to get a win here - they haven't exactly set the world on fire, and it's been a while since they beat anyone of note (ie not Italy or Scotland). Although it might seem a pointless game, the winner in theory gets to avoid NZ in a semi-final. I doubt England will want to head into the quarters off the back of a loss to France. Suspect strong teams, with England to sub on early, especially if game in the bag.
I think it's the opposite .
Winner gets likely Australia quarter, NZ semi.
Loser likely gets Wales quarter, South Africa semi.I wouldn't suggest throwing a game, though. For any side of the draw permutations. But breaking up a brutal run of games with the dirtrackers
Yep, this is true. I can see France being fairly disinterested in this game and then going all 2007 / 2011 on Wales in a QF. They'll inevitably be half asleep a week later against RSA / IRE in the semi.
You still think Ireland will finish top of the pool? Even if they do, they ain’t beating the Boks IMHO.
I actually fancy Scotland to beat Japan, in which case Ireland can finish top. However, like you, I think it's unlikely Ireland beat the Boks, but it is possible because they'll no doubt get some confidence about of topping the pool and avoiding the ABs. Even though an Irish QF victory is not likely to happen, I still reckon that the match they play in will be the closest and toughest of the QFs (they'll be the highest ranked "losing" quarter finalist if they don't make the semis).
