RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks
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@Kiwiwomble Remember though, how hard Graham Henry said it was to play three big games in a row.
And look how awful we were vs SA after most of the team not playing for a month.
My theory is - don't get hung up on France. Build your way into the QF with a couple of solid games in the pools and perhaps play your best game in the QF, hope for an easier passage through thew semis where you don't concede a red card, and two teams - a bit battle weary face each other in the final.
RWC is littered with teams who played their final early and didn't get back up the next week.
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Rugby World Cup
Here. They. Are. 🇫🇷 The men tasked with delivering a huge home performance! #FRAvNZL | #RWC2023 | France Rugby
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@pakman said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Injuries will dictate 23, but I’m guessing:
EDG/CT (if fit)/NL/Big Sam/SB/SC/DP/AS Nuggie/RM/MT/JB/RI/WJ/BB
Bench: OT/ST/FN/TV/LJ/FC/DMac/ALB
If starters could argue for Newell and Jacobsen, but I prefer strongest scrummage to start and Pap’s extra bulk.
Biggest uncertainty is backline bench, where arguments can be made for CR, DH, LF and even CC.
Three days on the starting XV only complicated by le genou de Jordie.
Bench will be the interesting bit.
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@Canes4life said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Here. They. Are. 🇫🇷 The men tasked with delivering a huge home performance! #FRAvNZL | #RWC2023 | France Rugby
With their injures that is a very beatable French lineup.
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@Canes4life said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Something to get everyone hyped for Saturday, how good were the ABs in this performance.
Snakey Smith makes an appearance in the video below, is it me or has he aged quite alot since his playing days?
Savea was so good but by crikey he lives up to the old candle burning twice as bright cliche that seems to befall NZ outside backs like no other nation……
He was on the scrap heap less than two years after this.
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@chimoaus said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Where do we find these in NZ?
A country bogan pub with big steak nights.
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@Canes4life I have very fond memories of this game, the Bus's performance was truly stellar, I almost rate that performance as being similar to Lomu.
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@mariner4life said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
can we please stop comparing this team to the 2015 vintage? There are a handful of tema in history that can favourably compare to this team, and certainly no team at this Cup.
Ben Smith is as good as any AB fullback ever
Our best ever midfield that includes one of the best 12s ever
The best 10 to play the game
The best AB halfback ever
One of the top #8s in AB history
The greatest rugby player of all time
The best AB 6 i've ever seen
Our best locking compo at the peak of their powersPrime BB coming off the bench.
It's a ridiculous comparison that doesn't really say anything about this team.
I would also add to this a Coles-Mealamu hooking combination that, collectively, is as good as any hooking combo in the game.
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@mencey According to a graphic I found re: team announcement times and posted in the RWC discussion thread, the AB's are named at 3:30am NZ time, 5:30pm Paris time. Soon.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@mencey According to a graphic I found re: team announcement times and posted in the RWC discussion thread, the AB's are named at 3:30am NZ time, 5:30pm Paris time. Soon.
THX Mate
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