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France player ratings vs New Zealand | Autumn Nations Series
France player ratings: It was billed as the biggest game of the Autumn Nations Series from a neutral’s perspective and it didn’t fail to deliver.
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It’s the first time the All Blacks have lost in Paris since 1973 and the first time they’ve lost to France in nine years.
FRANCE PLAYER RATINGS:
15. MELVYN JAMINET – 8
Danced his way up the pitch on occasion, a second-half breakout will have had viewers on the edge of their seats, as did a late charge for the line that was thwarted. A smart, conscientious sweeper.
14. DAMIAN PENAUD – 7.5
Showed his remarkable attacking prowess, slicing through the All Blacks defence in the lead-up to the Ntamack try. Hid defence is a major work on though, falling off tackles and getting brushed aside by Jordie Barrett in the second half… but he’s so good on the ball.
13. GAEL FICKOU – 8.5
It’s hard to believe Fickou is just 27-years-old, having been a feature of French rugby – both domestic and international – for so long. Now the elder statesman of the French backline, it’s his decision-making that stands out. Composed, powerful and skillful here.
12. JONATHAN DANTY – 8
Exploded through contact like a heavyweight boxer battering an outmatched opponent, evoking memories of a young Mathieu Bastareaud. Ran out of steam a tad in the secondhalf, which is completely forgivable in the circumstances.
11. GABIN VILLIÈRE – 7
He took up the game late and was written off at the start of his career, but Villiere was clearly born to play the game. Turning his back on Rieko Ioane was a cardinal sin – a particularly naive bit of defending.
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10. ROMAIN NTAMACK – 8
How can you not scream in delight when Ntamack stepped his way across the whitewash for France’s second try. Outplayed Mo’unga before he was taken off.
The best NOT quite a try ever of 2021 ?#FRAvNZL | Credit: @autumnnations pic.twitter.com/hFBw6tRet4
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 20, 2021
9. ANTOINE DUPONT – 9
The best scrumhalf in the world brought it, both in defence and attack. Maybe at times he takes too much on, or rather France rely too heavily on him. Some of his long ball passing was a little agricultural – but that’s reaching for criticism. C’est bon.
8. GREGORY ALLDRITT – 8
The young captain was heavily involved in the first half onslaught and the ever-present cuts and bruises on his face at 80 minutes told their own story.
7. FRANCOIS CROS – 7.5
A good example of the latter-day prototype French backrow. Tall, athletic and hard-hitting. A brick wall in defence and has a big diesel engine on him.
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6. ANTHONY JELONCH – 7.5
Another teak-tough Frenchman who didn’t give an inch. Like Cros, tireless.
5. PAUL WILLEMSE – 7.5
No longer tipping the scales at 21 stone, the athleticism of this slimmed-down giant continues to impress. Got through a lot of work but tied in the second half.
4. CAMERON WOKI – 8
Although no debutant Woki has brought a different look to France pack this season and is at home in Fabien Galthie’s engine room despite his rangy frame. A strong set-piece shift and a handful in the loose. Should he have given that 63rd-minute ball? Maybe.
Feel like you're witnessing a big event in rugby history ? #FRAvNZL pic.twitter.com/EmIruIiYNJ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 20, 2021
3. UINI ANTONIO – 7.5
Boy was the giant tighthead fired up for this one – playing the country of your birth will do that in rugby. Emptied himself on the pitch.
2. PEATO MAUVAKA – 8.5
Another player having a breakthrough season for Les Bleus, the All Blacks struggled to contain him in close quarters. Five tries in four games in the Autumn – Mr Mauvaka has officially arrived, even if a couple of gaffs here took the shine off a fine performance.
1. CYRIL BAILLE – 7.5
Plenty of pick and jams from the loosehead, who held up his side of the bargain in the scrum.
REPLACEMENTS:
Demba Bamba and Thibaud Flament caught the eye and Maxime Lucu made a number of decent contributions.
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
3 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments