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How France have been 'found out' this Six Nations
Just six months ago, France were sweeping aside the All Blacks in the opening match of their own World Cup, with the rugby world seemingly at their feet.
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Fast forward six months and it is nothing short of a rugby miracle that they have managed a win and a draw from their opening three matches of the Guinness Six Nations. One different TMO call against Scotland and a slightly more secure placement of the ball on the tee by Italy’s Paolo Garbisi and Les Bleus would be at rock bottom of the Six Nations table instead of fourth.
A sizeable injury list has not helped Fabien Galthie, particularly in the second row department. Romain Ntamack’s longterm knee injury allied with Antoine Dupont’s conversion to rugby sevens has meant France have also been without their favoured halfback pairing, and that is apparent.
But former Springboks Schalk Burger and Jean de Villiers believe France have been “found out” tactically.
Joining Hanyani Shimange on RPTV’s Boks Office recently, the World Cup-winning duo explained how France are no longer reaping the rewards of their long kicking game. Alongside this issue, Burger added that the 2022 Six Nations champions have lost the intensity that they had just a matter of weeks ago.
Match Summary 
2
Penalty Goals
2
1
Tries
1
1
Conversions
1
0
Drop Goals
0
138
Carries
113
5
Line Breaks
4
19
Turnovers Lost
11
4
Turnovers Won
7
“The way they play, I think people have worked them out with the long kicking game,” the former flanker said.
“So much of their game is around 22 entries, the accuracy around the maul and then with Dupont it’s almost like they have an extra loose forward in that 22 play the way he’s a real threat and speeds up the tempo of the game.
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“They don’t have Dupont or Ntamack at the moment, but I think it runs a little bit deeper than that. They’re not getting the rewards from their long kicking game.
“I think they’ve been found out a little bit. Also they don’t have that intensity. If you think back to the quarter-final we played against them, that intensity they had there- the first maul they scored, [Peato] Mauvaka was on the end of it, but it was a 22 metre maul against the Springboks, the best maul defensive side in the world.
“Every time they had a 22 entry, they basically busted down the door and found a way to score a try. This weekend against Italy, when they got that 22 possession, it’s not the same effectiveness. It’s not the same aggro, tempo, spark. It almost looks easy to pick them off, whereas you thought in the four years leading up to the World Cup, when they had a 22 entry you were going ‘okay boys, this is trouble’.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
43 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
2 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
43 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
43 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
2 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
6 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
6 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to comments