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Rugby fans go in on 'the most French performance ever' after stuttering, limp effort against USA
After Japan’s win over Ireland just days old, many watching were entertaining the thought that the USA Eagles would do the same against France.
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For 60 minutes the USA pushed an underwhelming French side as the Americans trialed by just three points at 12-9 before a final flurry saw France take a bonus-point win 33-9 in the last 20 minutes.
The French performance has been widely criticised by fans in the aftermath for being discernibly ‘French’, with a limp effort against the USA. One fan wrote ‘the worse France play now, the better they’ll play against England’ expecting that in typically French fashion they will show up for the bigger clash.
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Rugby fans on Twitter blasted the showing, with another fan confident Wales have ‘absolutely nothing to fear’ over a potential quarter-final match-up.
What annoys me about this is that, the worse France play now, the better they’ll play against England.
This performance could not be more French if it was wearing a beret, modelling a garlic chain and flirting with your wife. #FRAvUSA #RWC2019
— Rucked Over (@RuckedOver) October 2, 2019
The French rugby team is so quintessentialy French. When they are bad, they look horrendous. When they are good, they have it on a string. And they alternate every couple of minutes. #FRAvUSA #RWC2019
— Rugby Report Card (@rugby_podcast) October 2, 2019
Seriously sloppy from France, fumbling their way to a belated bonus point win over US. On this evidence @WelshRugbyUnion have nothing to fear over a prospective quarter-final against @FranceRugby Absolutely nothing.
— Peter Jackson (@JackoRugby) October 2, 2019
Can someone get Eric Cantona to summarise this match pls #FRAvUSA #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/VY3RxhF0SS
— ugo monye (@ugomonye) October 2, 2019
Martin Bayfield trotting old the old cliche, "which France is going to turn up"……
Has he watched France over the last 8 years?
France haven't had a strong team for ages.
Here are their 6 Nations finishing positions for the last 8 years.
4th
4th
3rd
5th
4th
4th
6th
4th— rugby (@theblitzdefence) October 2, 2019
Thank you. Been saying this for bloody ages now. See also "you can't write off France". Well I've been writing them off for 8 years now and it's gone just fine, ta.
That said, I do think the new coaches are going to turn this crop of youngsters into something special for 2023.
— Rhiannon Garth Jones (@rhigarthjones) October 2, 2019
The USA were able to wrestle their way into the game through a disciplined performance, not conceding a penalty until the 36th minute while the French constantly infringed, handing the opposition ball and territory.
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They were well in the game thanks to compounding French errors and penalties with three AJ McGinty penalties keeping the Eagles within striking distance of France scored two tries early from kicks from Cammy Lopez.
France is on the brink of trouble as the infractions pile up. They'll need to button down the hatches or we will start seeing some yellow flash in #RWCFukuoka #FRAvUSA #RWC2019
— Tyler Arnold (@TRS_TylerArnold) October 2, 2019
I know they swapped out their speedsters and old lumps, but 12-6 at 61m, #FRAvUSA ?
And how many penalties?— Matthew Grey (@pauvrordinateur) October 2, 2019
I'm watching the #FRAvUSA #rugbyworldcup2019 my god france are playing shit pic.twitter.com/5vE61tERNv
— Terry Hodkin (@Beerwithfeather) October 2, 2019
After emptying the bench, a Gael Fickou try sparked a rally in which France scored their bonus-point try and ran away to finish well-ahead on the scoreboard despite the tense contest.
“The ball was very slippery and we made many mistakes and allowed them to counter, and they had a very tough defence too,” head coach Jacques Brunel said after the game.
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“We gave away many penalties which we should have avoided. In the maul, there were many problems.”
Number 8 Louis Picamoles said they have many things to work on but was happy they were able to overcome their mistakes.
“It didn’t work as well as we thought it would, in the first half there were so many mistakes, but we did not panic and we overcame adversity and were able to gain the bonus point. We have many things to work on,” he said.
“It was disappointing that we committed so many fouls.”
Prop Cyril Baille said the side was never afraid of losing the match but did have to question what was going on.
“We weren’t afraid, although it is true that we asked ourselves some questions when it was 12-9 after 60 minutes. We told ourselves that we had to wake up and go after tries. That’s what we did: the reaction of the team was perfect,” he said.
France now sits in second place in Pool C, one competition behind England who will face Argentina in a survival match on Saturday.
The Pumas will have to beat England to be any chance to make the quarterfinals after losing to France in their opening game. France plays Tonga next week before the decisive clash against England that could decide who tops the Pool.
Stephen Ferris Rugby World Cup memories:
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments