'That's something we haven't seen from the French in awhile': What made these Kiwi players take notice of the power growing in Six Nations rugby
Despite falling short against England at Twickenham, France’s second impressive Six Nations campaign has reaffirmed their status as one of the growing powers in the international game.
The 23-20 loss dented their Six Nations hopes but furthered their build towards a home World Cup in 2023.
Former Blues hooker James Parsons said there ‘was a lot to like about’ the way this French side is playing the game but came unstuck against England by chancing their arm one time too many.
“You’ve got to be impressed with the French side and where they are at, the way they like to play, their attacking style,” he said on this week’s Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“You talk about ‘no fear’, they just throw everything at it. Potentially it was what cost them [against England] but give them a couple more years, they are going to be a genuine threat at this World Cup.”
“They are a young side, and there is a lot to like about them. And they were still within reach towards the end at 23-20. They had the ball at the end on the 22 and Dupont unfortunately knocked it on. He was exceptional on the day.”
“England fought their way back into it, they didn’t have the best start. They went back to what they know, their mauls, and Billy Vunipola I think had 18 carries. They went to what they know and got the match-winner through a man who has been under a lot of pressure in Itoje.”
Despite a second half laden with an overbearing amount of kicking, Parsons said that it can be ‘hard’ to switch watching between Super Rugby and international rugby, but that kicking is integral at that level.
“A lot of kicking. But I think with international rugby, it is hard to go from watching Super Rugby Aotearoa where one team kicks 14 times and the other team kicks 12 times to watching international footy where you do have to have a bit more strategy.
“Both sides kicked 29 times. It is a different style, but I just think they probably won the arm wrestle and the chess match. The possession and territory stakes wore down.
“France just ended up having to make a lot more tackles in their half, and chance their arm just one too many times.
“The funny thing is, they lost, but the brand of footy they are playing our natural reaction is to talk about them. And that’s nothing against England because they won the test match, but they were a joy to watch.”
Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall explained that France’s set-piece try by Damian Penaud was a sign that this French side is unlike any of recent times, and that the level of execution required to pull that off shows France are a side to be reckoned with.
“France are going to be scary come 2023, they are a young side coming on the up. You look at that second try, that special [lineout play] off the top, the return ball and having block runners, animated and down lines. That’s special.
“That’s something we haven’t seen from the French in awhile. You look at that first try, use the short side and square hands and the chip and chase with Dupont with that great ability to get one hand on it and get back inside for that try.
Hall said that despite the last play error, Dupont has been one of the best players to watch in the Six Nations.
“I feel really sorry for him, to knock on that ball. He’s just been so good in this Six Nations. For a decision like that, I’ve done it so many times in my career, sometimes it is a foot or a hand that loses the ball. Unfortunately that was the losing of the game there.
“I just think that France, they are brewing something special in that environment. Come 2023 they will be a team to watch, especially at home as well.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks 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?
4 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.
4 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 🤐
13 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….
13 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….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 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
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to comments