Monday, October 15, 2007
England knockout hosts France - Josh Lewsey try
With an 80 000 strong crowd, probably being divided equally between English and French supporters, England started well when Gomersall chipped ahead for Lewsey to chase. Lewsey himself, who timed his run perfectly, would have been as shocked as everyone when French fullback Damien Traille hesitated and let the ball bounch up straight into Lewsey's arms.
Traille looked like he was waiting for the ball to go over the touch line, but, as we know in rugby, you can never rely on the bounce of the ball. Lewsey grabbed it and stormed over the top of the fullback to score the try, getting up to give him a cheeky little tap on the head afterwards, almost saying 'You messed up mate'.
Great start to England. The rest of the game was played at a high tempo with good pace, but it soon turned into a game of ping pong, with neither side willing to chance their arm and have a crack at spreading the ball wide.
In the end, this was France's downfall in my opinion. 2003 World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson put England into the lead with 6 minutes left after France were penalised for a high tackle on Jason Robinson.
Three minutes later, Wilkinson did what he does best, and slotted an excellent 35 meter drop-goal to seal the victory, thus knocking out the host nation and putting his team into their second consecutive World Cup final.
Final Score: 14-9 to England
Posted at 7:56 am | 52 comments
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Viewing 52 comments
Anonymous October 15, 2007 8:53 am
Amazing try by Lewsey, Damien Traille was gutted beyond belief. Loved the two pats on the head after as well.
Anonymous October 15, 2007 9:48 am
I'd like to see- The Chabal-Shaw citing- Stevens hit on Chabal- Wilkinson hit on PelousAs soon as that drop-kick hit the post, I thought it was going to stay 9-8
Anonymous October 15, 2007 9:54 am
always impressed with your impartiality grant. especially in the face of what many bok fans are claiming is a foregone conclusion.if this world cup has taught us anything, it is that nothing is set in stone and us neutrals will be hoping for a close game. it will either be a decent world cup performance from the boks or the mother of all upsets.fd
Anonymous October 15, 2007 10:53 am
It would take England to perform above their best of the last 3 years and RSA to dispoint everyone for England to win.But England have been to strong in defense. If Habana cant put a try in, then the Boks will be in trouble via the boot of Wilkinson.
Anonymous October 15, 2007 11:16 am
I'm very glad England won the game, they have been throughout the tournament very humble after each win and always praises the other team. France on the other hand has been arrogant after each win espicially after the NZ win.Loved the double tackle on Chabal, brouht him back to earth. Looking forward to us playing the English on Saturday and I know its going to be very tight and a whole different game from the first one.South African Fan
Anonymous October 15, 2007 1:25 pm
cant believe new zealand lost.... oh who cares, South Africa has this man, yeeeeeea!
Anonymous October 15, 2007 2:00 pm
I think England din't win but France lost.... (poor game play)french fanPS: RSA would win
Anonymous October 15, 2007 2:31 pm
Everyone getting ready to watch SA THUMP England for the second time?
Anonymous October 15, 2007 3:08 pm
Typical French reaction blame it on somebody else. Let's face it French Rugby has been blessed with Bernard Laporte for the past 8 years so try blaming the lack of creativity and will against the England squad on maybe Damien Traille or the so-called Attila-Chabal. Chabal is quite good... as a target for Simon Shaw and Paul Sackey. Oh, well 'Les Bleus peut soigner Leurs Bleus'.Ca doit faire chier comme meme : pSwing Low Sweet Chariot!!!
Lemou October 15, 2007 4:02 pm
Poor game play on both sides. Nothing to be proud about. France lost because of their inability to keep the ball more than 20 seconds. England played smarter.England is always 'our best enemy'.I am sure it is not the last time we hear 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot' in a french stadium.
Anonymous October 15, 2007 4:08 pm
Well it's not a french reaction, if i said that it's just than the defeate is the result of an unpropriate reflection about the game from B. Laporte (and for a little part the players). English are not the the beautiful team of 2003. And without Wilko and Robby, it's not the same team. I'm just realist about Egland team. And i'm the first to critisize the french strategy and the poor beautiful game. And SA are good everywhere on the team.Rude and fast....Let will see... a beautiful game for our beautiful eyes
Anonymous October 15, 2007 4:20 pm
To be fair why is everyone so bigging up RSA, at the end of the day they probably will win. but its nice to see the current world champions in the finals, which is more than i can say for the current runners up. and well done to RSA they got to the finals, may i remind you that the last world cup you didnt.....it means fook all. Enjoy the RUGBY, support your team, cheer on the opposition good gameplay and drink some beer, we all play rugby here (well most do) so act like players and drink with the guy next to you!
Sean October 15, 2007 7:45 pm
England have this amazing ability to make any match they play in seem like complete shit. Its terrible for rugby in general that the most borring team in the history of the world has managed to get into our premier showpiece.
Anonymous October 15, 2007 7:59 pm
Sean,, it seems to me you either don't understand or appreciate the game of rugby enough then.
Anonymous October 15, 2007 8:01 pm
Let me guess. Sean is either a New Zealander, Aussie or a sour Frenchman.
Arnaud October 15, 2007 8:36 pm
I'm French and not dissapointed at all by the french defeat.This gale is the end of Laporte's era and the coming back of creativity for french.Laporte brang us only one thing : no more stupid fouls. But where is the french rugby? Dissapeared. The win of this french team would have meant Laporte's choices are the best. Nobody here can accept the way we beat the blacks : by defending. It's not our culture and Laporte has enclosed the french rugby be into an unthinking way of playing.English played their own rugby : not beautiful, no creation, took no risk. but lot of confidence in their abilities. And they totally deserved the win.What do many people say in France? France lost the game...What a stupid idea. For many monhts, Laporte said France will win the cup with 30 players. Agaisnt England, there was no turnover. Nobody understood. To beat england we need another team than the one that played.If we forgive the french win against the blacks, we just beat ireland. 4 years for beating Ireland...damn, what s that?I'm happy England won (i won 400 euros) because this means Laporte was wrong. We can't accept such a non-strategy anymore. We want rugby. We lost! So let's lose while playing our own way.And i hope Saint-Andre or Lagisquet will bring back the french rugby to life because the one we saw for these 4 las years was all but not our culture.Go england. Go SA (just ebt on SA...)
Anonymous October 15, 2007 8:54 pm
Saint-Andre would really put the fire back into French Rugby. Laporte cleansed French rugby of stupid fouls and mistakes but Saint-Andre could really polish the diamond.
Anonymous October 15, 2007 8:57 pm
For all the arrogant England haters, your arrogance is only setting you up for the biggest slap in the face with the worlds largest slice of humble pie ever concieved.And i think that its great that the french have not joined in this gobbing off. They should definatley be proud of France, they were great.
Anonymous October 15, 2007 9:54 pm
Dream French Coaching/ Staff line-up for 2011 RWC : Head Coach - Saint-Andre, Forwards Coach - Serge Blanco, Backs Coach - Titou LaMaison.
G-unit October 16, 2007 1:17 am
Solid! I think its 50/50...the springboks need to cut england to threds, outscore, outthink and keep the ball out of Johnny's hands...england will play the way they played the last 3 games to win...defend, destroy the scrum, tackle to a standstill and if things are close in the last 10mins, Johnny will kick them home...So South Africa run up enough points so that England can't win by drop goals!!! and would have to score trys...then again, aussie couldn't do it four years ago... so maybe SA will play conservatively...hmmmm....I hope Jake White has a better game plan, than England... otherwise... damn him Johnny will win a second medal...
Seb October 16, 2007 9:15 am
In this match England consistently kicked into the French half without finding touch, watching the match it made me very frustrated, as if I was watching a constant barrage of mistakes.In hindsight though it seems like a tactic, boot the ball as deep into the opposition half as poss, run at the fullback forcing him to make a quick kick, hope he slices the kick or at least kicks shorter than you, then gain possession from the lineout further up the field than you started. Seemed to work, England are good in possession and bad at getting it, so this is a good tactic. Thoughts?
Anonymous October 16, 2007 9:30 am
Agentina did exactly that to the saffers, kicked as far as they could downfield and not going for touch, must say the boks up and under's were alot better than the french for that the boks could actually compete with their up and unders were the french's up and unders were way to long.
Anonymous October 16, 2007 10:30 am
Well we'ae in the final. Certainly the worstteam to reach the world cup final and undeserving of the spot, England didm't realy beat France and Australia both France and Australia lost, if you know what I mean.Anyway we'll loose comprehensively to SA in the final because the forward power game can be countered by the springboks and we have nothing else.What a shames that such an entertaing world cup that the two most boring side in rugby meer in the world cup final. I expect nothinh less than a teneious up the jumper/ kicking encounter, with SA winning fairly easily.
Anonymous October 16, 2007 10:43 am
I would like to see how claims of english arrogance can be backed up.The last two results for England have been extremely surprising, thus they have not taken them or any future game for granted.I read in the Times this morning about the South African manager (not coach) saying that the result was almost as good as in the bag, and when questioned about his over-confidence, brushed it off (or should I say 'orf') claiming he knew that they'd win. That is arrogance, and I hope it comes back to slap you in the face like it did O'Neil for Australia.
Anonymous October 16, 2007 1:42 pm
You racist fuckers never learn do you? You hate England because they're English.None of you narrow minded wankers can actually see that England totally destroyed the Australia scrum and starved their backs of possession.They then outplayed a very good France side who simply played the wrong tactics and straight into English hands.I just hope the Boks play with their cocks in their arses thinking that it is a foregone conclusion, only for England to retain the trophy.Then all you wankers will be eating a massive slice of humble pie.Eng v Aus, the Aussies will win easy (whoops, no they didn't). Eng v Fra, the French are too good for them and can't have a repeat of the 1/4s (oh dear, England win again), Eng v RSA, RSA are already ordering the champagne (don't you ever learn?)A close game doesn't mean a boring one. If you want an exciting one then we should have the All Blacks and Portugal in the final.
Anonymous October 16, 2007 2:15 pm
To the guy above me, Cruel and very truthful. By the way good word usage the AB vs Portugal thing was a nice touch as well. LOL
Che Guevara October 16, 2007 4:56 pm
NO RUGBY - JUST LAPORTE.Saint Andre for Coach !
Northy and Matt October 16, 2007 5:40 pm
Why is it that England is the only team in the world who are expected to lose gracefully whilst the rest of you whinging bastards piss and moan?Look we apologise for conquering the world... how many times do we have to apologise for that one?We apologise for:1. Introducing sanitation to your world.2. Skill's, knowledge and industrial processes.3. Social Systems... such as health care, education and law and order.4. A meaningful start to your life, and a reason to live.Again we apologise, now let us bask in our greatness! We are so fooking good at that!xxx
matt n October 16, 2007 6:40 pm
"Sean said... England have this amazing ability to make any match they play in seem like complete shit. Its terrible for rugby in general that the most borring team in the history of the world has managed to get into our premier showpiece."October 15, 2007 9:45 PMwhat a ****what is it with evry1 all out to swipe at england, wud u b syin tht to ur own team if they won ,whoever they r.swing low, sweet chariot!C'mon England
Anonymous October 16, 2007 9:06 pm
wohooooooo, we are out of control..... where is the pilot? Where are in RUGBYdump, no in a political (or colonial) website!!!!
Just a Fan October 17, 2007 11:07 am
Not sure why everybody is thinking that because the Poms have Jonny that the Bokke should be nervous - they have ONE kicker...we have Percy, Frans, Fourie, Butch.....PLEASE...there is no way we should feel intimidated by Sick Note Jonny....I am hoping for a cracker of game - but as Bok supporter I hope the English slaughtered....but this is a final and anything can happen....and there is an Irish ref..... ;)
Anonymous October 17, 2007 11:56 am
Yeh, cos the english have never had a run in with the irish
Anonymous October 17, 2007 11:56 am
You know they'd be less time for comments if there were any new clips on this site
Anonymous October 17, 2007 1:48 pm
to the guy above me, well said, i totally agree, they should get more clips, before we start killing each other.
Just a Fan October 17, 2007 4:01 pm
Probably less time to post comments if we actually did our work! But I think we have ben spoiled - not quite sure what I did before I found this site. Go over some of the older clips - a REALLY REALY good one is the Drop Goal by Frans Steyn against Australia - or even the Bryan Habana tries - there are few of those...My blood is GREEN - Go bokke!
Anonymous October 17, 2007 4:02 pm
does anyone know where I can see the france vs england game? I missed it for a mates wedding! gutted...
Anonymous October 17, 2007 6:58 pm
To the guy above, there are a couple of rapidshare links for the RWC 2007 matches knocking around the net so have a look around, Google it you will probably get alot of hits. Search and 'yea shall find.
Anonymous October 17, 2007 8:26 pm
i loved to see wilkos hit on pelous that ended up forceing him to leave the field. cheers! come on england!
Anonymous October 17, 2007 9:13 pm
all the english team do in the beautiful game is score drop goals without jonny england would have no chance
Anonymous October 17, 2007 9:15 pm
englland ruin rugby with dropgoals. rugby is about tries without jonny wilkinson england would bre lamb for the slaughter bthe minute they step on the pitch!
I Love Free Bets October 18, 2007 11:53 am
Lewsey got England off to a cracking start and how bad must it be for him that he now misses the final through injury?! I am personally not sure Cueto is the man to cope with Habana but Ashton and co. have proved me wrong often enough already. Wilkinson will once again be the key and if he finds his kicking game then I think England could win on Saturday. After all they have beaten France and Australia with him nowhere near his best so anything can - and possibly will - happen.
Just a fan October 18, 2007 2:52 pm
Not sure why Sick Note Jonny is getting so talked up - he only has a 60% success rate in this tournement....there isnt anything that he does that Percy can't/doesn't do - Percya has an 80% success rate. With Percy Frans and Butch on the field SA have the unique advatange of having three fly halves....on Paper England dont stand a chance. But on game day - anything can happen!Go Bokke!
Just a Fan October 18, 2007 2:53 pm
Oh...that there was an "edit" button...sorry for the typos....
Anonymous October 18, 2007 3:03 pm
"englland ruin rugby with dropgoals"I'm sorry, are England the only team who have been using drop goals to win games??When people post comments on this site can they make sure that they are not totally retarded.Don't you remember Jannie De Beer in RWC 99? The 2 retards who posted at 11.13 and 11.15 obviously haven't got a clue. Stick to soccer faggots.
Anonymous November 16, 2007 7:41 am
I screamed with joy when Lewsey scored.But when England kept giving away penalties and Beauxis never missed,I was as sullen as a damp sock.I was praying for a miracle.I'll leave you to guess what happened when the Jonny wonder worked his magic.
mat n April 10, 2008 3:50 pm
October 18, 2007 5:03 PMThankyou!For ages peoplle have been coming on RD and say stuff that they obv.don't have a clue aboutFrancois Steyn cus he's never scored a dg to win a game has he???whats with all the hate toward s England anyway???explain please
Anonymous October 08, 2008 9:40 am
jonny is the best goal kicker ever..... and percy
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