Wednesday, November 17, 2010
France beat Fiji comfortably in the wet of Nantes
David Marty and Maxime Medard scored tries for France, with their third coming from a penalty try after a powerful scrum left the Fijians in tatters. Seremaia Bai managed four penalties for the visitors. The wet conditions hampered the Fijians, who fielded a fairly strong side but failed to utilise their talent in the cold, miserable weather.
France are still unbeaten against Fiji, with Saturdays win taking the record up to eight matches between the sides with the French coming out on top each time. The venue was however the scene of Fijis classic win over Wales in the 2007 World Cup, a team they will face on Friday night.
It will be their first meeting since that historic game, an epic 38-34 win for the Fijians that knocked the Welsh out of the tournament. Revenge will be on the cards.
"They gave Welsh rugby a huge shock. They got a result they deserved that day, and the guys have now got an opportunity to go out on Friday and put that ghost to bed," said Ryan Jones.
"We don't want to get involved in playing 15-a-side sevens. We don't want to go out and try to beat Fiji at their own game, we want to go out and play the way we've developed and try to impose ourselves on the game for 80 minutes," he added.
France will host Argentina, who they themselves lost heavily to a few months back. Theyre brought back their top players for the game though, making 14 changes from the side that beat Fiji. Sebastien Chabal will start at number eight for France for the first time since 2008.
"We want to see Sebastien start in this position. We already thought about it last year for a match against New Zealand when we wanted a more dynamic back row," Marc Lievremont said.
Time: 04:21
Posted at 11:48 am | 32 comments
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Viewing 32 comments
Anonymous November 17, 2010 12:55 pm
the first try is a Julien Arias forward...
and i'm french
and i'm french
bicool November 17, 2010 1:06 pm
Definitely not a game to remember. I would be curious to know the number of knock-on in that game. Think the referee will have to change his whistle after that game.
Anonymous November 17, 2010 1:12 pm
Well, the weather was so crappy that knock-ons were expected. Being French i'm still wondering what our real level is, have done kinda bad since the last Grand Slam last yuear.
Tom November 17, 2010 1:16 pm
Poor match due to the weather conditions.
Still, it's great to see that France, with kind of a second-hand team (lots of injuries and main players on the bench), is able to beat Fiji that easily and has enough competitive players to change 14 out of 15 of them before the game against argentina.
Still, it's great to see that France, with kind of a second-hand team (lots of injuries and main players on the bench), is able to beat Fiji that easily and has enough competitive players to change 14 out of 15 of them before the game against argentina.
Anonymous November 17, 2010 1:27 pm
First try is a double knock-on in my opinion. First by Fiji and then by France.
bicool November 17, 2010 1:39 pm
First shouldn't have been awarded since there is a doubt about a possible knock-on by Arias. For me the video footage are inconclusive.
Anonymous November 17, 2010 2:18 pm
No doubt the real test is against the Argies on Saturday. Big game for Chabal at 8.
Anonymous November 17, 2010 2:22 pm
Yeup, the SH clean sweep of the NH is off to a grand start...
Laz November 17, 2010 3:45 pm
^ clutching at straws there a little me thinks ;)
Anonymous November 17, 2010 3:46 pm
^^ didn't england already beat australia? not much of a clean sweep
Manny November 17, 2010 3:53 pm
The french coach publicly criticized Mdard and Harinoroquy for their performance. Did anyone see the game? Were they that bad?
tom November 17, 2010 4:19 pm
yeah, i did.
first time i see harinordoquy playing badly
its worst part was when he actually failed to receive the ball in a touch. i had actually never seen him failing that easy a pass before :'(
first time i see harinordoquy playing badly
its worst part was when he actually failed to receive the ball in a touch. i had actually never seen him failing that easy a pass before :'(
D0m3 November 17, 2010 5:37 pm
He also had trouble taking the ball out of the scrum.
But Medard was good and it was not justified.
But Medard was good and it was not justified.
Chairman Mao November 17, 2010 6:13 pm
SH clean sweep?
Ireland beat Samoa
France beat Fiji
England beat Australia
Munster beat Australia
...so far. If that's a clean sweep, I'm a Chinaman.
Ireland beat Samoa
France beat Fiji
England beat Australia
Munster beat Australia
...so far. If that's a clean sweep, I'm a Chinaman.
farmer john November 17, 2010 7:11 pm
Again, that's clutching at straws...and I'm all for NH beating SH any chance they can. I just wish they'd get it together when they play the tough games (eg - Wales v Australia, Ireland v SA, etc.)
Chairman Mao November 17, 2010 7:51 pm
Farmer John - I agree. It's just that there were some kids on here predicting a SH clean sweep in the internationals, so it's nice to be able to demonstrate that they were a long way off...
Laz November 17, 2010 8:46 pm
Australia (vs Eng) is the only one in the top five of world rugby that lost. It's implied that a SH clean sweep would mean the top nations, not Samoa and Fiji! Obviously they're far weaker sides and wouldn't realistically have a chance of beating the sides they played. Should we get Namibia playing Iceland and count that as a win for the SH? Its the Tri Nations sides - do you think that Kiwis, Saffas, and Aussies would brag about samoa, fiji and tonga when talking about SH dominance? No.
Funny how you didnt mention NZ pumping Scotland, or Wales losing to SA.
By the end of this tour, Australia will have been the only side to let the team down, unless SA loses to England, which is a possibility of course.
Keep clutching though boys, keep clutching. :)
Funny how you didnt mention NZ pumping Scotland, or Wales losing to SA.
By the end of this tour, Australia will have been the only side to let the team down, unless SA loses to England, which is a possibility of course.
Keep clutching though boys, keep clutching. :)
(u-p)rick November 17, 2010 9:13 pm
'Funny how you didnt mention NZ pumping Scotland, or Wales losing to SA'
Yes but the fact is in my eyes a clean sweep is a big scoreline (scotland vs NZ for instance) I'd hardly consider the SA vs Ire and SA vs Wales games that show pure domination, or an effort of clean sweeping....
You cannot pick and choose. Many 'Kids' stated SH will clean sweep the NH....and that is not the case...Fiji, Samoa etc...are in the SH....they lost to teams in the NH...if you want to turn around and say tri nation teams clean sweeping the 6N teams then i'd say that would be a more reasonable argument (obviously not entirely right considering its 3 top class vs 6 with some not so good teams) however that has not been the case.... SA with 2 very close games, Aus lost 1 match already, the only team that looks strong is NZ....and as far as I can tell their fans tend to be a bit straight up and humble....
so there is no need for anyone to clutch at straws, unless you're the kids making the comments...
Yes but the fact is in my eyes a clean sweep is a big scoreline (scotland vs NZ for instance) I'd hardly consider the SA vs Ire and SA vs Wales games that show pure domination, or an effort of clean sweeping....
You cannot pick and choose. Many 'Kids' stated SH will clean sweep the NH....and that is not the case...Fiji, Samoa etc...are in the SH....they lost to teams in the NH...if you want to turn around and say tri nation teams clean sweeping the 6N teams then i'd say that would be a more reasonable argument (obviously not entirely right considering its 3 top class vs 6 with some not so good teams) however that has not been the case.... SA with 2 very close games, Aus lost 1 match already, the only team that looks strong is NZ....and as far as I can tell their fans tend to be a bit straight up and humble....
so there is no need for anyone to clutch at straws, unless you're the kids making the comments...
Anonymous November 17, 2010 9:23 pm
you lot dont really know the meaning of sarcasm do you?
Mr Logic November 17, 2010 10:11 pm
Clean sweep predictors were wrong. End of.
Flipje November 17, 2010 10:16 pm
This game was the best commercial to promote Valium.
OK the condition did not help...sure...BUT no disrespect to the Fidji players but how the hell is it possible to be the only NH teams playing just one team of the Tri-nations and on the last game.....
Lievremont is annoucing before the game that 8 players will be changed whatever the performance of the team. Still testing news players, no continuity, no strategy, no balance front/back rows.
We rely on our front row, which is the only part which has been given satisfaction in the last year.
Great.....
OK the condition did not help...sure...BUT no disrespect to the Fidji players but how the hell is it possible to be the only NH teams playing just one team of the Tri-nations and on the last game.....
Lievremont is annoucing before the game that 8 players will be changed whatever the performance of the team. Still testing news players, no continuity, no strategy, no balance front/back rows.
We rely on our front row, which is the only part which has been given satisfaction in the last year.
Great.....
Laz November 17, 2010 11:05 pm
Yeah but that's clutching at straws - losing then bringing up some other minor fact to make yourself feel better, or try to put down the opposition. As it stands, Australia have lost 1 test match. By the end of the tour, that may still be the case, with the other two big dogs having won Grand Slams.
You can send Italy, Romania, and Portugal down south if you like but we'd be the biggest friggin retards in the world to have a dig at the NH because we beat them. It's just a stupid argument and discussion, and from what I've seen, there haven't even been that many 'SH clean sweep' comments anyway. Individual morons say stupid stuff all the time.
SA vs Ire & Wales - end of season, with many injuries, away from home. Isn't that your excuse when you lot fail to win down south? The difference is SA did win. :) As did NZ, and Aus were well beaten at Twickenham, and so they should be. Its never been an easy place to win at.
About this game, it would have been nice to see Fiji in good weather. The game against Wales should be entertaining!
You can send Italy, Romania, and Portugal down south if you like but we'd be the biggest friggin retards in the world to have a dig at the NH because we beat them. It's just a stupid argument and discussion, and from what I've seen, there haven't even been that many 'SH clean sweep' comments anyway. Individual morons say stupid stuff all the time.
SA vs Ire & Wales - end of season, with many injuries, away from home. Isn't that your excuse when you lot fail to win down south? The difference is SA did win. :) As did NZ, and Aus were well beaten at Twickenham, and so they should be. Its never been an easy place to win at.
About this game, it would have been nice to see Fiji in good weather. The game against Wales should be entertaining!
sticks November 17, 2010 11:35 pm
"This game was the best commercial to promote Valium."
This game was valium. I couldn't stay concentrated after the first 15 minutes.
If anything, this game was a good argument for stadiums to have roofs.
This game was valium. I couldn't stay concentrated after the first 15 minutes.
If anything, this game was a good argument for stadiums to have roofs.
John F November 17, 2010 11:43 pm
Yachvili is a genius, even when it's unintended.
Os Lobos November 18, 2010 1:28 am
you might be surprised. Portugal lost by 2 against USA last week, or two weeks ago, Romania are quite a strong team, very powerfull in the forwards (I really wish there was a relegation/promotion spot in the 6N so they'd get a chance), a Italy has beaten SA in the past, sooo... you might be surprised.
Oh, and if you SH people feel the need to compare Portugal (my proud nation), ranked 22nd in the world, to Fiji, ranked 10th, you go right ahead.
Also, about portugal, some past results include loosing by 5 against USA, again loosing by 5 against Tonga, 26 all against Itally A, loosing by 5 against Argentina A, loosing by 3 against Namiiba. We're not all that bad, just underfunded and often forced to field second string sides
Oh, and if you SH people feel the need to compare Portugal (my proud nation), ranked 22nd in the world, to Fiji, ranked 10th, you go right ahead.
Also, about portugal, some past results include loosing by 5 against USA, again loosing by 5 against Tonga, 26 all against Itally A, loosing by 5 against Argentina A, loosing by 3 against Namiiba. We're not all that bad, just underfunded and often forced to field second string sides
Anonymous November 18, 2010 5:12 am
First try was probably not legal for France.
Second try was a good one, great kick, great reading of the defence.
Third try is good if you like scrummagging I guess, seems hard on the poor old Fijians, they've never been big on set pieces.
Good on the Fijians for making it competetive in conditions which are terrible for the type of rugby they play.
Second try was a good one, great kick, great reading of the defence.
Third try is good if you like scrummagging I guess, seems hard on the poor old Fijians, they've never been big on set pieces.
Good on the Fijians for making it competetive in conditions which are terrible for the type of rugby they play.
Laz November 18, 2010 7:47 am
Os Lobos, I didn't mean to insult Portugal. It was just a NH example I randomly used. Apologies.
Italy has never beaten South Africa though, that's where you're wrong.
And yes the point it that if Fiji beat Portugal, I wouldn't start making fun of the NH, because obviously there is a big difference in rankings. The same way that Ireland and Samoa have a big difference, or France and Fiji. That was my point. No disrespect meant.
Italy has never beaten South Africa though, that's where you're wrong.
And yes the point it that if Fiji beat Portugal, I wouldn't start making fun of the NH, because obviously there is a big difference in rankings. The same way that Ireland and Samoa have a big difference, or France and Fiji. That was my point. No disrespect meant.
Gavin November 18, 2010 11:29 am
What's the ranking difference between Munster and Australia Laz?
Only joking :)
Only joking :)
Anonymous November 18, 2010 10:49 pm
'SA vs Ire & Wales - end of season, with many injuries, away from home. Isn't that your excuse when you lot fail to win down south? The difference is SA did win. :) As did NZ, and Aus were well beaten at Twickenham, and so they should be. Its never been an easy place to win at.'
...Yeh except 'SA have so much depth' isnt that a famous comment down there....
Look, the simple fact is there has been no whitewashing, and you are all different nations so dont do this whole brotherly SH shit...
...Yeh except 'SA have so much depth' isnt that a famous comment down there....
Look, the simple fact is there has been no whitewashing, and you are all different nations so dont do this whole brotherly SH shit...
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