Round Three was full of excitement and correct results (see picture).
But I am not going to wear my little fingers to the bone typing a preview of this week’s matches when Deebee7 has already done it! Or, if you’re bored with the World Cup, you could look forward with him to the 2024 summer tours.
They are also determined not to defend these cross-kicks. They’re well executed, but there often seems to be about a third of the width of the pitch to hit.
Darcy never had that sort of space. I was at Stade de France the year Darcy kicked through and looked certain to score until his kick rolled against the post and he couldn’t claim it cleanly. We got thrashed.
That was the game where Flannery rolled-out the flying trip on a French winger. Good times…
Ugo is right that the Italian player who came in from the side to kill the ball should have got a yellow.
The French try that came straight after looked so simple that you’d think Italy were more than one man down even though they’ve still got fifteen though.
Italy on a good day still might look OKish against Wales/England/Scotland in the 6N (and they might not), but they are not up to playing these teams.
I’m inclined to be a little more understanding of how they played tonight than in their NZ game as the French forwards are too powerful for them so just shifting it out to get turned over wasn’t quite as daft, but you’ve got to kick the ball sometimes.
Should Wales make the semi-finals and while they may well not they do now have a surprisingly good chance (totally undeserved etc etc), then I guess the most likely template they’ll be getting out for defeat at that stage is the 1987 one.
Quite optimistic for France against South Africa, but I am used to being disappointed. Still expecting Ireland to put NZ away though I can understand Irish supporters not being ever so confident.
All NH semis? I for one bow to our colonial overlords. Missed the mismatch for various reasons, chiefly as a result of corks popping, but caught some highlights. France are simmering nicely, coming to the boil at just the right time.
Ovally Balls 
Commentary team seem to think Italy are down to 14 – there wasn’t a yellow card.
Well, Ugo does….
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They are also determined not to defend these cross-kicks. They’re well executed, but there often seems to be about a third of the width of the pitch to hit.
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Penaud’s almost as good as Darcy…
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Well, I expect France to reach about 80 points in the second half.
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Darcy never had that sort of space. I was at Stade de France the year Darcy kicked through and looked certain to score until his kick rolled against the post and he couldn’t claim it cleanly. We got thrashed.
That was the game where Flannery rolled-out the flying trip on a French winger. Good times…
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Piper – I think BB means Darcy Graham rather than Gordon D’Arcy. :-D
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Ha! That makes much more sense :) That’s what happens when you open the second bottle.
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I’ve opened a bottle of brandy. Purely medicinal, to recover from my old man staying for a whole fucking fortnight.
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Yep, Darcy Graham, Son of Hawick (spit), scorer of 4 tries vs Romania, owner of Worst Moustache In The Competition (after Nick White).
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Some homer refereeing going on.
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Lamaro has a thousand yard stare. Feel sorry for the guy.
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Hmmm. Italian player takes French player past the ruck. French penalty.
French player takes Italian player past the ruck. No Italian penalty.
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Ugo is right that the Italian player who came in from the side to kill the ball should have got a yellow.
The French try that came straight after looked so simple that you’d think Italy were more than one man down even though they’ve still got fifteen though.
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The ref has been very quick to reward France at the breakdown. When exactly did Danty release there once the Italian:s knee was down??
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I feel like I’m channelling the spirit of Expro!
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@Piperboy – It has not been a well refereed game. However, Italy’s game-plan is ridiculous and their defending is poor.
There was a pretty obvious knock-on in the lead up to the latest try, ho hum.
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Try Italy!
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Italy score. Yay!
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Italy get a try!
Lots of offsideyness from France in the lead-up to that one too until our referee finally gave an advantage.
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There you go: Ireland-style quick phases and they’re in 😀
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Allen looking a bit fucked.
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France – SA is going to be some game.
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Too easy again for France.
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Italy on a good day still might look OKish against Wales/England/Scotland in the 6N (and they might not), but they are not up to playing these teams.
I’m inclined to be a little more understanding of how they played tonight than in their NZ game as the French forwards are too powerful for them so just shifting it out to get turned over wasn’t quite as daft, but you’ve got to kick the ball sometimes.
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Being more kind it’s not as if they’re the only team that can’t cope with this French side at least some of the time.
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I fear we won’t be able to cope with this French side, supposing we can cope with Scotland.
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Supposing you can cope with Scotland you may well not have to.
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CMW – well, yes. I fear NZ even more, given the French injuries.
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Should Wales make the semi-finals and while they may well not they do now have a surprisingly good chance (totally undeserved etc etc), then I guess the most likely template they’ll be getting out for defeat at that stage is the 1987 one.
Quite optimistic for France against South Africa, but I am used to being disappointed. Still expecting Ireland to put NZ away though I can understand Irish supporters not being ever so confident.
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All NH semis? I for one bow to our colonial overlords. Missed the mismatch for various reasons, chiefly as a result of corks popping, but caught some highlights. France are simmering nicely, coming to the boil at just the right time.
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“Still expecting Ireland to put NZ away”
Still got to get past Scotland there, CMW. Being a bit previous.
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@SBT – Fair enough, but I’d expect them to put Scotland away even more so (though not the Boks if that’s even a possible fixture).
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I guess it would be the final.
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New post up!
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