Congratulations France

This will be interesting. I can't wait to see what the Kiwi media puts out tomorrow. France were good value for their win. It wasn't perfect, but it was the first high-level test I have seen in several years now. May it be a sign of things to come for the remainder of the tournament. The Kiwis are still potent, even missing some players, but France has another gear, as they clearly showed. The poise and skill under real pressure were a joy to watch. We used to see this kind of rugby in the RC. I'm sure some surprises are in store. This really wasn't one of them to be perfectly honest. 

No, I didn't, but I did watch the test. Unfortunately, a good friend of mine passed away a couple of weeks ago, so my appetite for any sport has been rather weak. Still, it'd be hard to miss a WC entirely. 

Great to have you back

France really deserve congratulations in beating the AB's/    I was too conservative I predicted that France would beat  the AB's by 7 points,   

This essentially would not be that the AB's are out fo the WC altogether.   However, the only team won the WC after losing  in the Round Robin  stage of the tourament an went on to win the WC was South Africa in 2019.   The SA loss was in fact to their advantage since the Quarterfinal was against Japan 

It is likey that France will go into the quarterfinal stage as the winner in their group and the AB's as te number 2 team.   However - it is clear that the road to the final for the AB's will become increasingly difficult when it comes to the play-off stages of the tournament.

Sympathy  with you for as to losing of a good friend of yours.   

  .         

Never caught that…kudos for admitting it. Moolaa I listened to Foster’s interview…maybe he is different with the players, but there’s just no fire.

Congrats to France. ABs did fairly well early but could not get the ball into French half, once the penalties started, then the yellow card it was too much for them to overcome. Some good signs but it's a tough loss.

Well, all not lost. We lost to you ABs last Cup and came back. 

Thanks Moz, Mike, and Plum. One thing that still strikes me is that there still isn't that one killer of an international side at present. It really is the most open cycle of rugby I can recall. In some respects, soft. We still have a shot, if we can make it past the first knockout game. I feel that this WC is going to be harder on the front end. We'll take Scotland for sure, and we'll likely take Ireland too. It's that third big test that is the hard one. We also have Tonga, who are by far the most physical and violent of the islanders. It could be tricky. 

Indeed excellent Le Bleus.

 Deus understand just how you feel...lost my best friend since early school days too this year, very unexpectantly.

You are a good lad with depth and can think for yourself. My condolences.

What a boring game, struggled to stay awake for most of it. To much ping pong kicking. All blacks did the most attack in the first half. 

A lot of French players just stood on the half way line with their hands on their knees. So France did look really tired after only 20 min. 

But looks like New Zealand fell into the same trap trying to run from everywhere. They had nothing left in the last 20 min. 

Not sure Richie is the answer at 10. Looks good with ball in hand but often results to nothing. Reminds a lot Elton Jantjies. His kicking was terrible too. I would drop him for the next match. Bring Barret back at 10 and move Will Jordan to 15 where he belongs 

I'll put my neck out for a Ireland Springbok final...last night was a total let down...ja ja, I know things can turn around quickly in rugby,  but this isn't the same French side as a year ago and I don't have the foggiest what's going on with NZ..

I think Ireland and Argentina will step up to the plate...pity Scotty is in our and Ireland's group.

Deus talking nonsense yet again. 

Rugby has never been as physical as it is today. Training methods have advanced and today play is faster and harder. This incidently is the trend in all sports. Competition just keeps growing.

Deus made one of the daftest comments ever made on this forum when he said the Boks, the second ranked team in tbe World, have a glass jaw and soft underbelly. Really!! 

Name me one soft glass jaw type in tbe Bok pack of Kitshoff, Marx, Malherbe, Eben, Snyman, Kolisi, Vermuelen and Du Toit. 

Deus and Plum are correct about NZ lacking good competition now we don't okay Super Rugby. 

I said this would be the case when discussion arose here about us playing in a NH comp. Financially also they were losing tbe country providing most of the money. 

As for the wee abs, they have a strong rugby tradition and will rise again. I don't buy the line they are in a permanent decline, neither are they out of the RWC just yet. 

Plum, it wasn't cheating but they have strong bias agaist us...they don't like our combative attitude in general,  yet they love playing against us for the very same reason...love hate relationships are the best.

Yes, I see it...entitled way of playing...always p!$$ed me off...like Tradhole, their way is the way it's supposed to be played and everyone should agree better than everyone else attitude, but they're not all like that ...NZ has some solid rugby folk...miss the rivalry, but I'm also loving the URC.

They called it "street smart". Those were the days of New Zealand simply and blatantly breaking the laws. I recall the Kiwis saying that it the Boks could get away with things, then I'd turn a blind eye. It turns out that this isn't true at all. Rugby looks like a lot of back scratching. I see the leniency we have received with reffing (the least penalised team for many, many years) as currying favour. 

It was an excuse. New Zealand were heavily gifted for an entire cycle. The Boks are currently the beneficiaries in like manner. The question is this: what dealings are going on behind closed doors? Where there is money, there is corruption. Rugby Union needs a thorough clean out. 

The question I do have regards the benefit to the Euro teams of having us in their competitions. I'm not sure what the average fan or player there thinks but I do wonder if they see us being there as a net benefit.

In Ireland we are delighted to have you onboard.  It is the saviour of URC as the Welsh are a mess.  

Sorry but I’m flabbergasted you guys think that the ABs blatantly cheated for many years while the “Sacred Boks” apparently never transgressed the laws!

You guys simply had to find an excuse as to why a country with far less player numbers could continually pound your team into submission.

Dirty pool guys. Look within when you are beaten, not without. The ABs are going through this examination right now…….

1. The spear tackle that ended Smit's TNs campaign, which followed a throat slam on Jantjes. No punishment. In fact, they came away with the penalty.
2. Illegally holding defenders to allow runners through the line. 
3. Sitting on the wrong side of the ruck wrestling the opposition 9 for the ball. 
4. The two throat slams which preceded the penalty to "win" a world cup.
5. McCaw's 7 final warnings where he laughed in the refs face.
6. 2007's spear tackle by Rocokoco on Paulse.
7. Forming screens to block kick chasers and disrupt them with shoves and trips. 
8. The illegal lineout play in 2015 to "win" the game.
9. The unpunished double spear tackle on O'Driscoll to break his leg. 

https://drop.download/eau6gbsi6psh/Rugby.World.Cup.2023.09.08.France.Vs.New.Zealand.480p.x264-mSD.mkv.html

The difference Plum, was that everything I cited for New Zealand was unpunished. We were punished and slandered. In fact, during that period New Zealand was at around 54 penalties to every yellow card, whereas we were in the region of 5 to 10. Moola doesn't have a leg to stand on. I recall Fitzpatrick and other pundits watching a clip of Nonu hold two defenders for Smith to run past and score a try and conclude that we were just whiners. That's the level of bias. I don't blame Greyling for lamping McCaw out in 2012. 

The notorious get the Jarpy saga was instigated by a New Zealander - the father of Disgraced NZ ref Bryce Lawrence. 

The kiwis and also Oz took cheating to a whole new level as I said repeatedly over many years. Who can forget the Oz cheat Stuart Dickinson! 

My comments had the very frot Rooitwit in a complete froth. 

I also said moving north would benefit our players and franchises  financially and in terms of better travel arrangement and of F AIRER REFS

I also warned NZ and Oz of the detrimental consequences of their folly. 

I have been correct on ALL accounts.

I also mentioned that there was a possibility of rejoining NZ and OZ at a latter point but very much on our terms and no more disgusting cheating down under refs. This remains a possibility but one that right now is diminishing rather than growing.