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FORUM / RUGBY /  FRENCH STIFLED BY TOP 14 SAYS HANSEN; Rugby 365

FRENCH STIFLED BY TOP 14 SAYS HANSEN; Rugby 365

Started by Just_win14 REPLIES352 VIEWS· 15 Oct 2015, 16:51
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JW
Just_win
Captain18,570 posts
JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
15 Oct 2015, 16:51
#1
15 Oct 2015, 16:51#1

FRENCH RUGBY COULD PROBABLY DO BETTER OUTSIDE THE TOP 14 COMPETITION WHICH IS STIFLING THEIR TRADITIONAL FLAIR, ACCORDING TO ALL BLACKS COACH STEVE HANSEN. 

The term "French flair" has been repeatedly used around the All Blacks this week as they prepare for their World Cup quarterfinal at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Saturday. 

It goes back to the days when French coach Philippe Saint-Andre was at his playing best and famously sparked what has become known as "the try from the end of the world" against the All Blacks in 1994. 

The flair was evident when France tipped the All Blacks out of the 1999 World Cup semifinals and the 2007 quarterfinals, both times throwing caution to the wind when behind on the scoreboard to fight their way back and claim the win. 

However, playing with spontanaity has not been the French way at this World Cup. 

Hansen said the the famous flair still exists but is being drowned by the style of play in the Top 14 club competition, the world's wealthiest rugby league. 

"Their game was built around flair in the backs and real physicality up front," Hansen said. 

"I'm not sure it's the same flair that they've got now what with Top 14 that's become quite a dour competiton with a lot of physicality. 

"I know that they're trying to recapture that flair. You can see it and when they let it loose it's definitley there." 

Hansen said the dropping of Mathieu Bastareaud and the pairing of Alexandre Dumoulin with Wesley Fofana in the French backline for Saturday suggested they were planning to test the All Blacks with an expansive game. 

"They've made three changes. They're obviously picking on form and what's most damaging against us," he said, describing Fofana as "one of the flairy guys" who will command a lot of attention. 

"He's pretty good. You wouldn't want to give him too much room. He'll skin you as quick as he looks at you. 

"But they've all got it. They've got the ability to catch and run and pass the ball and turn nothing into something. 

They're very instinctive rugby players and when they've got their backs to the wall that's when they really let it loose."

The winner on Saturday will move on to  play the winner of Saturday's South Africa-Wales match in the semifinals.

Agence France-Presse

JW
Just_win
Captain18,570 posts
JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
15 Oct 2015, 17:04
#2
15 Oct 2015, 17:04#2
 "Flairy guys" Well, at least their coach is changing things up. Bastareaud played a pretty average game last weekend so the change has to be for the better. Bastereaud off the bench could do some damage in the last 20 mins.
It will be interesting to see how the forwards do though France usually has a strong pack. ABs are going to use Moody and Faumuina off the bench & they will add some muscle & skill as others tire.
GE
generaltit
Pro3,164 posts
GE
generaltitPro3,164 posts
15 Oct 2015, 20:49
#3
15 Oct 2015, 20:49#3
Phillipe was one of the best and a legend as a player but not as a coach the same as Martin Johnson...good stars very seldom make good coaches...ordinary guys like Kitch and Mac were 2 of our best that is why I suspect Naas refused to take up this job despite probably reading the structures better than anybody else in the game
DE
DezertFox
Pro2,288 posts
DE
DezertFoxPro2,288 posts
16 Oct 2015, 05:59
#4
16 Oct 2015, 05:59#4
Judging by his comments over the years, he'd have been a terrible coach. Sometimes it's hard to believe he was a Springbok at all!
Hansen is right about the physicality in the Top 14, b ut that physicality makes it harder to open up the game. Imagine flinging it wide when your opponent is in your face in seconds smashing players out of rucks. Top 14 makes SH rugby look very soft to say the least.
WA
Wardad
Pro6,663 posts
WA
WardadPro6,663 posts
16 Oct 2015, 08:12
#5
16 Oct 2015, 08:12#5
 NH dullards banging heads for 80 minutes is neither  scintillating nor hard rugby .Some folks are easily amused by the simpler things in life I guess .
BL
bluebok
Pro3,977 posts
BL
bluebokPro3,977 posts
16 Oct 2015, 08:13
#6
16 Oct 2015, 08:13#6
DF, I wonder about you sometimes! If the Top 14 makes SH rugby look very soft, why is it that the SH teams have dominated the World rankings? Unless you are purely stating that NH rugga is more physical! If you are trying to say that NH (Top 14) rugby is somehow more effective, I think you will find you are very mistaken!
JW
Just_win
Captain18,570 posts
JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
16 Oct 2015, 08:14
#7
16 Oct 2015, 08:14#7
I think France will have a game plan of trying to dominate/decimate the AB pack & smash the AB backs - pushing the limits of the off- side rule. They can test the referee's patience because they have nothing to lose.
ABs will of course battle in the forwards but it will take a couple of line breaks & good execution to score tries through the backs. If the ABs get a decent lead the penalties for French skulduggery should keep them in check. If the French get a lead the game will get very interesting. Last 20 minutes ABs should pull ahead.
DE
DezertFox
Pro2,288 posts
DE
DezertFoxPro2,288 posts
16 Oct 2015, 08:32
#8
16 Oct 2015, 08:32#8
 Bluebok, Top 14 rugby is far more physical than SH rugby. It's much closer to the intensity of competitive test rugby than Super XV. That's why we don't produce powerful backs anymore, adaptation to a softer rugby environment where speed is the priority. 
BE
Beeno1
Captain40,032 posts
BE
Beeno1Captain40,032 posts
16 Oct 2015, 09:19
#9
16 Oct 2015, 09:19#9
We will soon find out how physical NH sides are.I think Oz will be okay as they certainly weren't out muscled by the disappointing Poms.Nz is pap at forward but have a few big backs.
Boks of course are the hard men of world rugby and feared by a ll.
DE
DezertFox
Pro2,288 posts
DE
DezertFoxPro2,288 posts
16 Oct 2015, 13:36
#10
16 Oct 2015, 13:36#10
The Boks are not as feared for their physicality as they once were. Wales, Italy, Argentina believe whole heartedly they can beat us up front and they generally do, and in those instances it's the backs who gave us the edge. But that is changing as we saw when Argentina humiliated what Saffers foolishly thought was the best centre pairing in world rugby. Our new generation of players are soft. Defence in the SH is becoming a sloppy mess. 
JW
Just_win
Captain18,570 posts
JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
16 Oct 2015, 14:10
#11
16 Oct 2015, 14:10#11
 Books finally have clarity in terms of identity & game plan. Same old thing beat up the opposition forwards, kick for territory , go for set piece dominance to get penalty points or the rolling maul (legalized obstruction). Have a flutter in the backs if something is on.
It will get down to execution & if they can impose their will. Poor wee Scots (depleted thru inconsistent rulings of judiciary) don't stand a chance.
DE
DezertFox
Pro2,288 posts
DE
DezertFoxPro2,288 posts
16 Oct 2015, 14:11
#12
16 Oct 2015, 14:11#12
The Scots can make a game of it of they have the heart for it. I don't think they do.
BL
bluebok
Pro3,977 posts
BL
bluebokPro3,977 posts
16 Oct 2015, 14:16
#13
16 Oct 2015, 14:16#13
JW. I suspect our forward orientated game plan will be of little concern to the Scots, seeing as though they'll have their hands full dealing with the Aussies! 
JW
Just_win
Captain18,570 posts
JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
16 Oct 2015, 14:45
#14
16 Oct 2015, 14:45#14
 Too true blue, I'm losing it mate, too much going on in the real world right now.
Wales will be a better test for the Boks than the wee Scots would have been. Wales have some grunt in the forwards & way better backs if not so injury depleted. I picked the Boks to beat Wales by 3 under the predictions thread but in truth the Boks look better than 3 points right now.
BL
bluebok
Pro3,977 posts
BL
bluebokPro3,977 posts
16 Oct 2015, 15:07
#15
16 Oct 2015, 15:07#15
Hahaha, all good, its Friday!!!! 
Yeah, we should be able to beat Wales without too much fuss, but where the AB's thrive when they are confident, the Bok's tend to become complacent! That's how we lose to teams like Japan! 
— END OF THREAD —

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