RugbyRebels

This will be a hideous, frog-flavoured pasting. I'll be at the airport waiting for a flight so might be forced to miss some of the gruesome details.

Midi Olympique think this'll be the French starting XV against Namibia on Thursday evening at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille:

15. Ramos ; 14. Penaud, 13. Fickou, 12. Danty, 11. Bielle-Biarrey ; 10. Jalibert, 9. Dupont ; 7. Ollivon, 8. Alldritt, 6. Jelonch ; 5. Flament, 4. Woki ; 3. Atonio, 2. Mauvaka, 1. Baille.

Good to see the return of Jonathan Danty and Cyril Baille into what is more or less a full-strength side. Anthony Jelonch made a less than spectacular return to the side against Uruguay and is being given a chance to secure his place at 6.
One could say that Toulon winger Gabin Villière would be first choice but young Louis Bielle-Biarrey is there on merit.

francoisfou wrote: ↑Mon Sep 18, 2023 4:50 pm Midi Olympique think this'll be the French starting XV against Namibia on Thursday evening at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille:

15. Ramos ; 14. Penaud, 13. Fickou, 12. Danty, 11. Bielle-Biarrey ; 10. Jalibert, 9. Dupont ; 7. Ollivon, 8. Alldritt, 6. Jelonch ; 5. Flament, 4. Woki ; 3. Atonio, 2. Mauvaka, 1. Baille.

Good to see the return of Jonathan Danty and Cyril Baille into what is more or less a full-strength side. Anthony Jelonch made a less than spectacular return to the side against Uruguay and is being given a chance to secure his place at 6.
One could say that Toulon winger Gabin Villière would be first choice but young Louis Bielle-Biarrey is there on merit.

Oof. That is going to result in an utter tonking. Namibia usually get lucky and get to play 2nd XVs, but your team need the gametime, with a bye week before the Italy game, so they get to face full bore. And on the flip side, Namibia will have half an eye on Uruguay in 6 days' time (which they'll still lose, but at least they can dream there)

Wonder what the odds are on a first RWC century since 2007 are? Hells, if you do put out that team and they get in the mood, there could be records threatened.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Mon Sep 18, 2023 5:23 pm

francoisfou wrote: ↑Mon Sep 18, 2023 4:50 pm Midi Olympique think this'll be the French starting XV against Namibia on Thursday evening at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille:

15. Ramos ; 14. Penaud, 13. Fickou, 12. Danty, 11. Bielle-Biarrey ; 10. Jalibert, 9. Dupont ; 7. Ollivon, 8. Alldritt, 6. Jelonch ; 5. Flament, 4. Woki ; 3. Atonio, 2. Mauvaka, 1. Baille.

Good to see the return of Jonathan Danty and Cyril Baille into what is more or less a full-strength side. Anthony Jelonch made a less than spectacular return to the side against Uruguay and is being given a chance to secure his place at 6.
One could say that Toulon winger Gabin Villière would be first choice but young Louis Bielle-Biarrey is there on merit.

Oof. That is going to result in an utter tonking. Namibia usually get lucky and get to play 2nd XVs, but your team need the gametime, with a bye week before the Italy game, so they get to face full bore. And on the flip side, Namibia will have half an eye on Uruguay in 6 days' time (which they'll still lose, but at least they can dream there)

Wonder what the odds are on a first RWC century since 2007 are? Hells, if you do put out that team and they get in the mood, there could be records threatened.

Puja

I'm a little bit surprised that Galthié has plumped for a full-bore side against lowly Namibia when their last pool fixture against much sterner opposition, Italy, is on Friday October 6th. However, it makes sense for Danty to be paired with Fickou to fine tune their centre partnership before the knock-out matches are with us.

francoisfou wrote: ↑Mon Sep 18, 2023 7:43 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Mon Sep 18, 2023 5:23 pm

francoisfou wrote: ↑Mon Sep 18, 2023 4:50 pm Midi Olympique think this'll be the French starting XV against Namibia on Thursday evening at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille:

15. Ramos ; 14. Penaud, 13. Fickou, 12. Danty, 11. Bielle-Biarrey ; 10. Jalibert, 9. Dupont ; 7. Ollivon, 8. Alldritt, 6. Jelonch ; 5. Flament, 4. Woki ; 3. Atonio, 2. Mauvaka, 1. Baille.

Good to see the return of Jonathan Danty and Cyril Baille into what is more or less a full-strength side. Anthony Jelonch made a less than spectacular return to the side against Uruguay and is being given a chance to secure his place at 6.
One could say that Toulon winger Gabin Villière would be first choice but young Louis Bielle-Biarrey is there on merit.

Oof. That is going to result in an utter tonking. Namibia usually get lucky and get to play 2nd XVs, but your team need the gametime, with a bye week before the Italy game, so they get to face full bore. And on the flip side, Namibia will have half an eye on Uruguay in 6 days' time (which they'll still lose, but at least they can dream there)

Wonder what the odds are on a first RWC century since 2007 are? Hells, if you do put out that team and they get in the mood, there could be records threatened.

Puja

I'm a little bit surprised that Galthié has plumped for a full-bore side against lowly Namibia when their last pool fixture against much sterner opposition, Italy, is on Friday October 6th. However, it makes sense for Danty to be paired with Fickou to fine tune their centre partnership before the knock-out matches are with us.

You've got nearly two weeks between matches though - better to keep yourselves in nick rather than overresting players and ending up rusty.

Puja

I’ll stick my neck out and say that pumping teams by 100 is out of fashion. Once teams are 50 or so up they tend to roll the subs and do some opposed training rather than reveal all their tricks.

If anyone was going to cop that sort of hiding it would be Romania anyway.

Lizard wrote: ↑Mon Sep 18, 2023 9:54 pm I’ll stick my neck out and say that pumping teams by 100 is out of fashion. Once teams are 50 or so up they tend to roll the subs and do some opposed training rather than reveal all their tricks.

If anyone was going to cop that sort of hiding it would be Romania anyway.

I think it's as much because of World Rugby funding of the T2/T3 sides and their coaching, combined with the significantly improved international calendar for those sides. While the game does still throw up the occasional, "He's a dentist, they've been professional players since 16, what a wacky game!" human interest story, they neglect to mention that the dentist is at least a semi-pro player, who has access to professional coaching and resources and plays weekly in a structured league (and is joined in the team by some of his compatriots who are playing ProD2/3 because of improved scouting and the national team's WR-sponsored coaches having contacts abroad). Back before 2007, the dentist was just a dentist who liked a game of rugby, and his professional funding extended to buying him a flight to the RWC (and sometimes not even that). The IRB, for all their many, many issues, has done a pretty good job with the lower tiers the last 15-odd years.

But yeah, I think this might be the exception. Romania got to face 2nd string Ireland and South Africa; I shudder to think what the French first XV will do here.

Puja

Gregory Alldritt has been withdrawn from the side to face Namibia due to a knee problem, Anthony Jelonch will probably play 8 with Paul Boudehent of La Rochelle at 6.

I must admit, when predicting France to go fully 2nd XV for Namibia, I hadn't realised they then had a rest week. That does change things, as it would mean the firsts go up against Italy having had 3 weeks off.
I'd still back them to win it fairly comfortably, but it's far from ideal.

francoisfou wrote: ↑Tue Sep 19, 2023 11:29 am Gregory Alldritt has been withdrawn from the side to face Namibia due to a knee problem, Anthony Jelonch will probably play 8 with Paul Boudehent of La Rochelle at 6.

The team's not quite the above, with François Cros at 6 and Paul Boudehent on the replacements' bench, which won't make a ha'porth of difference to the result.


Le XV de la France face à la Namibie : 15. Ramos ; 14. Penaud, 13. Fickou, 12. Danty, 11. Bielle-Biarrey ; 10. Jalibert, 9. Dupont (cap) ; 7. Ollivon, 8. Jelonch, 6. Cros ; 5. Flament, 4. Woki ; 3. Atonio, 2. Mauvaka, 1. Baille.

Les remplaçants : 16. Bourgarit, 17. Wardi, 18. Aldegheri, 19. Taofifenua, 20. Boudehent, 21. Couilloud, 22. Moefana, 23. Jaminet

Namibia is rotating, to give them at their best shot at redemption against Uruguay next week. That is simultaneously understandable and futile, on this morning's evidence.

These okes are going to get P.U.M.P.E.D:

15-Andre van den Berg,
14-Gerswin Mouton,
13-Johan Deysel (capt.),
12-Danco Burger,
11-JC Greyling,
10-Cliven Loubser,
9-Jacques Theron,
8-Prince Gaoseb,
7-Johan Retief,
6-Max Katjijeko,
5-Adriaan Ludick,
4-Mahepisa Tjeriko,
3-Aranos Coetzee,
2-Louis van der Westhuizen,
1-Desiderius Sethie.

Replacements: 16-Obert Nortje, 17-Jason Benade, 18-Haitembu Shikufa, 19-Pieter-Jan van Lil, 20-Richard Hardwick, 21-Oela Blaauw, 22-Alcino Izaacs, 23-Divan Rossouw.

Lizard wrote: ↑Thu Sep 21, 2023 12:16 am Namibia is rotating, to give them at their best shot at redemption against Uruguay next week. That is simultaneously understandable and futile, on this morning's evidence.

These okes are going to get P.U.M.P.E.D:

15-Andre van den Berg,
14-Gerswin Mouton,
13-Johan Deysel (capt.),
12-Danco Burger,
11-JC Greyling,
10-Cliven Loubser,
9-Jacques Theron,
8-Prince Gaoseb,
7-Johan Retief,
6-Max Katjijeko,
5-Adriaan Ludick,
4-Mahepisa Tjeriko,
3-Aranos Coetzee,
2-Louis van der Westhuizen,
1-Desiderius Sethie.

Replacements: 16-Obert Nortje, 17-Jason Benade, 18-Haitembu Shikufa, 19-Pieter-Jan van Lil, 20-Richard Hardwick, 21-Oela Blaauw, 22-Alcino Izaacs, 23-Divan Rossouw.

Ooft. That is going to get messy.

Puja


ETA. Have literally just gone and place my entire remaining RWC betting fund on France at the handicap. Got evens at +69 (with a couple of smaller bets on +75 and France's total points being over 74.5). It's not a huge amount of money to wager - I only give myself £5 for the whole of the tournament to put on tuppenny-happenny bets - but it'll take away my fun if France somehow don't do the business when faced with that team and I'll have to wait till one of my others comes in before I can make any more bets (Australia to go out in the pool stages (probable), NZ to go out in the pool stages (not impossible), SA to go out in the pool stages (pretty much impossible), or England to win the tournament (mostly just wasting money for patriotism's sake, although I did get 18/1. Would've got better if I'd waited till after the Fiji game)).

+69 (nice) seems about right. I picked France by 68 in Superbru before the squads came out.

This is going to be the biggest score of the tourney isn't it.
First century since 2007?

France apparently playing NFL.

French winger with the red scrum cap is rapid.

I understand the logic of not wanting the first to go 3 week's without a game ahead of Italy, but is this more preparation than an intra-squad training game?

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Thu Sep 21, 2023 3:21 pm This is going to be the biggest score of the tourney isn't it.
First century since 2007?

So far so good

The score will be monstrous unless Fra hold back a bit.
Their skill level is ridiculously high.

This is completely one sided route, and Id usually switch away after about half an hour.
But...
It's compelling viewing. The quality of the French play is just out of this world, even if there's minimal resistance, that just means they're playing even most adventurous stuff.

Yes, very much one way traffic, but the precision of the French play is mightily impressive. I’d expect wholesale changes early in the second half to avoid injuries.

Well that's red, and exactly what we feared by playing the first XV

Nasty contact - will be lucky if face not damaged.
The flood-gates could be washed away now.

Dupont is rather important to France come the sharp end of the tournament. Hope he’s ok.

canta_brian wrote: ↑Thu Sep 21, 2023 9:25 pm Dupont is rather important to France come the sharp end of the tournament. Hope he’s ok.

Hmm. His cheekbone could be fractured after that impact, which would be catastrophic to France’s chances.