2017 RLWC - A - W2 - AUS 52-6 FRA @ Canberra

[Arucard]

Be nice if we could have some close games this tournament.
Crazy amount of blowouts this time round.
Everyone going backwards or what?!

 

[DC_fan]

Shame we didn’t kick a few motor goals

 

[Rory]

Hold your heads high France! Apart from the last 10, great performance in my opinion.

 

[DC_fan]

I don't.

What, no heart

 

[jim_57]

Catalan dont help things. There are plenty of good young French guys coming through but half the team is made up of English and Aussies. The French guys dont get the shots they deserve. The French Youth team beat the England Academy a couple of weeks back too and always seem to give them a game so the talent is definitely coming through the ranks.

Here lies the problem. At Under 18 level France mix it with the best. It is between then and 23 after spending 5 years struggling to get through the log jam and wasting away in Catalans reserves where the potential is lost. The more players that try their luck elsewhere the better.

 

[King hit]

It was just way to easy for Australia in the second half. Graham has to be man of the match.

 

[Pedge1971]

I remember when France gave Australia a scare 10 to 15 years ago. Now they aren't even close. Has French rugby league gone backwards, even with the addition of Tolouse and Catalans?

Serious question? Yes, way behind in the professional era.

 

[Rory]

Serious question? Yes, way behind in the professional era.

100% but the score would look different with 12 of those missing players, fairly certain it was 12?

 

[jim_57]

Be nice if we could have some close games this tournament.
Crazy amount of blowouts this time round.
Everyone going backwards or what?!

Australia flogging France isn't new.

I think the main difference is now Fiji, PNG, Samoa and Tonga have really stepped up their game even the super pool concept can't protect lower tier 2 teams. We want nations to catch up to the big 3 but when a few do people complain that they are smashing weaker teams not just Australia.

In saying that Wales, France and Scotland all came missing a host of first teamers and USA went with homegrown over heritage.

 

[_snafu_]

If only Remi Casty was playing.

 

[veggiepatch1959]

Just looked it up Graham is the 8th Australian to score 4 tries in a test and the second forward.

I can't believe it.

It was Gorden Tallis in 2000 versus PNG as the other forward.

 

[veggiepatch1959]

Gordon Tallis. He scored 4 against PNG in 2000

Echo....echo....echo.....

 

[Pedge1971]

100% but the score would look different with 12 of those missing players, fairly certain it was 12?

The Albert 12? Maybe, but it would have still been a 30 plus margin. I think the size alone was a big factor. Just hard to compete with full time pro's.

But to your point, Lebanon v France was the most enjoyable game of the WC.

Light on wrestling, heavy on pure RL.

 

[veggiepatch1959]

What, no heart

The French? Yes.

Historically, the French can't stand a direct face to face confrontation whether it be sport, military conflict or whatever.

They prefer to do their dirty work covertly and behind your back. Remember the Rainbow Warrior?

For the record, my surname is of French descent and I can't stand the merkins.

 

[Storm13]

Would we say the French are 5-10kg on average to light?

 

[King hit]

lol at fox sports giving Smith a perfect 10

 

[veggiepatch1959]

lol at fox sports giving Smith a perfect 10

Out of 100 I'd say.

 

[AJB1102]

Mansour already showing he is better than Holmes

Not trying to be a Captain Hindsight wanker here mate but when all was said and done Josh played 80 minutes, had 13 runs at an average 10.7m, made 5 tackles (0 missed). Val played 10 minutes, had 3 runs at an average 12.7m, made 3 tackles (0 missed), 1 line break, 1 try.

 

[TimmyB]

Serious question? Yes, way behind in the professional era.

That's the point though - 15 years ago Australia was already professional and France had no professional teams. Now they have a full time pro team and a semi pro team and they have slipped further behind.

 

[Pedge1971]

1 full time pro team in 15 years? Aust systems have advanced to the point where there are another additional 300+ full time pros on top of the nrl 1st grade since then and France has say 20 max guys playing ESL?

Also the strides fwd in the last 15 years in Aus in terms of coaching, fitness and technical aspects of the game have gone massively ahead (to its detriment in my opinion).

Wrestling and winning the ruck has become paramount and his is somethinf the French could not hope to keep pace with given their current situation. NRL is almost a different game and it saddens me because it is overcoached.

This WC has been a joy to watch.