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

[Springs09]

The scoreline isn't as disappointing as the fact it was achieved with boring negative footy. France played some great aggressive footy and it showed on the scoreline in the first 30. If Australia then reached 50 with exciting footy then great, but their game was dominated with wrestling and negative bending-the-rules play that we've gone soft on lately. Wrestling holds, flops, offside, hand-on-the-ball etc. There was a grapple tackle about once a set with Josh McGuire the main offender.

 

[Pedge1971]

The scoreline isn't as disappointing as the fact it was achieved with boring negative footy. France played some great aggressive footy and it showed on the scoreline in the first 30. If Australia then reached 50 with exciting footy then great, but their game was dominated with wrestling and negative bending-the-rules play that we've gone soft on lately. Wrestling holds, flops, offside, hand-on-the-ball etc. There was a grapple tackle about once a set with Josh McGuire the main offender.

Agreed. The games that do not involve Aus, Eng and NZ have been far better viewing.

How clean was that relatively smaller Ireland pack to watch tear through the nrl based Italy pack by just running hard and direct?

 

[Vee]

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

And the rest.

 

[Vee]

What standard were the French? Q Cup SFs? Q Cup lower half? Or Cairns District RL FGers?

I loved the fact they threw it around and tried to create things. Outmatched physically massively, I thought they showed a fair bit of heart and I was happy to watch the game, much better than I feared it might turn out.

 

[Smack]

Gotta give it to Graham, he always had it in him but hit a road bump mid season.

 

[Burns]

Was ther French jerseys on sale last night?

 

[MilkShark]

Life after Thurston isn’t looking great for Australia. I’d be looking to Munster over Morgan for sure.

 

[WaznTheGreat]

Australia were hopeless again like they were against England

 

[ed-grimley]

Gotta give it to Graham, he always had it in him but hit a road bump mid season.

Better him getting four tries than a dick like McGuire.

 

[ed-grimley]

French League forwards aren't as scary looking as their Union counterparts.

 

[elyod138]

Life after Thurston isn’t looking great for Australia. I’d be looking to Munster over Morgan for sure.

Can't really judge when Smith and Slater hog so much ball.

They gave Munster good ball all night and left Morgo out in the cold on the right edge. He got no good ball until the last 10 minutes when Smith and Slater were off and they finally let him play as a main playmaker.

There will be a massive void at rep level when Smith retires, he controls everything. He's a great player but it's frustrating to watch when he's hogging it.

 

[adamkungl]

France gave it a solid crack. It's not as if Aus haven't done similar to NZ and England.

They are improving, more professional players than at any point in the last 2 decades. The depth isn't there yet but the more games against top 3 opponents they play the closer they will get.

They can't wait 4 years to have another crack - gotta be playing one of Aus or NZ every year, and England home and away every year.
We've been saying this forever but France have more potential and are closer to reaching it than any other tier 2 nation in this World Cup.