France vs Australie (Paris)

[dogz08]

Gidley really offers nothing

 

[Dragon]

lol J.Moz after scoring 'f*ck thank god for that'

Some better play from the french in the past 10 mins, their kicking game is pretty impressive. I really hope one day they are a force in RL, make them a permanent addition to this tournament imo.

 

[sass]

I'm actually kinda glad I stayed up to watch this tonight ... the frenchies played with so much heart.

also I JUST LOVE SEEING MORRISES SCORE TRIES.

did anyone else really like the way australia looked with thurston and cronk on the field?

 

[sass]

lol J.Moz after scoring 'f*ck thank god for that'

hahhaha I noticed that too. awesome.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

That was seriously good football Ferriol to Bosc. From someone who doesn't watch ESL, he looks like a handy little player.

Bosc is a class act.

 

[TimmyB]

The French play some lovely football when they first lay a platform and then throw the ball around. Too many times they were gonig from side to side.

42-4 looks very respectable, even if Australia's intensity was way down.

 

[Dragon]

Cronk definately made an impact.

Respect to the French. They never gave up, just hurt themsevles with penalties and errors.

 

[broncos70]

sheens is a dumbass because cronk shouldve been the utility from game one..either him or lewis..gidley and farah are both useless off the bench

 

[mxlegend99]

Michael Jennings had a great game and surely deserves a spot ahead of Justin Hodges in the final. While it was only the French, he put in a man of the match performance and scored a hat trick while Justin Hodges has done nothing all series.

Not that it means anything... the backline for the final was picked before Australia played a single game. I just hope Gidley isn't anywhere near the side... he isn't even good enough to carve up a team that Australia can slaughter.

F*ck all the Newcastle fans that defend him. He's a hack and has been absolutely owned in every rep game he has played so far. Even against the teams who are no competition for Australia.

 

[andrew057]

sheens is a dumbass because cronk shouldve been the utility from game one..either him or lewis..gidley and farah are both useless off the bench

Lewis offers far more to the team as a utility.

 

[S.S.T.I.D]

Attendence: 8757

Not too bad. They must of come in late on because before kick off it really looked horrible.

 

[kiwileaguefan]

That means they averaged over 10,000 for both matches which is bloody good for the French.

 

[morgan123]

That means they averaged over 10,000 for both matches which is bloody good for the French.

In the places they played the games it's not bad. Tolouse will hopefully get a franchise because there is a lot of support for the game there.

Catalans average 9,000 in Super League, so you would have to guess that a game there would have been better supported.

 

[morgan123]

Gidley is rubbish at this level.
Australia ran a play early on which they used last week where Slater scored - instead this week Gidley over ran it and Australia lost the ball.

The 9 and 10 for France ?
Do they play for any SL teams - impressive players.

9 was Kane Bentley. Kiwi parentage but a proper Frenchie. 10 was David Ferriol. Both play for Catalan Dragons in Super League.

Thomas Bosc is a fine player too, he scored one of the best Rugby League tries I've ever seen this season with a chip over the line with one foot, a perfect regather then a chip over the fullback with the other foot and another perfect regather to score under the sticks. Elima, Casty, Mounis and Baile are all NRL quality French players who show the potential there is there. Catalans as a club are doing great after only a few years in SL. They could field an entirely French side and be competitive now.

If they add another French team to SL as is expected France can only improve.

 

[The Observer]

You can finally hear the crowd and atmosphere!

It seriously sounded like two men and a dog earlier.

After Jennings' second try in the 27th minute, and Thurston liined up for goal, the camera panned to a full brass band playing in the stand. It looked great! The NRL could do with them

 

[miguel de cervantes]

After Jennings' second try in the 27th minute, and Thurston liined up for goal, the camera panned to a full brass band playing in the stand. It looked great! The NRL could do with them

They are a regular feature at all international games and the bigger games in the LER. I believe they are hired by the FFRXIII for the games. First time I experienced them live was at France v PNG in Avignon two years back. They really do add to the atmosphere and fill in the little dull gaps in play.

 

[user_nat]

Michael Jennings had a great game and surely deserves a spot ahead of Justin Hodges in the final. While it was only the French, he put in a man of the match performance and scored a hat trick while Justin Hodges has done nothing all series.

This is the problem with picking "B Teams" against weaker opponents, it can make some players look better simply because they played an easier team. I'm not saying Jennings isn't better than Hodges, cause I haven't even seen the game. But for all we know Hodges could have score 4 tries.

Anyhow, I'm glad I didn't get up for this. Does seem like a certain "winger" disappointed once again though..

Any game highlights available?

 

[aussies1st]

Feel for the French who played so well until this match.

 

[Raidersrawesome]

I thought it was a poor quality game. yes the French had a dig for a little while , but if Australia played to the level of previous years they still would of put 40 on by halftime.
Lockyer and Thurston arent gelling. They look disjointed.

And Im not going to bang on about Kidley but he is crap.

 

[Coastbloke]

Just watching this on video now, and logged on while watching and went through all the posts..

I'm very disappointed with the crowd, but in all fairness I think it's indicative of the way the RFL seems to have promoted the tournament..When you can't sell out Wigan with the English and Kangaroos, then there are serious problems..Maybe it should have been played in Perpignan or Beziers, but Paris NEEDS some exposure to TGG and I support the move..

Someone on here mentioned too many un-French sounding names and I totally agree..Toulouse is a step up from Elite 1 and yet there is 1 (?) player from Toulouse and how many from Elite 1...??..The bloke is right, it's great hearing commentators call out names like Ferriol, Duport, Bosc and Raguin..

Anyway, there is plenty of people saying how Australia looked flat in the first half and I think this is a bit of a insult to the French..The Catalans players really put in and I think Bosc lifted players..They did alright and they need to continue to be supported as much as possible..

It may not happen for some time, but I hope that France reaches the heights of the 50s again where they will be competitive and if they ever tour Australia they will fill big stadiums..

With Toulouse in ESL it'll mean more Boscs and Duports and less Greenshields and Bentleys...