Gregor Paul from the Herald takes the same line post-match as we did pre-match, only with more eloquence:
How wonderfully French to play brilliantly in a Rugby World Cup quarter-final when they were all but written off. How even more wonderful that it wasn't the All Blacks who felt the wrath.
England now know what it feels like to see the French coming in the rear view mirror and get it horribly wrong just how close they really are. Les Bleus smashed in at full speed and proved that once again there's a reason French World Cup games are preceded by a week of clichés.
Only the French could lose to Tonga one week in a performance that was indescribably bad and bounce back the next to beat England with the sort of rugby French teams of old used to play at will. They were brutal; they were clever; they were passionate and they were clinical.
He's right on the money. There was something about the body language of the French during the anthems that suggested the unthinkable was about to happen. And happen it did; the French ripped into the English at the tackle, knocking the men in white back time and time again. England was shell-shocked by the fury of the French attack, and such was the French dominance that Jonny Wilkinson, surely playing his list RWC match, didn't get a kick at goal until his conversion of Foden's try mid-way through the second half.
The challenge now for the French will be to back up against Wales next Saturday; history suggests that they will struggle. But the French have once again turned a RWC play-off match on its head; thankfully this time, there wasn't a black jersey to be seen!
Allez les Bleu!
3 comments:
I am unsurprised by the French victory. Against the All Blacks in the pool game they always looked dangerous with the ball in hand. At the conclusion of the game it was surprising to see in the stats that, despite the wide difference in the final score, the French had nearly 50% of the possession. In that game the French were very competitive, and the real difference between the two teams was the clever work of NZ's newer young All Blacks resulting in tries.
The All Blacks can take heart from that game, and the French must not be discounted.
Only the All Blacks and the Springboks are undefeated thus far.
It was a good win from the French and I second your allez les Bleus just as long as they don't allez further than us!
France weren't all that, England were awful. I predicted this result months ago and from here MJ needs to either quit or be told to ditch the loyalty he's shown to former team mates.
We're on course to be a good chance on home turf in four years and the Ferengi to be the first person to lift the cup as player and coach.
I never thought I'd say it, but go you boyos!
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