SF: France v England (Mon)
French coach Bernard Laporte realises the challenge England and Jonny Wilkinson in particular will present this Saturday.
The World Cup holders weren’t given much chance in the build up to last week’s quarter-final, but they now travel to Paris brimming with confidence. Laporte has predictably singled out Wilkinson as the danger man after he scored all the points for England in Marseilles. “I watched their win over Australia and someone said to me: ‘The English are going to win’. I was thinking the same thing because their pack was advancing. And then they had Wilkinson who missed some kicks at goal but he allowed them to stay in their opponents’ half.” France will take nothing for granted in the upcoming semi-final, given what happened four years ago in Australia. “We know the English well,” said Laporte. “We never said they were a bad team, they were simply going through a difficult period. It will be a difficult match and we will have to prepare well. I have never known a World Cup semifinal to be easy.”
–Brian Ashton believes England are capable of defeating the hosts despite France’s dominance in recent times. England lost two games to the Tricolores before the tournament, and yet the English coach is feeling bullish about his side advancing to yet another World Cup final. “We can compete at the same level as France, there is no doubt in my mind about that,” said Ashton. “We should have beaten them at Twickenham in August – I know that, and the players know that.” Since losing to South Africa, England have had to play every game as if it were their last. This preparation has paid off and they progress to the semis as a much-improved unit. “Samoa and Tonga were effectively knockout games in our pool, and that bred confidence throughout the camp. There was a big performance waiting to happen. We will approach the France game with the same sense of excitement and anticipation that we approached the game against Australia.”
– Andy Farrell and Olly Barkley will be available for this fixture, although Ashton may be reluctant to drop Mike Catt. Lewis Moody is the only player in doubt after incurring a shoulder injury on Saturday.
–Scrumhalf Andy Gomarsall believes this England side still have plenty to give, and the win over Australia was no fluke. “There’s no point peaking now, but we are going the right way. Have we already played our final? Rubbish, we just have to keep on building.”
This thread will be updated throughout the day.
October 7th, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Dragons.
October 7th, 2007 at 11:56 pm
It all depends on the French selection.
October 8th, 2007 at 12:05 am
It’s going to be a close one. England could definitely do it.
October 8th, 2007 at 1:05 am
Big Hit – I am eating humble pie today. You called it right but you did have tremendous help from the the Wallabuies. Still the English played well and the semi will be a cracker
October 8th, 2007 at 1:58 am
Ashton old fella,
question; how the fck do you stop 15 possessed frenchmen in front of their home crowd???
YOU NEED TO THROW THE WHOLE DAMM KITCHEN AT THEM THEN YOU HAVE A CHANCE
October 8th, 2007 at 2:18 am
England has a chance. It is a whole different side with “The Bisector” at 10. England needs to back themselves and do what they do best grind the other team to pieces. GO ENGLAND!
October 8th, 2007 at 2:21 am
#6 only place england be going is behind their goal post
October 8th, 2007 at 2:26 am
It’s France – you never know what team will show up. Moreover, they used up all their petrol and credit against NZ – will they get it back? Paris is not always favourable for them , despite crowd support; and England have had their number since Waterloo; but …. it’s France: anything can happen – a French-Bok final will be a lot more interesting than a Bok-English one: you’ll be able to hear the noise of the crowd in London.
October 8th, 2007 at 2:30 am
#8 french can win by 40pts against the poms or lose to them by same amount..
annoying as hell if you are french fan!
October 8th, 2007 at 3:34 am
Big Hit
I am impressed by your team and how you have stuck with them. Good luck against France.
October 8th, 2007 at 5:23 am
Eng great pack and a general at no.10 in Sir Jonny! anything possible
October 8th, 2007 at 7:44 am
These 2 teams will be playing for making their acceptance first. Whereas John Smit will come up behind them to collect the cup.
October 8th, 2007 at 7:45 am
#12 ‘acceptance speech’
October 8th, 2007 at 7:53 am
I think France will go all the way ….afterall its a miracle they are still there
October 8th, 2007 at 7:55 am
Biggles, has the orgasmic weekend taken its toll?
You must still be stoked. Do you think Ashton will make any changes (bar any injuries of course) to your team? Will he start with Lawrence, I hope not, I think your pack were fantastic, and should be left well alone to get on with it.
October 8th, 2007 at 8:13 am
YA BHit,
well done. i thought the Wallas will walk the poms but no – they choked!
October 8th, 2007 at 8:52 am
This really a game between the 2 teams who have already played in their final. The Poms will again be brutal up front. Did you see the aggression with which they cleared the Aussies off the ball? I wonder if they have enough left in the tank to play like that again? I think that Jonny W’s leg is injured, hence his poor kicking.
The Frogs lifted themselves to kill off their nightmare run against the best team in the world with the best players in the world that hasn’t won the WC in 20 years. Again, will they have enough left in the tank?
October 8th, 2007 at 9:03 am
i’m done trying to call games, i was wrong with both games on Sat. [Sunday was 100% - but it wasn't exactly rocket science].
France – SA, FINAL
October 8th, 2007 at 9:09 am
brains_t
You took the words right out of my mouth (must have been while you were kissing me…dam dum dum)
I done trying to call games as well, I hope for a SA/Frogs final – but I will settle for anything (as long as SA is in the final)
October 8th, 2007 at 10:00 am
if france could beat nz, why cant england beat france?
i would rather play england in the final than france at home. thats for sure.
October 8th, 2007 at 10:56 am
Biggles
I’d love you to win and we play Eng in the final but I just can’t see it happening. France has too much ammo.
October 8th, 2007 at 10:58 am
As much as I love my friends and family from the UK, I don’t think I’ll be able to handle the poms winning the World Cup. Four more years… of being constantly reminded.
October 8th, 2007 at 11:44 am
Reconditioning………………Clearly in didnt work for the AB.
October 8th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Well done Big Hit – hell froze over on the weekend – all ups to England and France they came to win and deserved it.
October 8th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Contenders for player of the tournament:(IMO)
-Juan Martin Hernandez (Arg)
-Juan Smith (SA)
-Thierry Dusseautoir (Fra)
-Fourie du Preez (SA)
-Juan Fernandez Lobbe (Arg)
October 8th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Hats off, ek bedoel hoede af, ek bedoel kondome af, ek bedoel French letters af vir die Hane, ek bedoel die *****.
October 8th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
With the post-match interview Richie McCaw was licking his dry lips. His face was white. He was in a state of shock. Hy looked more nervous than a schoolboy waiting in the passage to be called into the headmaster’s office in the days when corporal punishment was still allowed.
Have the ABs landed back in NZ? Terrible reception.
October 8th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
With the post-match interview Richie McCaw was licking his dry lips. Hy was pale, he was in a state of shock, he kept glancing nervously from side to side like a schoolboy waiting in the passage to be called into the headmaster’s office in the days when corporal punishment was still allowed.
Have the ABs landed back in NZ? Must have been a terrible reseption.
October 8th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Our squad is now fully fit.
October 8th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
#29 Big hit
you still on the thread?