Blacks flog sorry France
28 Nov 2009
New Zealand were very impressive in their 39-12 victory over France in Marseille.
The French seeked to base their challenge around brutality at the tackle point and flair in the backline. However, with the latter being so reliant on the former, they struggled when they found an All Black side unwilling to take a backward step in contact in general play or at scrum time.
Furthermore, the French defensive line looked decidedly porous at times, with the likes of Dan Carter, Sitiveni Sivivatu, and Ma’a Nonu slicing through with alarming ease at times.
It underlined the fact that France had shot their bolt with their strong performance against the Springboks, and the Blacks were never forced to shift into fifth gear to negotiate their challenge. Graham Henry’s charges comprehensively outplayed their hosts in all facets of play, and finished their year-end tour with a morale boosting win.
The early exchanges suggested neither side were going to be afraid to get width on their attack, with France the more expansive, if less effective, of the two.
However, it would be the Blacks who would be the far more clinical of the combatants, capitalising on the majority of the opportunities they created in the first half, and racing to a 22-9 lead.
They breached the goal-line first, with their first threatening foray into France’s 22m. They rumbled up into the red zone, shifted the ball wide, where Sivivatu shrugged off the challenge of Vincent Clerc to score.
Carter converted, but France scrumhalf Julien Dupuy kicked two more penalties to go with an earlier three pointer to stay in touch.
Then a vintage moment from the Blacks, as they counter-attacked from deep in their half in a move that culminated in Sivivatu turning provider for Mils Muliaina after a break down the touchline.
Carter missed the conversion, but not long thereafter the Blacks extended their lead when they shoved the France scrum over their tryline, and Jerome Kaino was on hand to apply downward pressure for the try. Carter made no mistake with the conversion.
France were on the ropes, their counter-strikes being easily repelled by a well organised defensive line. Their inability to unlock the Blacks off set or general play forced them to seek other routes of point collection, and in this regard they had to be content with a Francois Trinh-Duc drop-goal.
The Blacks would have trotted down the tunnel the more content of the sides, enjoying a comfortable 10-point lead. Carter increased the buffer with a penalty 10 minutes into the second half and at 25-12, France would have been acutely aware that they needed to be next to cross the whitewash to drag themselves back into the contest.
Dupuy missed his second penalty of the half to compound their woes. Cory Jane then produced a wonderful piece of individual skill to hand off his defender then chip and collect, all within the confines of the tram tracks out wide, and you sensed it was all over.
Carter converted to take the score to 32-12, and when Conrad Smith broke around an unguarded blindside to score with 10 minutes left, the French looked utterly deflated and accepting of their fate.
294 Comments
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28 Nov 2009, 22:47 pm
ABs have completely embarrassed us. Boks dont deserve to be called the world champions anymore. Please no more Kirchner and Olivier. These two palookas must never play again.
Seriously missed Bakkies and Spies today.
28 Nov 2009, 22:47 pm
@AiDoc: Ok, I get your point. I use to mention MY team’s points first.
28 Nov 2009, 22:50 pm
@AiDoc: Smithy was actually a very good test-level NZ cricket wicketkeeper in his day. And, of course, one naturally plays cricket in summer and rugby in winter if you go to a decent sort of school in a civilised country.
28 Nov 2009, 22:53 pm
Frogs miss a penalty
28 Nov 2009, 22:55 pm
tialata still getting shunted…SOS to carl hayman…
28 Nov 2009, 22:56 pm
Thanks. Please don’t be annoyed but I know your history, just not your language and culture. Coincidently, who was worse? The Germans or the Soviets?
28 Nov 2009, 22:57 pm
Carter penalty 25-12. Half an hour left.
28 Nov 2009, 22:59 pm
@AiDoc: I do not know how to compare. German barons wer sucking our blood since crusaders invaded in XII century. Soviets killed tens of thousands in a space of years in Stalin times.
28 Nov 2009, 22:59 pm
@Transformation:
At the moment i dont care if the scrums are not going our way.
As i can see the scrums are not playing much in this game at the moment. Maybe the try we scored with just a push over,but thats about it
28 Nov 2009, 22:59 pm
@TheTackler:
Unfortunately we are not a civilised country and we have no decent schools. Fortunately I went to school and uni in nz, oZ AND America.
Can’t play rugby too well but my cricket and ping pong are passable.
28 Nov 2009, 23:00 pm
France missed another penalty.
28 Nov 2009, 23:01 pm
@Nils:
My boss is related to the Normans but not the Germans
28 Nov 2009, 23:01 pm
@Crouching Tiger Hidden Bokke: crouchy, kirchner had a decent game, it’s either you’re drunk or blind either way you’re wrong…
28 Nov 2009, 23:02 pm
French Champagne is grown in Marlborough? Didn’t he also beat up the Choirboys? Churchillian!
28 Nov 2009, 23:03 pm
@AiDoc: Nevertheless, thanks to German occupation for 7 centuries, our capital Riga an many cities here in many ways look like an German (i.e. European) cities. Architecture in the Old Cities, etc. Of course, Soviet heritage is huge here – block houses (mostly very unattractive) built in the outskirts from 60s till 80s et all.
28 Nov 2009, 23:04 pm
@Pearl Rose:
Both probably. I lose both faces in that case!
28 Nov 2009, 23:04 pm
@AiDoc: Normans were Frenchisized Scandinavians, you know.
28 Nov 2009, 23:05 pm
@Nils:
Sounds like Ha’erbin which is very cold. I caught a train for several hours north of there once and it was -35 C
28 Nov 2009, 23:06 pm
Allez france! Score a field goal at least!!!!
28 Nov 2009, 23:06 pm
abs making HUGE tackles on the Frogs.
28 Nov 2009, 23:07 pm
@Nils:
I thought that they were Anglicised barbarians? GO DOOMSDAY!
28 Nov 2009, 23:08 pm
@AiDoc: Not anymore. We used to have cold winters (even starting in November) with a lot of snow – I remember that in my childhood.
Now in November we have not had even minus degrees, not to mention total absence of snow. Outrageous.
TRY ALL BLACKS, CORY JANE, GAME OVER.
28 Nov 2009, 23:08 pm
@Nils:
Frogs is a racist expression and only we
TRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
28 Nov 2009, 23:08 pm
32-12 NZ. A Whipping.
28 Nov 2009, 23:09 pm
jane shows his class…brilliant
28 Nov 2009, 23:09 pm
This is an annihilation. Carter just brilliant.
28 Nov 2009, 23:09 pm
Jane try
How many times do you see Cory Jane beating players. This guy is unlucky not to be playing as fullback. Mils has really cemented the postion but Jane has had by far a better season.
28 Nov 2009, 23:10 pm
@SodaJoe:
French call him Cartier!!!!!
28 Nov 2009, 23:10 pm
@AiDoc: Do frogs have a race? Please, let’s not be over “political correct”, I hate that stuff, really.
And I call white arse as a white arse, and black arse as a black arse.
28 Nov 2009, 23:11 pm
Hospital pass personified.
Men in Black show up.
Pity no men in green & gold showed up.
28 Nov 2009, 23:11 pm
@Hurricane:
I agree and Mils has come right recently
28 Nov 2009, 23:11 pm
12 mins to hold on for a clean try line for 2 years in Europe.
28 Nov 2009, 23:12 pm
@Nils:
No need. We are all brothers. Except the English of course, who are opium pushing slave traders. Lol.
28 Nov 2009, 23:13 pm
Okay off to bed. Abs will win this.
So congrats to my kiwi friends here. Had your team to win on superbru too. Well done ABs on your eoyt.
Cheers all.
28 Nov 2009, 23:13 pm
Game over. Frogs have been annihilated today.
28 Nov 2009, 23:13 pm
@Puma: cheers, Puma, have a nice dreams.
28 Nov 2009, 23:13 pm
@AiDoc:
Especially Stefan Jewns
28 Nov 2009, 23:14 pm
@AiDoc: after all we all are from either Adam/Eve or ****** bunch. Brothers/sisters in any case.
28 Nov 2009, 23:15 pm
@AiDoc:
He has Aidoc.
I rate Mils highly,as probably most of the world do. We are lucky to have 2 very good fullbacks. The shame part is that we cant really play both in there correct postions
28 Nov 2009, 23:17 pm
Today i have seen the two best flyhalfs in the world at there best , carter and gitue both brillent.
28 Nov 2009, 23:19 pm
39-12 A MACCASRE. :d
28 Nov 2009, 23:19 pm
Conrad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
28 Nov 2009, 23:20 pm
that dirty frog just gouged the Ab prop twice he should be off
28 Nov 2009, 23:21 pm
@west:
Giteau was pretty good and I can’t wait to see Cartier tomorrow.
28 Nov 2009, 23:22 pm
@Nils:
jewish games?
28 Nov 2009, 23:22 pm
@AiDoc: ?
28 Nov 2009, 23:22 pm
@west:
Steady!
28 Nov 2009, 23:23 pm
No replays of the gouging,lol
Typical sore losing French. These guys have been put in their place tonight. We may have lost the Tri nations but sfter the end of international season,we are still the best in the world
28 Nov 2009, 23:23 pm
@AiDoc: looked like a gouge to me sorry just cant stand players that go for the eyes
28 Nov 2009, 23:23 pm
the AB’s have shown how it’s done up north this month…
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