Our Six Nations journey ended on Sunday as England defeated a gallant French side to win the Grand Slam. It was a strange weekend given the game kicked-off at 21:00, and Paris was much quieter than usual as many locals stayed at home not wanting to risk any potential terrorist activity. Little did we know what was to come.
The satisfying thing from the Six Nations perspective was that France at last showed some of their old guile and skill. Given that Wales and Ireland cannot possibly be as bad again next season it should be a very competitive competition. Whether Connor O'Shea can breath life into Italy though remains to be seen.
Hopefully the organisers will see there is no merit Friday night matches or ridiculously timed Saturday or Sunday evening games, and the fans needs may be taken into consideration.
Returning home to the news of the Brussels attacks was not a total surprise. Talk in the French press after the arrest of a key suspect on Friday indicated he was in possession of a contact list, and I suspect one of his lieutenants probably brought forward the attacks for fear of his operatives being arrested before more atrocities could be executed.
We live in difficult times but the French are to be congratulated with their Saturday night organisation. May it continue into the Summer when they host Euro 2016.
Showing posts with label France. Show all posts
Showing posts with label France. Show all posts
Friday, 25 March 2016
Sunday, 9 October 2011
Once a policeman, always a policeman
When I started this blog in 2007 there was a Rugby World Cup scheduled, in France, and my trip to Bordeaux was documented, as were other aspects of the event. England you may recall got thumped by South Africa in their group game, were panned by the press, had a player revolt and eventually reached the final where they lost again to South Africa.
This year England stuttered through the group stages before they lost yesterday to an average French side in the quarter finals. To describe the French as average may be heaping too much praise on them, only their performance against Wales in the semi final will see whether I am being fair or not.
One expects French teams to have you on the edge of your seat every time their three-quarters get the ball. Alas that has not happened for a number of years as constant rule changes have seen the space on the field condensed into narrow corridors of opportunity which are swiftly snubbed out by brick outhouse size players.
Consider the game today when Australia beat South Africa. South Africa had 74% of the possession and Australia made a whopping 147 tackles in the game, that's nearly two a minute.
It was exciting but for totally gladiatorial reasons. There was little running rugby in the match.
England, of course, can't play running rugby. They are often starved of the ball by the opposition and the good sides use that superiority to run England ragged. Ireland in Dublin this year, New Zealand and South Africa at will, and now France.
The boys do go out on the lash occasionally in reverence to the old game of rugby which I and my peers played, but unfortunately the British press, particularly the red tops, are less inclined to reminisce about the good old days. Its a game for today and sadly England are a team for yesterday.
The coach Martin Johnson has not yet fallen on his sword, and with the RFU without a CEO and CIO equivalent, there is nobody to unsheathe it for him. Rob Andrew is a chartered surveyor by trade. You would think he would be able to identify the structural damage which the Johnson era is causing to the English game.
He indicated in his press conference that this group will get better as they are a young side. I suspect Cuerto, Shaw, Tindell, Thompson, Deacon, Easter, Moody and Wilkinson will be flattered by such accolades. There were young players Johnson could have picked, but he builds a team in his own (public) image, dull, grumpy, unimaginative and uninspiring. Move over and let someone else have a go. The game is still the low point of a day out at Twickenham, it needs to change
This year England stuttered through the group stages before they lost yesterday to an average French side in the quarter finals. To describe the French as average may be heaping too much praise on them, only their performance against Wales in the semi final will see whether I am being fair or not.
One expects French teams to have you on the edge of your seat every time their three-quarters get the ball. Alas that has not happened for a number of years as constant rule changes have seen the space on the field condensed into narrow corridors of opportunity which are swiftly snubbed out by brick outhouse size players.
Consider the game today when Australia beat South Africa. South Africa had 74% of the possession and Australia made a whopping 147 tackles in the game, that's nearly two a minute.
It was exciting but for totally gladiatorial reasons. There was little running rugby in the match.
England, of course, can't play running rugby. They are often starved of the ball by the opposition and the good sides use that superiority to run England ragged. Ireland in Dublin this year, New Zealand and South Africa at will, and now France.
The boys do go out on the lash occasionally in reverence to the old game of rugby which I and my peers played, but unfortunately the British press, particularly the red tops, are less inclined to reminisce about the good old days. Its a game for today and sadly England are a team for yesterday.
The coach Martin Johnson has not yet fallen on his sword, and with the RFU without a CEO and CIO equivalent, there is nobody to unsheathe it for him. Rob Andrew is a chartered surveyor by trade. You would think he would be able to identify the structural damage which the Johnson era is causing to the English game.
He indicated in his press conference that this group will get better as they are a young side. I suspect Cuerto, Shaw, Tindell, Thompson, Deacon, Easter, Moody and Wilkinson will be flattered by such accolades. There were young players Johnson could have picked, but he builds a team in his own (public) image, dull, grumpy, unimaginative and uninspiring. Move over and let someone else have a go. The game is still the low point of a day out at Twickenham, it needs to change
Thursday, 6 September 2007
Let The Games Begin
Well, the Rugby World Cup actually, and I can't wait. Although I am somewhat disillusioned about the style of the game at the moment, there is no doubt that this tournament could be the best yet.
Firstly its in France, so its actually possible to pop over for the day to watch some of the games, secondly the All Blacks look like they might have peaked too soon again, and finally, all the groups , are primed for big games and possible upsets.
Stan and I are off to Lille tomorrow and then travelling up to Lens on Saturday for the England v USA match, one Les Blanc should win. The tournament kicks off on Friday night with France v Argentina, a potential banana skin for Les Bleu, but one I see them avoiding. My spread bet is on them at +14!
The following week there are four of us in Bordeaux for the Ireland v Georgia game. If you want a craic, then the Irish are going to provide it, and I can't wait to hear them cheering for South Africa as they play England on the Friday.
Saturday before our match we will be watching Wales v Australia where brother-in-law, David will be pitching for an upset. And upsets are potential all over the place, Ireland v France, Ireland v Argentina, England v Samoa and Scotland v Italy. Wales and Aus should make it through their groups OK.
One has to feel for Portugal having been drawn in the same group as New Zealand though, the spread for the highest scoring game is 128-132 and guess which one they have in mind?
My smart money is on there being a few red cards this time round, and with the spread 1.4-1.8, Samoa v Tonga could cover it all on their own. That really is a match I will try to see, albeit on the big screen. From Englands point of view its good they play both teams after they have played each other. They will be so beat up they just might be running on empty.
Jonny is crocked already, Ashton has done his best with limited time, and its payback time for Farrell. So its England for the semis then anything can happen!!!!!
Oh yes, I got offered tickets for the England v South Africa game yesterday, face value £170, train and match tickets and two nights hotel in Lille are costing that, so I politely declined!!!!
Firstly its in France, so its actually possible to pop over for the day to watch some of the games, secondly the All Blacks look like they might have peaked too soon again, and finally, all the groups , are primed for big games and possible upsets.
Stan and I are off to Lille tomorrow and then travelling up to Lens on Saturday for the England v USA match, one Les Blanc should win. The tournament kicks off on Friday night with France v Argentina, a potential banana skin for Les Bleu, but one I see them avoiding. My spread bet is on them at +14!
The following week there are four of us in Bordeaux for the Ireland v Georgia game. If you want a craic, then the Irish are going to provide it, and I can't wait to hear them cheering for South Africa as they play England on the Friday.
Saturday before our match we will be watching Wales v Australia where brother-in-law, David will be pitching for an upset. And upsets are potential all over the place, Ireland v France, Ireland v Argentina, England v Samoa and Scotland v Italy. Wales and Aus should make it through their groups OK.
One has to feel for Portugal having been drawn in the same group as New Zealand though, the spread for the highest scoring game is 128-132 and guess which one they have in mind?
My smart money is on there being a few red cards this time round, and with the spread 1.4-1.8, Samoa v Tonga could cover it all on their own. That really is a match I will try to see, albeit on the big screen. From Englands point of view its good they play both teams after they have played each other. They will be so beat up they just might be running on empty.
Jonny is crocked already, Ashton has done his best with limited time, and its payback time for Farrell. So its England for the semis then anything can happen!!!!!
Oh yes, I got offered tickets for the England v South Africa game yesterday, face value £170, train and match tickets and two nights hotel in Lille are costing that, so I politely declined!!!!
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