Rugby Mad Blog

Six Nations Game 12 – France vs Italy (25-13)

Despite Italy’s persistance, France managed to pick up a vital victory at the Stade de France to keep their Six Nations title hopes alive.

Marc Lievremont rang the changes once more, with several new caps. But the gamble paid off, to keep the Gallic side in the running for a showdown next week with their Celtic rivals Wales.

The French were only just in front at half time, partly thanks to a try from new boy Anthony Floch’s [right] try. Initially, Captain Lionel Nallet thought he had scored, but the ref judged he’s not taken a tap-and-go penalty correctly. The French pack were dominant for at a maul, and then Francois Trinh-Duc put a lovely chip for Julien Malzieu who collected and fed Floch for his first try.

Minutes later, after an Italian penalty brought the score to 7-3, the Azzurri looked like scoring until Gonzalo Canale spilled the ball with the line beckoning. Then Dmitri Yachvili took another penalty to bring the score to 13-6 at half time.

In the second half, Yannick Jauzion [right] scored a lovely try from Yachvili’s chip ahead, to put France further in the lead. But France weren’t getting it all their own way. Italy won a lineout from a corner penalty, and the powerful Italian pack drove Leicester prop Martin Castrogiovanni over the line for a touchdown. The conversion made it 18-13 and the Azzurri were chasing Les Bleus all the way.

Aurelien Rougerie almost had another try, were it not for Mirco Bergamasco’s try-saving tackle, holding up the Frenchman’s arm over the line, the video ref having to be consulted before no-try was given.

Rougerie made amends moments later, when he took an excellent pass from Damien Traille and touched down safely, taking the French safely away from the Italians. An entertaining game, France were the victors at 25-13.

Six Nations Game 9 - France vs England (13-24)

England got the perfect start, despite France running the ball. In the first five minutes, Jamie Noon put a huge hit on Cédric Heymans who spilled the ball. Paul Sackey [right] was on hand to chase the loose ball, chip ahead and fall on the ball over the line. Jonny Wilkinson added the extras to take a 0-7 lead.

The French then gave away silly penalties, and Jonny kicked another three points for 0-10 after 15 minutes. Damien Traille had the opportunity to claw back 3 after an England infringement but he pulled it wide.

James Haskell had to retire with an ankle injury, on came Tom Croft for his first cap. England’s lineout was looking a bit shakey with overthrows, some of which were tidied up by white shirts, some blue.

At 25 minutes, Sackey was pinged for going in from the side of a ruck, Damien Traille’s [left] boot downfield was huge, France’s lineout was solid and the team worked a good pushover try to the right of the posts. Traille’s conversion was on song this time, pulling back to 7-10.

The French were caught offside close to the half hour; Jonny attempted a penalty from way out wide and it sailed plumb through the middle, making it 13-7. Just after the half hour, England won a lineout close to the French line. A ruck was set up, England had to inch their way up the pitch. But then France got a penalty, white hands not releasing the ball.

Ian Balshaw missed a huge kick from the French, Paul Sackey covering the mistake. Brian Moore’s classic comment on the TV commentary: “he was so far away from it, he might as well have been in Croydon”! Quite.

On 35 minutes, England gave away another penalty in their own half; Traille’s kick rebounded off the woodwork to give England a 22m dropout. With minutes to go before half time, England were back in the French half. Several phases of play took them across field and up to the 22, but Tom Croft knocked on. The scrum was a bit of a mess, but then the whistle went for half time.

A great first half, all the English supporters were praying that the second half collapse wasn’t going to happen again this week. There was more exciting action from both sides, but no scores until Mark Regan [left] gave away a silly penalty: France’s 19-year old Scrum Half Parra took the kick and it went straight over. Regan was immediately subbed by Lee Mears.

France were back in the game at 10-13, and looked to be playing the best rugby. Please not another England collapse…

At least Mearsey’s first lineout was a goodun. Then France were penalised at an England scrum. Wilkinson’s long-range attempt was pulled wide. He got another chance in the 58th minute, it was on target but too short.

England put a nice passage of play together, which hopefully steadied the nerves. Then they had a decent bit of field position and a lineout, the ball going to Jonny for a drop goal, making the score 10-16. Still a nervous time, with 16 minutes to go. The England scrum was demolishing their French counterparts. They won yet another penalty from it on the half way line. Wilko finally got the line and the length – and England pulled 9 points ahead, 10-19.

England gained possession at the restart, the English fans were Swinging Low and the French fans were relatively quiet. Then with 10 minutes to go, Sheridan was subbed for Matt Stevens. As the clock ticked on, I for one, was feeling rather nervous, hoping the boys could hang on to their lead for the last few minutes.

The 9 point lead was eroded to 6 when France won a penalty near the England 22. Dmitri Yachvili booted it over, 13-19 with 6 minutes to go. The restart was secured by France, but England kept defending and inching them towards the French line. Then the French knocked on giving England a 5m scrum. Les Bleus’ scrum was still creaking.

England did the pick and drive, running down the clock, the war of attrition between white and blue. The forwards kept going, phase by phase. Hookers, props, second row, flankers all involved. Left, right, tick, tick, Richard Wigglesworth [right] wriggled over! I screamed. I hope the neighbours didn’t mind. Jonny’s kick finally sailed wide, but it didn’t matter. 13-24, France turned over in their back yard by England again. Phew.

England’s second half wobbled slightly during the first 20 minutes, but they settled and took the French apart. Wigglesworth had a cracking debut, looking sharp in all areas of his game. The English defence held firm. And thank God they kept up some decent play for the whole 80 minutes.

Six Nations Game 3 – Scotland vs France (6-27)

For the first time in years, the Scots started as favourites against France. They have a settled team whilst France have new faces in their team and a new coach – Marc Lievremont – after “Mad” Bernie Laporte’s retirement from the job.

Scotland were the first to put points on the board with Dan Parks landing a good long-range drop goal in the 4th minute. France retaliated in the 13th minute when Vincent Clerc’s try was deemed good, despite the possibility of a forward pass, prior to, and maybe a double movement to score. Andrew Henderson [left] was then lucky to stay on the park after a headbutt to a French player in the in-goal area. The conversion was good and Scotland were on the back foot at 3-7. They were punished again a few minutes later when Damien Traille punted a massive penalty to go 3-10 up.

Parks had a chance to pull a few back in the 22nd minute, but missed the posts. France took a quick tap and go a minute later, and Julien Malzieu [right] noticed no-one was at home at fullback, his lovely chip and chase and a kind bounce taking him over the touchline and under the posts. Scotland were struggling at 3-17.

The Scottish scrum was working well to begin with, even pushing the French off their own ball. Dan Parks was able to make amends for his previous penalty miss with a great kick at goal on the half hour, to claw 3 points back. Elissalde missed two chance of his own at goal a few minutes later.

There was plenty of errors, breaks and running from both sides in the second half, but it wasn’t until the 50th minute that Scotland won a penalty – Dan Park’s kick to touch failed to go out and France got the ball again. Damian Traille’s [right] next kick for goal was accurate and France pulled further ahead 6-20 in the 55th minute.

Parks was substituted by Chris Paterson for the last 20 minutes, in the hope that he would be able to give Scotland a bit more shape. The Scots also lost Rory Lamont to injury around the same time, which can’t have done their cause any good.

The French looked much more convincing that the Scots in the second half. Vincent Clerc [left] scored a second try after a kick ahead which he caught himself. David Skrela’s conversion really nailed the game to take the visitors to a 6-27 lead. Clerc fully deserved his Man of the Match award.

Chris Paterson made a great hack ahead in the 69th minute and was caught inches from the line. Second phase was promising, but Chris Cusiter botched it, losing the ball as he tried to touch down. It seemd to typify of Scotland’s whole game this time round.

The French looked like they would run the ball from anywhere on the pitch and even without some of their older heads, they look like a formiddable proposition for this year. M. Lievremont must be pleased with the result.

Really nice to see Jason Robinson running out for his 50th cap – something in doubt a few weeks ago, when he limped off with his hamstring injury.

The French knocked on at the kickoff, and England’s scrum was strong – getting a free kick. Andy Gomarsall’s kick to the corner was dithered over by Damien Traille, and Josh Lewsey [right] snuck up behind him and mugged him for the ball – crashing over the line in the corner for the fastest try in World Cup semifinal history. What a fantastic start!

France were on the counter-attack after 7 minutes, when Nick Easter was pinged at the ruck which formed after a 55m drop goal attempt. Lionel Beauxis added the extras.

Mark Regan made a great chargedown in the 10th minute, the French defence panicked and kicked it over the deadball line, to give England an attacking scrum 5. The forwards rumbled towards the line, but were pushed back 10 meters. With England back on the attack, Sackey was penalised for holding on, giving France a chance of a lineout on the half way line.

At 15 minutes, France were on the attack again, and Beauxis ran down the wing, but he was given a forward pass, so the ref called them back for another scrum. Easter made a great break from the back of the scrum, but Serge Betsen [left] put a huge hit on Martin Corry and he lost it forward. The next scrum collapsed, and France had a chance at the posts from just inside the half way line. Lionel Beauxis struck it well, to take the hosts up by one point, 5-6.

At 21 minutes, France kicked deep into English territory and out the touchline, but the lineout held firm. France got another lineout at the other side of the pitch, with old warhorse Fabien Pelous [right] taking it at the back. England’s defence was good, with Jonny Wilkinson felling the big lock in the tackle. He got up initially, but had to go off in the 24th minutes, replaced by Sebastien Chabal. Chabal’s not really as good a second row as he is back row, so the French scrum could suffer.

Jonny missed a drop goal attempt in the 26th minute, just fading to one side before it reached the posts. A couple of minutes later, England were on the attack and Betsen came in from the side at a ruck. It was a long shot from inside his own half, but Wilkinson stepped up to take the penalty. It fell just wide.

Chabal took a knock tackling Phil Vickery [left], but eventually got up and lumbered back to the scrum. The French supporters breathed a sigh of relief. Shortly after, Les Bleus had an attacking lineout which was won, but Lewis Moody turned it over and the lines were cleared a few metres back down the pitch. This time the lineout was far too long, and it was snatched by Mike Catt and taken back into the French half.

In the 33rd minute, Serge Betsen stole an English lineout in our half, eventually it went back to Jason Robinson who cleared it to safety.

Catt made a terrible pass back to Matthew Tait, who just scrambled to collect the ball and cover it safely. With a minute to go before half time, Dan Hipkiss came on for a limping Josh Lewsey, a shame to see him bow out injured. The ref blew for half time, and we could all catch our breath again for a while.

“Mad Bernie” decided to ring the changes in the 51st minute, bringing on Dimitri Szarzewski and Frédéric Michalak [left]. They immediately made an impact, and chipped ahead for a chance – but England managed to chip it over the dead ball line. France had a 5m scrum, the short side wasn’t going anywhere, and passed it wide across the pitch. Michalak’s attempt at a drop goal was nowhere near, perhaps Beauxis would have taken the points?

Elissalde was mugged for the ball at a ruck, in the 54th minute, with some excellent tackling from England. Both sides still looked rather cautious, however. Lots of ping-pong. At 58 minutes, England were steaming up the middle, and Jonny tried another drop goal – it hit the post and bounced off, but it was kicked back to Jason Robinson who scythed through the French defence. It was going so well, until we gave away another penalty.

Simon Shaw took Wilkinson’s restart kick and powered off into the French half, then Lewis Moody charged down the middle. A few fumbles later, then France had a decent scrum, but then Easter was pinged again for rucking in from the side. Beauxis took the points and the hosts were 5-9 up. England needed to pull themselves together and stop the silly penalties.

In the 45th minute, Englahd made a superb intercept from Lewis Moody, who passed it off to Dan Hipkiss and the backs got themselves up to within 5m. The French gave away a penalty and it was time for Jonny to take some much-needed points. Fans in white heaved a sigh of relief, to take them back to within a point, 8-9.

The French inched their way back into English territory, winning a lineout and driving up the pitch. The forwards rumbled, but Matt Stevens [right] turned over the ball when it went to the backs. A minute later, Stevens made a huge hit on Chabal. He was making a nuisance of himself as far as France were concerned.

Simon Shaw had a good run into French territory, but it was turned over and the French gained vital yards. George Chuter was brought on just as France got the lineout. Their forwards rumbled on, and then Michalak chipped ahead but Matthew Tait was just in the right place to clean up under the England posts.

At 67 minutes, English hearts were in mouths when Vincent Clerc broke away, but Joe Worsley [right, in action against the USA] managed a fantastic fingertip tap tackle, then the English defence closed in around Chabal who had taken the pass. He was held up at 5m, but England knocked on – Scrum V to France. They botched it, and England won a vital penalty when France held on in the ruck. Jonny cleared.

Time to wheel on Lol – Dallaglio coming on for Nick Easter. Gomarsall was down for a moment after colliding with the touch judge. After the lineout, Jonny Wilkinson seemed to go down injured, along with Michalak. They were dropping like flies! They both got back up and play continued.

France had a lineout on the half way line, England needed to compete. The forwards drove, but they lost it forward and it came back on the English side. Toby Flood was impatient and tried for a drop goal in the 73rd minute. Buy England were still in the French half after the restart. Wilkinson was lined up for a drop goal again, when Jason Robinson was taken out with a high tackle by Szarzewski – Wilkinson’s boot was on song at last – England went ahead 11-9.

France were counter-attacking when Paul Sackey and Toby Flood took their man out into touch – Chabal used an elbow and gave away a penalty. The catch and drive lineout rumbled up the pitch, with Martin Corry right in the middle of the maul. England were hanging onto possession for grim death, ticking down the clock. Wilkinson hovered in the pocket and popped over a sweet drop goal to take them 14-9 ahead.

At the restart, France were looking dangerous, pushing up inside English territory. But the French knocked on and England went for the scrum. With one minute to go from a World Cup Final. What a game! Then France had a lineout on the half way, all England had to do was hang on. Attack from Les Bleus, defence from Les Blancs. The clock went red. Hearts pounded. The English defence just would not crack. France knocked on…

England are in the FINAL!!!

We knew both teams meant business, when France stood just inches in front of the Kiwis as they performed their Haka. And they never blinked. And the French obviously thought old heads were best to front up to the All Blacks – their front row’s combined age was 103!

In the 5th minute, big bruiser Serge Betsen [left] took a very heavy hit as he tackled Joe Rokocoko, appearing to get knocked out briefly. He looked extremely groggy once he’d come round, and was ushered off the pitch on the advice of the doctors. Imanol Harinordoquy replaced him and the game resumed.

The French won a penalty, took a lineout and then attacked into the All Blacks half – Damien Traille (a surprise selection at Fullback) attempted a drop goal but pulled it wide.

Both teams were scrapping well on the floor, desperate for turnover ball. The two fullbacks seemed to play a lot of ping pong too – smashing it from one end of the field to the other. Les Bleus were also up for the defence, putting in plenty of tackles. In the 12th minute, France gave away a penalty in their own half, Dan Carter [right] stepped up to take the kick, and New Zealand had the first points on the board, 3-0.

A French lineout was stolen by New Zealand, with Luke McAlister making a superb break. Support from Rodney So’oialo passing to Ali Williams who was just bundled into touch before he could cross the line. A minute later, the Kiwis were on the attack again, with Jerry Collins putting Luke McAlister over for their first try. Carter converted to take them to 10-0.

In the 24th minute, New Zealand found themselves on the wrong side of a ruck, but Lionel Beauxis couldn’t add the points for France. Then the Allblacks won another penalty in the 31st minute – Carter had no trouble slotting it over the posts from 40-odd meters, leavinf France trailing by 13 points.

The French had a chance with a lineout in the All Blacks half. They won it, swung it from side to side, and forced a penalty. Since Beauxis’ boot didn’t seem to be accurate, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde stepped forward for the kick – he didn’t have any more luck. So six points thrown away so far.

In the dying seconds of the half, France got another penalty and Beauxis was back for the kick – which he finally struck well. Three points on the board at last.

The first score in the second half was vital, New Zealand certainly lookwd the more hungry for it, until the French broke into the Kiwi’s half in the 44th minute. They came up just short of the line, and New Zealand cleared. Veteran Hooker Raphael Ibañez [left] took the lineout throw one-handed, as is his style. The French went for the line, and Luke McAlister was judged to have obstructed the attack and was sent to the bin for ten minutes. Beauxis added the three points to bring them back to 13-6 behind.

The All Black forwards had a go at pick and drive, time after time, inching up to the French line in the 49th minute. But they knocked on and so the French had to take a 5m scrum. Soon after, at 51 minutes, two crucial substitutions were made РChris Jack coming on for Keith Robinson, Dmitri Sarzewski on for Iba̱ez, and S̩bastien Chabal on for Fabien Pelous.

France did monumentally well to score in the 54th minute, with Thierry Dusautoir [right] going over for a converted try. 13-13. Game on! Worryingly for the Kiwis, Dan Carter limped off in the field in the 56th minute, closely followed by Byron Kelleher.

With 20 minutes to go, both teams were figthing for extra points. Jerry Collins was pinged at the scrum for being offside, and France drilled the ball into the All Blacks half, but the lineout was nicked by the blacks. France were pushed back into their own half and on the defensive. Pushing up from 2m, Rodney So’oialo [left] dived over for a try on the line. McAlister was unable to convert, so the Kiwis were just 5 points ahead, 18-13.

France brought on Freddie Michalak and almost his first touch saw him breaking up the pitch, he passed to Yannick Jauzion [left], who ran for his life to the tryline. It was an easy conversion, and France were ahead for the first time, 18-20. I’m sure the All Blacks didn’t think this was in the script!

As the minutes ticked by, France still kept attacking, either with huge kicks to touch or the hard way, ruck by ruck. In the 74th minute, it was New Zealand on the attack, but the French defended hard. Still the Kiwi’s kept up the pressure, inching towards the whitewash. 10m, 6m, 3m and France turned it over! The clearance kick across field fell into Chris Jack’s hands, but he wasn’t fast enough to run it anywhere before the French defence bore down on him.

The All Blacks swung it wide again, and still the French turned it over, with a kick out of the pitch to clear this time. 90 seconds to go, and the Kiwis had an attacking lineout in the French half, but it was a long way to work the ball upfield. Andrew Hoare threw in, New Zealand retained possession but were knocked back towards their half. Luke McAlister tried a drop goal, but it was nowhere near.

20 seconds to go, a 22m dropout. Michalak kicked, the Kiwis collected, passing out wide to the left. The clock went over 80 minutes. Still the All Blacks had possession. France turned over, and Elissalde ran for his life, kicked to touch, and Cardiff erupted with waving tricouleurs.

What a pulsating last few minutes! And who would have put money on that result? New Zealand must have been gutted. And frankly, I’m much happier that England are facing Les Bleus next week, rather than Les Noirs