April 11, 2003
Two of the following are famous former All Blacks, two are
Sydney-domiciled New Zealand writers, one is a legendary Welsh sports
writer, one is, well.... developing....
OPINION No. 1
There can be no doubt that there exists in France probably as much
talent as in all other rugby countries combined...French rugby,
despite its organisational eccentricities, is
extremely strong and gains strength all the time. Where New Zealand
and South Africa may be able to muster, for instance, two or three
international class lock forwards, France would at any time possess at
least eight or nine players of comparable quality.
Perhaps the most startling comparison is between the seemingly endless
number of French midfield backs and those on offer in New Zealand,
Australia, South Africa or even the British Isles. This
embarrassment of riches...
Sydney-domiciled New Zealand writers, one is a legendary Welsh sports
writer, one is, well.... developing....
OPINION No. 1
There can be no doubt that there exists in France probably as much
talent as in all other rugby countries combined...French rugby,
despite its organisational eccentricities, is
extremely strong and gains strength all the time. Where New Zealand
and South Africa may be able to muster, for instance, two or three
international class lock forwards, France would at any time possess at
least eight or nine players of comparable quality.
Perhaps the most startling comparison is between the seemingly endless
number of French midfield backs and those on offer in New Zealand,
Australia, South Africa or even the British Isles. This
embarrassment of riches...
France has so much talent and other countries by comparison, so
little... The French make an absolute mockery of the calculations as
to who will win which are made by studious critics before the test
matches. If they are the favourites then it is wiser to expect them
to lose. If they have been written off beforehand it is as likely
that they will demolish the opposition.
.......Chris Laidlaw MUD IN YOUR EYE (1973) ....page 182-3
little... The French make an absolute mockery of the calculations as
to who will win which are made by studious critics before the test
matches. If they are the favourites then it is wiser to expect them
to lose. If they have been written off beforehand it is as likely
that they will demolish the opposition.
.......Chris Laidlaw MUD IN YOUR EYE (1973) ....page 182-3
OPINION No. 2
....these young players revealed the strength in depth of French
rugby, probably greater than that of any other rugby country....
J.B.G. Thomas THE AVENGING ALL BLACKS (Pelham, 1973) ....page 173
....these young players revealed the strength in depth of French
rugby, probably greater than that of any other rugby country....
J.B.G. Thomas THE AVENGING ALL BLACKS (Pelham, 1973) ....page 173
OPINION No. 3
The French are, frankly, a curious mixture. Like the souffles they
love so much: occasionally superb, more likely to go flat....
The French are, frankly, a curious mixture. Like the souffles they
love so much: occasionally superb, more likely to go flat....
.... Club rugby is THE rugby in France: players identify with their
club, even the internationals. This means that it is hard to motivate
French national sides.
club, even the internationals. This means that it is hard to motivate
French national sides.
Even the best national sides are flawed by regional prejudices.
French selectors, he said, never pick the best side. The side that
goes out on the field is always a compromise choice. This explains
why captains are changed so regularly and why the best players are
often not selected for the national XV. Yet if the selectors ever did
pick the best team from the talent available, that side would
generally be unbeatable. For, when it comes to sheer rugby talent,
brilliance in thinking about the game, visualising new developments
and concepts about it, the French are out on their own.
.....Spiro Zavos AFTER THE FINAL WHISTLE (Fourth Estate 1979) ....page
178
French selectors, he said, never pick the best side. The side that
goes out on the field is always a compromise choice. This explains
why captains are changed so regularly and why the best players are
often not selected for the national XV. Yet if the selectors ever did
pick the best team from the talent available, that side would
generally be unbeatable. For, when it comes to sheer rugby talent,
brilliance in thinking about the game, visualising new developments
and concepts about it, the French are out on their own.
.....Spiro Zavos AFTER THE FINAL WHISTLE (Fourth Estate 1979) ....page
178
OPINION No. 4
"I've never seen anything like it. They ran it from everywhere,
forwards and backs combined. They'd run full-tilt into the tackle and
just as you went to tackle them, they'd flick the ball into space and
someone would be running onto it at pace from a deep position. There
were class players with tons of skill and real pace coming at you from
all angles. At one point, I was the only defender and there were five
of them coming at me. I spent the evening lunging at thin air. And
it wasn't airy-fairy - they were extremely physical as well."
...... John Kirwan, speaking about the Stade Toulousain side of 1989.
"I've never seen anything like it. They ran it from everywhere,
forwards and backs combined. They'd run full-tilt into the tackle and
just as you went to tackle them, they'd flick the ball into space and
someone would be running onto it at pace from a deep position. There
were class players with tons of skill and real pace coming at you from
all angles. At one point, I was the only defender and there were five
of them coming at me. I spent the evening lunging at thin air. And
it wasn't airy-fairy - they were extremely physical as well."
...... John Kirwan, speaking about the Stade Toulousain side of 1989.
OPINION No. 5
The French take their rugby seriously but then they take many things
seriously - their food, their wine, their language, their culture....
The French take their rugby seriously but then they take many things
seriously - their food, their wine, their language, their culture....
The French do things their way and good luck to them. Despite the
collective amnesia which gripped the rugby world in the lead-up to
last Sunday's game, their way has been successful in the past.
Regardless of what happens in the final, it will be successful in the
future.
...... Paul Thomas HOW EASILY WE FORGET - THE SILLY MYTHS ABOUT FRENCH
RUGBY (Rugby Heaven, 4 November 1999)
collective amnesia which gripped the rugby world in the lead-up to
last Sunday's game, their way has been successful in the past.
Regardless of what happens in the final, it will be successful in the
future.
...... Paul Thomas HOW EASILY WE FORGET - THE SILLY MYTHS ABOUT FRENCH
RUGBY (Rugby Heaven, 4 November 1999)
OPINION No. 6
... It's all bullshit....
... It's all bullshit....
Greig Blanchett CHOKE ON THAT! (rec.sport.rugby.union April 2003)
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