News that the FFR is inviting applications for the post of head coach of the French national squad comes as little or no surprise. Rumours had been swirling from Lille to Biarritz for ages. Among the stipulations laid down by Olivier Lièvremont, the National Technical Director, is that the initial contract will run for two
The Semi-finals Long before the semis hove into view everyone knew the tenth RWC was an overwhelming success. In the week between the last eight and the last four the number of previews mushroomed. Every fashionable method of opinion-giving was used to the full. There were pundits everywhere you looked. A few critics moaned at
What a sight! Twickenham Stadium was already over 50,000 full for the bronze medal match; the top (third) tier well stocked for the first time ever in a women’s game. It was hard for both squads collecting themselves after the disappointments of the previous weekend. But there were medals to be won. The world was
Hard to believe, but there is one game no-one at the World Cup wanted to play in: the runners-up contest. Yes, there is the excitement of playing in what the French like to call the Temple of Rugby, but it’s the equivalent of the B film in a 1950s cinema. This France-New Zealand game forms
England reached another RWC final, but not as expected. France, frustrated by events, threw everything at them, but came up short for the ninth time running. The wet ball helped cause two knock-ons at the start, one English, one French. The game lurched as England won a sudden turnover; the ball moved quickly via Abbie
This is the French 23 chosen by the co-selectors to face England in the second semi-final. 15 BOURGEOIS 14 GRISEZ 13 KONDE 12 VERNIER 11 M. MENAGER 10 ARBEZ 9 BOURDON-SANSUS 1 BROSSEAU 2 GERIN 3 BERNADOU 4 FALL RACLOT 5 IKAHEHEGI 6 ESCUDERO 7 CHAMPON 8 T. FELEU 16 RIFFONNEAU 17 DESHAYE 18 KHALFAOUI
Now we know the four teams: Canada, England, France and New Zealand. Cynics will say they’ve known them for years. Sadly they’re right, but there’s no short cut to glory. Each of the four has its own approach to these final stages. Once again in alphabetical order: Canada was the union to place its cards
I doubt if any RWC has known events like this. After the France-Ireland match on Sunday not one, but two citings were entered by Ireland. Manae Feleu, co-captain of France, was accused of a dangerous tackle. But far more serious, Axelle Berthoumieu; the blind-side flanker, was accused of biting Aoife Wafer’s arm. A disciplinary committee
France v Ireland (quarter-final) From another match with an agonising finish I select a stat which occurred much earlier. I believe it determined the final score. On 39 minutes Manae Feleu was shown yellow for pulling a maul down. The Irish built that astonishing attack, but it came to nothing in the end. Back to
New Zealand are going to win a seventh world trophy. That is what hundreds of Kiwi pundits are telling us, and the Black Ferns’ performance against the Irish (40-0) adds strength to their contention. But first the schedule: Saturday 13 September New Zealand v South Africa KO 13.00* Canada v Australia KO 16.00 Sunday 14
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