Freddie’s back at No10 and Les Bleus have scored 94 points in three games in front of clamourous home crowds, hammering the Wallabies 33-6 before gutting the Pumas 39-19, then breaking down a super-physical Samoan challenge to ride out 22-14 winners and end their series undefeated. Something is very, very right with French rugby at the moment. That isn’t a good advent for Ireland, but it does wonders for the rugby world as a whole. Continue reading
A question of what might have been for the French, but over what period of time? To lose a final against the host nation and outplay them over the course of the 80 minutes suggests that France almost got things right. As Greavsie used say, “It’s a funny old game”. Continue reading
The winningest semi-finalist of them all
Identify the pairs: Wales and Australia; New Zealand and Scotland; France and England; South Africa and New Zealand; France and New Zealand; Argentina and France. Continue reading
Morgan Parra - with one 'r' it could have been a wonderful car
In France, it’s more or less accepted that a crisis is an obligatory requirement for the entertainment and distraction of the masses. Continue reading
Aurelien Rougerie apparently dislocated his shoulder against the fierce Tongans. That has been more or less overlooked in the welter of criticism that the French shipped over their surprise loss. Continue reading
Tonga put a beating on France that wasn’t reflected in the final scoreline. Vincent Clerc dotted down in the last minute of the game to put a bit of a gloss on what was a horrific defeat for a French team utterly lacking in heart and direction. Continue reading
The sorry end to a career of great service to French rugby
The Mole enjoyed a very good article on ESPN Scrum.com by Ian Moriarty about Marc Lievremont and his appalling relationship with the media/his players/the French public. Continue reading
That'll teach you to ferment revolt on foreign shores
Marc Lievremont has crushed the rising at source, dropping noted dissident Damien Traille for the clash with Tonga.
Damien Traille looses his musket in the direction of Marc Lievremont
Have the first blows of a revolution in the French camp been struck? Damien Traille, one of the elder statesmen in the French squad at 32 years old and with 85 test caps to his name, has openly expressed his anger and disappointment with Marc Lievremont in the wake of the heavy loss the French suffered at the hands of New Zealand. Continue reading
Couldn't pick his nose
This was a poor, disjointed and very disappointing match. As unlikely as it may have seemed, everything that Peter Bilge blustered about came to pass. Continue reading
Digging Like a Demented Mole 