@sparky said in France vs Springboks:

Seven of 23 players named in the French side (list below) also toured New Zealand in July which suggests it wasn't a totally weakened squad as some claimed.

• Gaël Fickou
• Nolann Le Garrec
• Mickaël Guillard
• Thibault Aurd­adou
• Régis Montagne
• Romain Taofifenua
• Baptiste Erdocio

Here's 7 of our 23:
Lord, Lakai, Leicester, Leroy, Darry, Du'Plessis, Proctor.
If you topped that up with guys who wouldn't make the squad, I reckon it would be regarded as fairly weakened.

@Smuts said in France vs Springboks:

Also expect lots of traffic down ntamack’s channel. Apart from our 10 being our best ball runner, DDA’s backed up by Andre T Giant on the bench, and anyway you can’t go wide all the time if your loosies are all playing 80.

Ntamack is a very good defender.

@reprobate I didn't say it wasn't weakened. It just wasn't the "C" team, as some people claimed.

@MN5 said in France vs Springboks:

Aside from the cutting and pasting of what’s his name the rest is pure MN5

So we're going to see your post again in a couple of days?

I agree with the above, French depth is scary.

@nostrildamus said in France vs Springboks:

@MN5 said in France vs Springboks:

Aside from the cutting and pasting of what’s his name the rest is pure MN5

So we're going to see your post again in a couple of days?

It's not a meme

@Dodge said in France vs Springboks:

Still think France are the best side in the world, the fact Lucy would walk into any test side in the world and is only third choice in France continues to blow my mind.

Looking forward to this one, hope France are up for it, bit of a revenge mission.

Yep, France at home should be the best team in the world, I fully expect them to win given that. Should be a helluva game. SA now focusing on attack and leaking tries makes for an interesting contest

French hooker looks more like Malcolm Marx than Malcolm Marx does

What a try

My word. That's outrageous.

This full strength French side might be able to belt this Bok side.

@ExiledHalfback said in France vs Springboks:

My word. That's outrageous.

This full strength French side might be able to belt this Bok side.

Even without DuPont. French playing like the ABs used to.

@Canes4life said in France vs Springboks:

@ExiledHalfback said in France vs Springboks:

My word. That's outrageous.

This full strength French side might be able to belt this Bok side.

Even without DuPont. French playing like the ABs used to.

Their wingers and fullback are outrageous.

The way the French hit that last ruck. Talk about ferocious.

Nice delay tactics there from SA, using the HIA to get a breather, and switch the replacement at the last minute

Both these teams are a few streets ahead of the ABs

@ExiledHalfback said in France vs Springboks:

Both these teams are a few streets ahead of the ABs

Just as long as we are up there with them come the WC.

@Canes4life said in France vs Springboks:

@ExiledHalfback said in France vs Springboks:

Both these teams are a few streets ahead of the ABs

Just as long as we are up there with them come the WC.

I actually think the ABs are building nicely.

Some of these players are so slick

France will be incredibly tough to beat in 27.

Also missing Mauvaka, Atonio, Cros, Alldritt, Dupont & Jalibert tonight.

@hikastags said in France vs Springboks:

France will be incredibly tough to beat in 27.

Also missing Mauvaka, Atonio, Cros, Alldritt, Dupont & Jalibert tonight.

Crazy isn't it. The Top 14 is the best domestic competition in the world by a distance.

Not to mention most of their B/C team players have done a tour vs a pretty much full strength NZ. They're very well prepped.

Every team needs to find a way to compete with the Bok scrum. It's such a huge advantage for them and they seem to have a number of props who are capable of dominating. Amazing depth.

@ExiledHalfback said in France vs Springboks:

@hikastags said in France vs Springboks:

France will be incredibly tough to beat in 27.

Also missing Mauvaka, Atonio, Cros, Alldritt, Dupont & Jalibert tonight.

Crazy isn't it. The Top 14 is the best domestic competition in the world by a distance.

I find that hard to believe when Nonu’s playing in it and someone like Pita Ahki who didn’t do anything in New Zealand was a dominant force.

Up there as one of the best comps in the world but let’s not get carried away.

Best crowds though.

Also have to note Stade de France has a field width lower than World Rugby regulation.

Helps some of the fatties get around.

That’s a red ffs

Tough call imo with the French player dropping.

Still think SA will be good enough to win this, even with 14 men.

Angus doesnt want to send him off.

He wants to abdicate to the bunker.

@Jet said in France vs Springboks:

Angus doesnt want to send him off.

He wants to abdicate to the bunker.

Geeze, rugbys getting soft eh?

Is this a permanent Red ?

@Steven-Harris said in France vs Springboks:

Is this a permanent Red ?

Yep

Bok fans are going to go mental

@W32 said in France vs Springboks:

@Jet said in France vs Springboks:

Angus doesnt want to send him off.

He wants to abdicate to the bunker.

Geeze, rugbys getting soft eh?

For me it is yeah.

Much preferred it circa 2001 Lions Tour to 2006 approx.

@Jet said in France vs Springboks:

@W32 said in France vs Springboks:

@Jet said in France vs Springboks:

Angus doesnt want to send him off.

He wants to abdicate to the bunker.

Geeze, rugbys getting soft eh?

For me it is yeah.

Much preferred it circa 2001 Lions Tour to 2006 approx.

Oh I thought you thought angus should have sent him off straightaway. My bad

@Jet said in France vs Springboks:

Angus doesnt want to send him off.

He wants to abdicate to the bunker.

The conversation between Gardner, the ARs and TMO was telling. Democracy ruled in the end. A tucked arm (ala SBW) is never a good look.

@akan004 said in France vs Springboks:

@Steven-Harris said in France vs Springboks:

Is this a permanent Red ?

Yep

So Ireland's was a 20 min red, SAs is off for the entire match?

@JayCee said in France vs Springboks:

@akan004 said in France vs Springboks:

@Steven-Harris said in France vs Springboks:

Is this a permanent Red ?

Yep

So Ireland's was a 20 min red, SAs is off for the entire match?

No, don't think so?

@Bovidae said in France vs Springboks:

@Jet said in France vs Springboks:

Angus doesnt want to send him off.

He wants to abdicate to the bunker.

The conversation between Gardner, the ARs and TMO was telling. Democracy ruled in the end. A tucked arm (ala SBW) is never a good look.

But a tucked arm isn't a red card. WR clarified this with the Beirne Decision.

@JayCee said in France vs Springboks:

@akan004 said in France vs Springboks:

@Steven-Harris said in France vs Springboks:

Is this a permanent Red ?

Yep

So Ireland's was a 20 min red, SAs is off for the entire match?

Correct. There's the option of issuing a permanent red under the current red card rules.

What promised to be a great game is disappointing

@akan004 said in France vs Springboks:

@JayCee said in France vs Springboks:

@akan004 said in France vs Springboks:

@Steven-Harris said in France vs Springboks:

Is this a permanent Red ?

Yep

So Ireland's was a 20 min red, SAs is off for the entire match?

Correct. There's the option of issuing a permanent red under the current red card rules.

i did not know that was a thing

@W32 said in France vs Springboks:

@Jet said in France vs Springboks:

@W32 said in France vs Springboks:

@Jet said in France vs Springboks:

Angus doesnt want to send him off.

He wants to abdicate to the bunker.

Geeze, rugbys getting soft eh?

For me it is yeah.

Much preferred it circa 2001 Lions Tour to 2006 approx.

Oh I thought you thought angus should have sent him off straightaway. My bad

He should have yeah based on what we have gotten used to over last 10 years or so.

My point was Angus was reluctant to do what needed to be done.