That was a disappointing effort from the Oz boys who we wanted to do well, but we would have been salivating about some of the French fellows if they had gold jerseys on. Unfortunately they were better man for man in nearly all positions. The Aussies all tried their best but only Gill would have made the French team for sure.
It was hard to judge the Oz players in the trial at Rat Park and the easy Scotland game - and even in the mud game against Argentina, but cruel reality set in when France finished all over them and one had to shake one's head and as a rugby fan, just enjoy the manner in which they scored their tries.
There were a lot of reasons why the Aussies weren't good enough but they included:
- a very light scrum and short lineout
- missing breakout tackles and not realigning adequately afterwards
- slow wingers, who were not wingers, outpaced by French attackers or caught easily by defenders, and a srumhalf who had a poor game.
- no answer to French up and in defence, often because of slowed ball and therefore losing time and space.
- not matching the French in how they turned Oz ball into scrappy ball.
- playing too light and being a step behind what the French were doing
- inexperience (half the squad is back next year)
- starting and finishing the game poorly
But the main reason was the excellence of the French players. Every player in the squad is connected with a French pro team and they looked better physical specimens, in the main and were more advanced in footie know how - whereas the Aussies seemed to be learning on the job. Maybe the French weren't that hot in their first two games but they hit their straps today.
8. Chateau looked like Zinzan, as the commentators said, and he is likely a future test player - and there's even another star no.8 who is younger, teenager Galland of Stade Francais, yet to come.
The back three players Martin and Fuster would make Super coaches in Oz drool and I thought hooker Fidindie is another who has a big future.
There's not a lot of good to write about the Oz players though I loved the way they fought back and got to 7-14 down at oranges. Then came the decision at 60 minutes not to take a penalty from in front to be only 4 points down - and the rest is history.
Well done France. I haven't yet watched the other two games on TV and not read the posts above to read a spoiler; so don't know who is going through. I would like the French to be the 4th team in, though it's likely not. But if they get in and play as well as they did against Oz they would have a shot.
.
