The Haka is a challenge, and I think it needs to be answered, like the Tongan's did in the RWC, or the team I forget which, who advanced during the Haka. It's a mind game intended to intimidate, mind games need to be used by the opposing team to gain their own advantage. Not that it matters, the All Blacks will clean them up anyway.
I like the Haka, its tradition for the ABs and like most traditions, it should be respected. I don't have a problem w/ opposing teams doing their thing to upset the ABs (like walking towards em or even turning their backs, or better yet standing there after the ABs finish). But I think fans should be respectful & not whistle, etc, during it. Carry on kids & I apologize to Mercury for my 10 yr old comments. All the Best in 2013 & Rugby Forever Tonga says lets get it on Beaches <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OfobY9FH2nI" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe> And of course I can't leave out one of my favorite ABs Tana, doing the great Kapa O Pango <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bKa5NshwzRE" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>
Which was if you ask me - I thought that was awesome, but then again I'm a Bleus fan. I think Chabal is awesome. But it's all in a day's rugging.
Dusatoir. That World Cup Final game forever cemented his legend within my mind. I'm going to get a France jersey one of these days simply based on his performance in that game.
Made more tackles on his own against the ABs than the entire AB team made against France. He was making a point having not been included in the original squad for the tournament. I think he made it well.
My friends were in NZ during the RWC in '11. They caught some quarter & semi final matches. My buddy was in Auckland partying w/ some Kiwi's and he said French fans didn't take to losing so much, so he bought them a drink to ease the pain
Nobody takes to losing much. Like you, I was in Marseilles in 2007 and the Aussies really didn't enjoy that one. I was in Paris for both the pool game and the final against South Africa and it felt bad. I guess what made the French feel even worse is losing a match that they could and arguably, should have won. In my experience of living seven years in France, whilst the French enjoy wearing their hearts on their sleeves a little more than most, they're also the first to say, "C'est la vie"! Oh, edit: they also hated the coach, Marc Lievremont, who had, by that time, lost the confidence of his players who were managing themselves without his input.
The Paddies were woeful in the Autumn, the Taffs no better and Scotland got trashed. Italy handed in some decent performances but are still weak in critical areas. If it goes to form the French should have it but they play England at Twickenham so it could be open. I'd say all bets are off until the second weekend to see which England team turns up in Dublin. The clinical one from the second half against the ABs or the inept and indecisive one we saw against the Springboks and Aussies.
Cant blame the French...Joubert was way too lenient against the ABs in the second half...recon it had to do with him not fancying his chances getting out of NZ alive should Les Blue have won....as much as I think McCaw is a cock hole, Rougeries gouging was shocking.
I'll go: England ('cos I'm English more than anything) France (the real favourites) Ireland (because their tough matches are at home) Wales (some key injuries building up with the likes of Preistland, Charteris, Hook etc.) Scotland (only since they're hosting Italy) Italy (but I'd love to see them higher)
I'd go with this (unfortunately) since I just don't see England being able to string 2 or 3 results together since they are so maddeningly inconsistent.
I think they will have their tails up after dismantling the ABs. They are a fairly young team yhat seem to be coming in to their own ala Tualagi. That said I suspect the french will be pretty spit and polished. Whats realy got my interest is to see if Gav Henson gets a shout although been out a month with injury he showed he is still class with the L Welsh and Wales are in a bind. Also what Gatlands Lions pics will be. O'Conner should be back for the Wallabies and BEale might be back on track as will PoCock , who knows about Q Cooper... A Wallabie scalp may not be had for the BI Lions.
Wild I had a great time in France in '07. I realized that the day after the Rose v. Oz game was the last race of the season for SBK @ Magny Cours - so I said F'it I'm doing both. (Political note - since the Iraq war was going on & many peeps thought we shouldn't have been there [most Yanks agreed too] I thought some French would give me shyte for being a Yank, but it never happened) I met some great English guys at the races & ws happy to see Toseland win it. I thought the 1/4 match was great & shocked that England won. I had great seats - 2nd row in the endzone (tryzone?).
The French love Americans, hate America. They think you should all speak French. Was high-up behind one end of the ground in Marseilles, maybe behind you. Saw the Springbok v. Fiji game the next day; very entertaining match. Also had a good local bar/restaurant in Lalonde to watch the other Quarter-finals on tv. Great atmosphere.
Well maybe they should have sent their religious outcasts over 1st BTW - We've never been the same Back to France '07 - After game we went into the Old Port area for dinner, next to us were two English guys & two Aussies, all in their kits - not saying much to each other But the fiasco was the outside bartenders, there had to be about 300 people trying to get a drink from 2 bartenders.:huh Finally, when we were about to leave, went to use restroom (loo) and 3 guys walk out of the loo fit for 1. My lady looked at me like WTF, I said they were doing blow. I showed her the top of the toilet tank w/ the yayo residue, she said how did U know that? me: Don't ask Since I had to get to Nevers the next day for SBK, we tried in vain to get back to hotel in Orange for the AB v. Les Bleu kickoff. As I was binning that Renault up the hiway, I realized that we would miss the start of the game, so I took the next exit I could & found a bar/restaurant/hotel off the exit. We had a great time there. They seemed very shocked that Americans liked rugby & with French beating the ABs, next thing the champagne is popping & La Marseillaise being sung. A fond memory See you at the White Swan in Twickenham in '15
