DRAMA! DRAMA! DRAMA!

England overcome France

13.10.2007

England 14, France 9 in Paris (World Cup, Semi-final)

England won by 5 points. I predicted France by 6.

Reviews

What a dramatic match! It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t the best game of rugby I’ve ever seen but oh dear, where are my heart pills! The French could have won this game. What has happened to the skill of inter passing forward play? This was a skill the French once had in abundance. When it was used in this match, and it was used probably more by the English, it took out a defender and made space for the attackers. The French played right into the English hand. The English hand was in the forwards and at the breakdown where England gradually gained ascendancy.

Previews

This match could go either way. Both teams have a more than solid forward pack. England out-muscled the Australians last weekend and had Jonny Wilkinson to general the attack. France has a very solid forward pack who combine well with a gifted although erratic backline. If the French can tame the massive English pack and shut down Wilkinson they will win.

http://worldcup.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,21043,13175_2796725,00.html

http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=17894

http://www.ffr.fr/index.php/ffr/historique/2007/france_angleterre__4

GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-France 1^st, England 3^rd CHANGE

Match Data Sheet

Iron Fist data