Rugby
Posted Nov. 13 2003 - J. L. Oliver
England v France - How France Rate
13/11/03
We analyse the France line-up
France are without doubt the form team of the tournament, all that stands between them and the Rugby World Cup Final is England who they meet at Sydney's Telstra Stadium on Sunday. Ahead of the semi-final clash, we take a look at their side and rate their players.
FULLBACK: NICHOLAS BRUSQUE
Seems to be have been around for an age but the Biarritz back has seen off Clement Poitreneaud to cement himself in the No.15 jersey. Useful addition to the attacking backline, but his selection will hardly overawe the English.
Player rating: 7/10
RIGHT WING: AURÉLIEN ROUGERIE
Has not been hugely impressive this tournament, certainly better going forward than going back. Will need to be at his very best to combat the pace and power of Ben Cohen opposite him.
Player rating: 7/10
OUTSIDE CENTRE: TONY MARSH
One of the standout centres this tournament, despite time out with illness it does not look like he was ever away. Good hands, powerful defence and the uncanny ability to run good lines to open up opposition defences.
Player rating: 8/10
INSIDE CENTRE: YANNICK JAUZION
Possibly the French player who has done the most to boost his reputation on rugby's biggest stage. Hardly a household name before now, Jauzion's confidence and style belies his 13 caps. He is the perfect foil for his block-busting partner outside of him.
Player rating: 8/10
LEFT-WING: CHRISTOPHE DOMINICI
The real road-runner of the side and great to see him back to the form of four years ago after his off-field problems. A deadly finisher given the slightest sniff of the ball, with deadly pace and silky hands in the off-load. Jason Robinson will need to be at his best.
Player rating: 8/10
FLY-HALF: FRÉDÉRIC MICHALAK
Move over Jonny Wilkinson? Well, may be not quite yet but this 21-year-old is ahead on form so far this RWC. Some suggest he could combine the skills and vision of Carlos Spencer, the running of Stephen Larkham and the kicking of Jonny Wilkinson. He will need to do the deeds on the biggest stage with the England back row on his tail to convince the doubters, but a key man for France.
Player rating: 9/10
SCRUM-HALF: FABIEN GALTHIÉ (CAPTAIN)
This his fourth Rugby World Cup, Galthié is the experienced head in the half-back pairing. Excellent technical skills and a captain who gets the best out of his troops. Leads his side for the 24th time, Galthié will have his hands full dealing with Matt Dawson, but should be up to the challenge.
Player rating: 8/10
NO.8: IMANOL HARINORDOQUY
Did someone tell you he came from a Basque farming family? Most probably, but Harinordoquy, more relevantly, forms part of arguably the best back row units in world rugby. Burst onto the scene in the 2002 Six Nations, drifted away a bit after the Grand Slam triumph but seems to be back in the groove. Pace, hands and power make this 23-year-old a real handful.
Player rating: 9/10
NO.7 FLANK: OLIVIER MAGNE
Ah, one of the great names of modern French rugby, 'Charley' (as in Charlemagne) needs little introduction. One of the heroes of the semi-final four years ago, Magne is still up there in the world elite of back row forwards. His star may not shine as brightly as it once did but that will be little comfort to England.
Player rating: 8/10
NO.6 FLANK: SERGE BETSEN
The stuff of Jonny Wilkinson's nightmares, a hugely powerful shape on the side of the French scrum who had such a great game against England back in 2002. Combines fercious defence and break-down play with the running skills of a centre, England need to neutralise this man early doors.
Player rating: 9/10
NO.5 LOCK: JÉRÔME THION
'Jérôme who?', many will have asked prior to the RWC, this Biarritz lock had a few pundits looking around in their archives for information on the man who displaced the now injured Olivier Brouzet for the No.5 jersey. Good in the air, he has reinforced the line-out and brought physical presence to the rucks and mauls.
Player rating: 7/10
NO.4 LOCK: FABIEN PELOUS
The former skipper, Pelous seems to have been around since the dawn of time and is the third most capped Frenchman of all-time. Will relish the chance to lock horns with les Anglais once again. Won't let France down.
Player rating: 7/10
TIGHTHEAD PROP: SYLVAIN MARCONNET
Stepped up to the plate in the absence of Pieter De Villiers, Marconnet is an impressive scrummager. Will he and his front row colleagues have a chance to emasculate England? Much depends on the refereeing, but the English front row will be in for a torrid time.
Player rating: 7/10
HOOKER: RAPHAEL IBANEZ
Another former Test skipper in the side, the Saracens man is as solid as they come and appears in his second consecutive RWC semi-final after skippering the side four years ago. Efficient at the set-piece, Ibanez can be very useful in the loose, always in the right place at the right time.
Player rating: 7/10
LOOSEHEAD PROP: JEAN-JACQUES CRENCA
A very impressive game against the Irish last time out, Crenca is an imposing figure both in the scrum and around the fringes of the breakdown. A regular choice for France since the arrival of Bernard Laporte, Crenca will prove more than a handful for the English.
Player rating: 8/10
REPLACEMENTS:
YANNICK BRU:
Rough and tough, as Agen's Thierry Labrousse found out first hand. Bru is an able back-up to Ibanez and a useful impact player.
OLIVIER MILLOUD:
Injury and the props above him in the pecking-order have limited the international chances for the Bourgoin front rower over the past few years. Is a likely pair of fresh legs as the game progresses.
DAVID AURADOU:
The Stade Français utility forward is most at home at the second row and provides cover for Thion and Pelous now that the injured Brouzet is out the picture.
CHRISTIAN LABIT:
One of the great French club players, the blond-streaked back rower has never manage to translate that form at Test level. The Toulouse stalwart has won virutally everything at club level but only won 12 international caps.
GÉRALD MERCERON:
The English know all too well about the abilities of Gérald Merceron. Often wrongly portrayed as one-dimensional, Mérceron is a very handy understudy should things start to wobble with Michalak at 10, or if Michalak needs to move to No.9.
DAMIEN TRAILLE:
Lost out to the rising form of Jauzion, Traille burst onto the scene in 2002 and remains a potent midfield option. France will lose little if he needs to come on.
CLÉMENT POITRENAUD:
Pacy, but a little lightweight, Poitrenaud is primarily a fullback but can easily turn out on the wing.
Kick-off: 20.00 local (09.00 GMT), Live in the UK on ITV1
By Piers North
England v France - How England rate
13/11/03
We analyse the England line-up
Have the wheels come off England's sweet chariot, or are they just keeping the crowd guessing? Will Richard Hill be fit enough to assert himself, and will Mike Catt be able to improve on his cameos? With the hours ticking down to the semi-final, we take a look at the Englishmen selected to do battle against France for a spot in the Rugby World Cup Final.
FULLBACK: JOSH LEWSEY
Undoubtedly the 'find' of England's World Cup campaign. He seems to have found an extra edge of speed on the hard surfaces Down Under and adds an extra dimension to England's attack by hitting the line at speed. His relative inexperience at Test level will work to his advantage against the French, as they have yet to experience the Wasps' running lines from fullback.
Player rating: 7/10
RIGHT-WING: JASON ROBINSON
For all the dance moves, the Sale Sharks man has not made the impact that many expected he would do on this tournament. All that changed last week went he accelerated through two waves of Welsh defence to set up the try that finally put English minds at rest. A proven match-winner who can beat the French at their own game - the speeding counter-attack.
Player rating: 8/10
OUTSIDE CENTRE: WILL GREENWOOD
The Harlequin has long been England's try creator, but this tournament he has been their try-scorer - a fact that illustrates what a topsy-turvy time England have had so far. He will benefit from his wily new centre partner's vision, and the two will be looking to make magic together.
Player rating: 8/10
INSIDE CENTRE: MIKE CATT
The big call. Catt saved England's bacon against the Welsh by drawing some of the heat out of Jonny's kitchen. Wales had not planned for such an eventuality and were left flat-footed by his introduction, the difference this week is that the French will know what's coming. The Bath man has looked like a free-spirit coming off the bench, but things could be different now that he is expected to deliver for real - has been guilty of a few costly England chokes in the past.
Player rating: 7/10
LEFT-WING: BEN COHEN
England's outstanding performer of the 2003 Six Nations campaign has yet to really strut his stuff in Australia. He has defended well, but has suffered from a lack of ball. No one can fault his enthusiasm, but he has been guilty of coming in to look for work at the wrong times, cluttering up the midfield and leaving his wing exposed to the counter-attack. Has to learn to wait for the ball, and his forwards have to learn to produce it.
Player rating: 7/10
FLY-HALF: JONNY WILKINSON
Wilkinson looks like he has been struggling under the weight of his World Cup 'to-do' list - and who wouldn't? Place-kicker, territory snatcher, tactical director, attack instigator, defensive maestro, media darling, clothes horse, product model and pin-up! Phew! The genius is still in residence, but he will need the help of his back row and centres if he wants to keep Frédéric Michalak's hands off his fly-half crown.
Player rating: 8/10
SCRUM-HALF: MATT DAWSON
Dawson's passing game has suffered due to the shaky forward platform he has been forced to work off - sloppy conditions he has grown acutely unaccustomed to during England's recent run of form. Made up for this by putting in some good probing runs against Wales, and was England's best player in the early stages. He won't find the French fringes as inviting and should concentrate on serving up impeccable ball for his halfback partner.
Player rating: 7/10
NO.8: LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO
Dallaglio has admitted that he has not had the best tournament so far and needs to raise his game if England are going to come through Sunday's tussle. England have missed his ability to get past the gainline - he clearly isn't the Dallaglio that ripped through Australia and New Zealand during the summer tour. But cometh the hour, cometh the man - all England needs out of him is just two more massive games.
Player rating: 6/10
NO.7 FLANK: NEIL BACK
Still putting in the tireless performances, but England have leaked a few tries, and the perfectionist in Back will blame himself for not stemming the leaks. Back has missed Hill more than most and will be happy to get their dynamic partnership back in action - he will need to be at his sharpest to beat his nemesis Olivier Magne to the break-down ball.
Player rating: 7/10
NO.6 FLANK: RICHARD HILL
Finally he is back! You never really appreciate something until it disappears, and Hill's absence has been no different. For too long the Saracens man has been England's invisible hero. When it comes to great blindsides, it's what you don't see that counts, and Hill's ability to wrap up the game and cut the opponents' flow of ball to a trickle makes him one of the finest No.6s of all time. If England find their feet again against the French, it will be due to this man. His lofty rating is based on ability, but his fitness could let him down on Sunday.
Player rating: 9/10
NO.5 LOCK: BEN KAY
Kay is cursed to stand in Johnson's shadow forever, but he is a phenomenally talented athlete in his own right. His line-out work is virtually flawless and he puts his bulk to good use around the park. A little too keen to indulge his wing fantasies perhaps, but that trait may have been knocked out of him during the Wales game when it became painfully obvious that he doesn't have the pace to latch on to cross-field kicks!
Player rating: 8/10
NO.4 LOCK: MARTIN JOHNSON (CAPTAIN)
Johnson is England's most important player by a country mile. The captain's leadership skills came to the fore when England were under the cosh against Wales. But on Sunday he will need to gain control of his players from the first minute, his influence in the opening exchanges will be crucial.
Player rating: 9/10
TIGHTHEAD PROP: PHIL VICKERY
The big Gloucester man's role on Sunday is vital. He must anchor the scrum and ensure a solid platform for his backs. England's scrummage looked a little shaky against the Wales, and Vickery will be determined to make amends on Sunday. He will relish his chance to get one over France's famous front row.
Player rating: 8/10
HOOKER: STEVE THOMPSON
The Northampton Saint has toned down his rampant midfield runs, and has learnt when it is time to simply knuckle down and focus on the basics. He will be wise to follow this course of action on Sunday when he comes up against the formidable French.
Player rating: 7/10
LOOSEHEAD PROP: TREVOR WOODMAN
The Gloucester man nudges out the evergreen Jason Leonard after benefiting from a second-half appearance against Wales. Woodman did his bit to settle England, and was exactly what his team of too many cooks so desperately needed - a tireless washer-upper. Will need all his wits about him at the scrum on Sunday.
Player rating: 7/10
REPLACEMENTS:
DORIAN WEST:
The veteran hooker has done well to squeeze past Mark Regan and onto the bench. The Leicester Tiger is a great technician and still a highly mobile force around the field, but he lacks Thompson's sheer physical presence.
JASON LEONARD:
If the old warhorse gets on the pitch he will break the world record for International appearances. Don't bet against it, the veteran is breathing down the neck of Trevor Woodman and would relish an 18th bash at the French. Yes, 18th!
MARTIN CORRY:
The versatile Leicester man is proven player of Test quality who has the knack of rising to the occasion. His selection ahead of Simon Shaw, and alongside Lewis Moody, suggests that England are still not 100 percent convinced of Richard Hill's recovery.
LEWIS MOODY:
Moody will always suffer in comparison with Richard Hill. But some good work in the senior man's absence will stand him in good stead - he has managed to control his penalty count and improved his ball retention during this tournament.
KYRAN BRACKEN:
Could Dawson have finally won the 10-year battle for the No.9 shirt? Don't bet on it, Dawson may be the better runner, but Bracken has the better pass and could be a useful addition to the field of play once the game settles down (if it ever does).
MIKE TINDALL:
The workhorse loses out to the show-pony. Tindall put in the hard-yards but, in the absence of any creativity around him, was shown up to be a little one dimensional. But the Bath man has a lot more to his game than the big 'bosh' and his omission is a tough break.
IAIN BALSHAW:
Balshaw has had a better tournament that many expect, and has shown some flashes of his former self. But at times he has looked a little too easy to read, and his lack of bulk leaves him a little too vulnerable to France's menacing back row.
Kick-off: 20.00 local (09.00 GMT), Live in the UK on ITV1
By Andy Jackson
Woodward: We're aware what is at stake,
by RFU press office �
�
Clive Woodward has no doubts that his team is capable of raising their game against France in this weekend�s World Cup semi-final. England are preparing for the next two games � with either a final or a play off to follow the big game against France � in the popular Manly resort that their head coach called home for five years. The mood is more relaxed in their beach-front hotel, but Woodward is hoping his players stay focused and stay out of the seaside sunshine.� "This location was not my choice. It was going to be whoever won the qualifying pool got the Manly Pacific hotel, but we have to be careful," he said. "It is almost too nice with the beach and it being one of the most beautiful parts of Australia . It is just a case of keeping everybody's mind focused on Sunday night - everyone is fully aware of what is at stake." The dust has now settled on England 's quarter final victory over Wales , when the RBS Six Nations champions were outscored 3-1 on tries and given a major fright.� As Wales arrived home, England acknowledged that a repeat performance could see the world's top ranked side falling at the penultimate hurdle.
"We know France well, and I think that the team are really looking forward to playing them," Woodward said.� "We have no doubt that England can win this game, but we will have to improve dramatically on our performance against Wales . To do that, we just need to keep a cool head and sort one or two things out. "France have had a good World Cup so far, and have played very, very well, but they have not been been pressurised like England will do at the weekend, and they know that. "We know France very well - we played them once in August, and once in September - and it will be a great match up. "I have no fears of the French and I have a lot of respect for them, and I believe that if we get this week right, we don't over-react and keep cool heads, then we will beat them.
We have come to this tournament as one of the favourites, number one in the Zurich world rankings, and I think deep in the back of all our minds that we would have been very disappointed not to have made the semi finals. "I just feel that we are where we should be, and we have got a fantastic record over the past few months against these top sides in the world, including France .� I feel more relaxed this week than I did at this point last week going into the Welsh game, which was a huge banana skin. "Those guys played well. They had absolutely nothing to lose and that is how they played, and we just managed to scrape through and make the semi final.� But that is all history now, and we have to learn from the lessons of what happened in Brisbane , no more than that. We are just looking forward to the French game, and very excited about what could happen on Sunday evening."
Services dig in as Babas dazzle
by Roger Thompson
The Remembrance Day match between the Combined Services and the Barbarians lived up to expectations. �At the Army Rugby Stadium, Aldershot on Tuesday evening, the Barbarians dazzled, the Services dug in to combat the onslaught and the crowd of 3000 were treated to a match where the result clearly mattered Fielding seven internationals the Barbarians attacked from the whistle moving the ball with huge ambition and skill. �At times mesmeric, they retained sufficient possession to show the Aldershot crowd that this was more than an exhibition of high octane rugby. Portugese internationals Luis Pissara (No 9) and Goncalo Malheiro (No 15) were quick and elusive, Malheiro scoring an excellent try which he converted. After Dave Pascoe, the Navy scrum half, landed an early penalty, Canadian international captain Dan Baugh broke the line and cantered 40m to the posts. �When a second try seemed imminent, the home side regrouped and launched a fierce counter attack up to the Barbarians line.�
Thereafter the Services gave no ground. The scrums locked horns and both packs rucked fiercely. Peter Taylor, normally RAF but this time playing for the Barbarians was keen to show he owed the Services few favours on the night.� Led into open contact by Scotland international prop Mattie Stewart, the Services successfully bombarded a Barbarians defence too frequently deployed to attack� Together with hooker George Kemble and former England schools international Steve Trethewey, �he made life uncomfortable for the Babas front row. �Lock Lee Soper (England Counties), now returned from Iraq , and to his majestic best in the line out, secured sufficient clean ball off the top for the backs to challenge the Barbarians at the gain line. With Centre Ed Smith in belligerent form and winger Bruno Green finding top gear and a little bit of space, what might have been on reputation a procession, was transformed into a true contest. England sevens forward Andy Dawling (No 7) and Fijian international Alfred Vakacokovanua (No 8) provided the sort of close formation support that would have done the Red Arrows credit.� Alfred, previously honoured by the Babas, frequently jetted himslf into the heart of the Barbarians defence to generate forward momentum, produced a series of stadium rocking tackles and scored the Services only try.
On the hour mark either side might have won and when Gareth Slade Jones arrived as a replacement scrum half the Services were able to find an extra gear. �Slade Jones, a strong combative runner sucked in the Barbarians first line of defence increasing the scope for quick hands and flank attacks. It required three moments of professional brilliance from Ben Whetstone ( Bedford ), Jason Foster ( Newport ) and Malheiro ( Portugal ), and stout defence, to secure a Barbarians win by 26 points to eight.� On this showing Services rugby remains highly competitive and well up to National League One. England sevens intenational and former Harlequin Howard Graham, now carving a position in television sport, said �Considering the strength of this Barbarians side, the Services stuck to their guns magnificently. They matched the Barbarians in all phases of the game and only three flashes of rugby genius separated the teams at the end�. �
Woodward promises an 'improved' performance
14/11/03
'Winning is all that matters' England coach Clive Woodward has 'promised' that his side will finally turn it on in Sunday's semi-final against France, and believes his side will make the Rugby World Cup Final - meeting Australia on November 22 for a chance to snatch the Webb Ellis trophy from the hosts. "I have just got a feeling that Australia have got a proven track-record in World Cups and they are playing at home," said Woodward. "The Wallabies are a bit like England - they have not been playing well but they have certainly got the players.
"The Australians have absolutely no fear of the All Blacks. If Australia were playing South Africa then I would say that South Africa would win, somehow the South Africans have got the will over the Australians. "The Wallabies seem to lose consistently to the South Africans but Australia have absolutely no fear of the All Blacks, I think that when Australia starting beating the All Blacks in the early eighties in the Bledisloe Cup they have not looked back. "It will be an upset if Australia win but I have just got a sneaky suspicion that they will, they are playing at home with the crowd behind them. "If Australia had to choose one of the three teams to play against it would be the All Blacks it wouldn�t be England or France." England have yet to find the pre-tournament form that rocketed them to the top of the Zurich World Rankings.
Although they remain unbeaten in RWC they struggled to subdue the spirit of a vibrant Samoa challenge and leaked three tries to a Welsh side that made the Men in White look positively flat-footed. The English media may be anxious at the team's lethargic progress, but Woodward told zurichpremiership.com that spirits within the England camp our sky-high. "We trained last night [Thursday] for about 30 minutes and everyone is ready and there is a tremendous atmosphere in the camp," said Woodward. "Here in Manly there are a lot of English people everywhere, it's a privilege to be here and I have no doubt that they will see the real England on Sunday night. "We make sure that we arrive with a smile at the team meeting - we even smile at the press - it is how you handle it, and I am very confident and positive for Sunday night. "It has been a great week here and it is going to be a massive game, I promise you that and I have no doubt that England are really going to turn up on Sunday night." Woodward also payed tribute to Mike Catt who has been selected to start at inside centre - the Bath veteran's first return to England's starting XV for two years. Catt's inclusion comes at the expense of his club colleague Mike Tindall, but the England coach was quick to stress that the switch was purely tactical - and hinted that the centre's hard-running talents would feature at some point during Sunday's showdown. "I think that the key thing is merit, you have just got to forget the history and where Catt has come from, the bottom line is that he is here and international sport is about your last game and your next game," said the coach. "I just think that we had to make that change, it is the only change from the starting line up that played the major international Tests against Australia and New Zealand in June, and that would have been the team that would have started against South Africa if Hill had been fit.
"I need to mention Tindall who has done absolutely nothing wrong, it was just a tactical change We needed to get a ball player in the midfield, there has been a lot of pressure coming through on the nines and tens and we need to get a bit more width to the game and Catt is a genuine second five-eighths, where Greenwood and Tindall are genuine centres. "I have no doubt that Tindall is going to play a major part in this game as Catt did last week. "Catt has been picked on merit, we have been behind in almost every game and I don't want to bring the cavalry on, I want the cavalry to start knowing that I have got Balshaw, Tindall, Leonard if I need them. I think Catt has strengthened the team for this weekend and we are at full-strength and I am looking forward to it." Woodward also suggested that Sunday's clash would be more about grunt and grind rather than pace and guile - and revealed that the team had received a encouraging message from a previous English World Cup winner. "I keep saying to people it is just about winning. I have had messages of support from all over the place - we got a lovely fax from Jack Charlton - he made it very clear that it was about winning and I listen to him and Martin Johnson: it doesn�t matter how you get there you have just got to get there, that�s all that matters."
By Andy Jackson
London Scottish Football Club.
