Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2007 France

[Douai]

"La France remporte le Tournoi des Six nations"
http://medias.lemonde.fr/mmpub/edt/ill/2007/03/17/h_2_ill_884634_ibanez.jpg
"Samedi, les Bleus ont battu l'Ecosse (46-19) au Stade de France. Ils remportent le trophée pour la quatrième fois en cinq ans. Il s'en est fallu de peu : la victoire finale s'est jouée à la différence de points."

http://www.lemonde.fr/web/sequence/0,2-3242,1-0,0.html

[Pierre-Henri]

That was a narrow shave. Not really encouraging, in my opinion. I don't know how southern hemisphere teams play right now, but this will be difficult. If we play the WC as bad as the game vs. England, the Allblacks and/or Australia will turn us into carpets.

[Leto]

Félicitations de votre victoire dans le Tournoi. J'attends la Coupe du Monde avec impatience pour l'occasion de vous battre!

[Douai]

It's coming.
http://www.lepoint.fr/content/system/media/2/20070530/2007-05-30T060812Z_01_NOOTR_RTRIDSP_2_OFRSP-SPORT-RUGBY-ZELANDE-FRANCE-EQUIPE-20070530.jpg

[Pierre-Henri]

I'd like to express some jingoistic bravado here, but since we're in the same group than Ireland and Argentina, I won't. An early end is possible. Unlikely, but possible.

[toulousain]

I think we all know that but we have to think positive !
So the early end is a taboo thought. Shhhh...

Vivement la Coupe du Monde !!!

[Pierre-Henri]

Yes, of course, but Argentina is a damn good team. Have to admire the Argentinians, BTW, they rock at every team sport : olympic champions at soccer and basketball*, outstanding rugby ... they will be my n°2 supported team.

Unfortunately, as usual, most games will really be uneven. However, some games between two minor teams could be nice to follow. Fiji-Japan, for example, should provide some nice passing game.

Needless to say, a second win by England would be an unforgivable setback. England can't win. They should not win. They must not win.


-----------
* I just loooooooove to endlessly repeat this fact to Americans.

[from the plaines]

Any ideas on who is going to win the game this weekend. I think France can take it. And have they put out the roster yet for the team? I havent seen anything about it yet.

[Douai]

Any ideas on who is going to win the game this weekend. I think France can take it. And have they put out the roster yet for the team? I havent seen anything about it yet.

http://lequipe.fr/Rugby/CM2007_FRANCE_SELECTIONS.html

[from the plaines]

Cool thanks! Well I am happy to see Chabel in the line up , even when they are losing it still a great time watching him destroy people. I still smile when I think of that tackle he had on that NZ player and made that guys head bounce like a rubber ball when it hit the ground :D

[AfrcnHrbMan]

Do we have a big rugby fans here? I understand the game and watch it, from time to time. But i really don't know the players so much because coverage is virtually nonexsitent, and im too obsessed about footie to go searching. Can any body give a little synopsis on Frances best players and ones to watch out for?

[Catfish]

My rugby site that has everything is:
www.planet-rugby.com

I'm glad to see this thread on this topic. I was quite
curious if the French footie fans on here would be into
rugby or The Rugby World Cup, especially since France
is hosting it this year.

[Douai]

Rugby is among my favorite sports. I watched a lot of French Top 14 matches. Sadly, there isn't a Nordiste club in the top flight of French Rugby Union (I like the Union code better than League).

[Douai]

Poule D (Calendrier)
Date Stade Rencontre Heure
ven 07/09/2007 Saint-Denis FRANCE c. ARGENTINE 21h00
dim 09/09/2007 Bordeaux IRLANDE c. NAMIBIE 20h00
mar 11/09/2007 Lyon ARGENTINE c. GEORGIE 20h00
sam 15/09/2007 Bordeaux IRLANDE c. GEORGIE 21h00
dim 16/09/2007 Toulouse FRANCE c. NAMIBIE 21h00
ven 21/09/2007 Saint-Denis FRANCE c. IRLANDE 21h00
sam 22/09/2007 Marseille ARGENTINE c. NAMIBIE 21h00
mer 26/09/2007 Lens NAMIBIE c. GEORGIE 18h00
dim 30/09/2007 Marseille FRANCE c. GEORGIE 15h00
dim 30/09/2007 Paris IRLANDE c. ARGENTINE 17h00

Merci L'Équipe.fr pour le calendrier

[Pierre-Henri]

Short victory over England. It was rather difficult, but we did it, thanks to Sébastien "Attila" Chabal. The kind of guy you would not provoke in a bar fight.

http://moritz.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/sebastian_chabal200.jpg

Something tells me that Chabal will be a serious MVP contender during the World Cup.

I was quite curious if the French footie fans on here would be into
rugby or The Rugby World Cup, especially since France
is hosting it this year.

You bet. Soccer is a fine sport, but rugby is ... well, beyond that. In France, rugby is a southern sport, and mostly rural. Its culture is very different from soccer's culture. Plus, international games are something special, much more rare than soccer international games. Sometimes, I get sick of too much soccer, but rugby never failed me. Of course, it's probably because Alsace is not a rugby region, so I follow only the XV de France, and not the league.

I simply hope success and money won't spoil the sport, even if I'm very pessimistic about that.

[Catfish]

Short victory over England. It was rather difficult, but we did it, thanks to Sébastien "Attila" Chabal. The kind of guy you would not provoke in a bar fight.
http://moritz.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/sebastian_chabal200.jpg
Something tells me that Chabal will be a serious MVP contender during the World Cup.

You are so right about Chabal. I saw him for the first time this past 6Nations...WOW!
He was a monster.

[squidward123]

how are the all blacks seen in france? I mean, overall. Not talking about their world cup prospects. Are they worshipped like england are in china?

[guignol]

how are the all blacks seen in france? I mean, overall. Not talking about their world cup prospects. Are they worshipped like england are in china?i'm not sure you can say worshipped, since we have a pretty good little team of our own that is first in our hearts. but they definitely inspire awe, especially in present form, and they are definitely high profile, and used in ad campaigns for powerade, adidas...

[squidward123]

i'm not sure you can say worshipped, since we have a pretty good little team of our own that is first in our hearts. but they definitely inspire awe, especially in present form, and they are definitely high profile, and used in ad campaigns for powerade, adidas...

I heard that they sell more all black jerseys in france than in new zealand. I get the impression that more than any other country in the world (apart from nz), the all blacks are popular in france.

well, I personally am not originally from new zealand and I do not like the all blacks at all so I will be supporting anyone that plays NZ :D

Don't fall for the hype. NZ are like england football team. they'll screw it up in the semis again. The only difference is that the all blacks are actually very good outside of world cup competitions and have a lot of skill.

Ah, at least it'll mean a whole 2 months or whatever of holiday in this country. When does it start exactly by the way?

[Catfish]

All Blacks are like Man Utd or Real Madrid, as far as, popularity
worldwide. I admit it, I like them. The play fantastic Rugby.
Their rich tradition, the simple kits, The Haka, New Zealand's culture,
the TriNations, the All Blacks spread throughout Super 14 clubs, etc.
The first player I knew was Tana Umaga, one of the best ruggers
in the last few years. His intensity and skill inspired me to start
watching/following the sport. I, even, began watching Super 14
and, of course, supported the club that Umaga was on the
Wellington Hurricanes.

Another very good player that was also on the Hurricanes
and regular All Black starter that is fun to watch is:
Jerry Collins! Talk about a pitbull.