Are you afraid by the legendary "french flair "?

Question

Or you trust quitly in the high quality standarts of All Blacks game ? (I'm french, nobody's perfect)

Answer 1

Not afraid, but you can call it "wary" of it. I still can remember the 1999 WC semi final between the All Blacks and Les Bleus. Ended up with France winning 43-31 at Twickenham on 31st October, 1999.

Almost 8 years down the line a repeat of that is highly unlikely, but you never know do you. French are really hurt and they're not in the QF match they wanted to be. They would've really preferred a match against the Scots on Sunday at Saint Denis rather than the current dreary prospect of facing up to the ABs away from home in Cardiff.

It certainly will be a very interesting match - after all it's the knock-outs now!!!!

Answer 2

What about Kiwi  flair?  Sure the French backs have a long history of great play but the ABs are solid in every phase of the game...

...and they're hungry.

Answer 3

Ask the english ref.

And I'm sorry if you start running towards the oppositions try line with a few seconds to go, you are a great sportsman aren't you.

Good luck for the rest of the tourament.

Chins up boys, you played better. They just had luck on there side.

Answer 4

What flair?its been played out of them,what you see is a structured french side which is sometimes boring and lost for ideas.GO ALLBLACKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

I have to agree with Skinz, luke mcalisters yellow card was unesecsary and and the touchies took no notice of the french forward pass... sad really.

Answer 6

I am not in the least afraid of the purely mythical "French flair". What does send shivers down my spine is the All Blacks complacency, lack of competition in pool play and their surprisingy ability to lose matches that matter.

Sure they could win 2 out of 3 games against South Africa (as in the Tri-Nations for example) but unfortunately the World Cup doesn't work on this system to the AB's detriment.

I haven't seen any conclusive evidence that indicates that they are the best team in the world. They played chumps in pool play, are extremely injury prone and most importantly have EVERYTHING to lose.

South Africa on the other hand beat England easily, not even a drop goal against their name. They have 3 extremely accurate and reliable kickers (Montgomery, Steyn and James) and a forward pack that would quite easily mow over a whole forward pack made up of Jonah Lomu's.

Sure i'll be glad if we win, but I won't be putting my house (or $5million for that matter) on them!

Go Argentina! (for the record I am Kiwi through and through but I just don't think media hype equates to victory... unfortunately).

Answer 7

No: very confident. We are clearly a better team than the French (we haven't lost to them in the last 7 or so test matches). Our forwards are superior - faster round the field. The only worry for ABs is lineout but its looks like we're mastering that too. Robinson will add steel too. Altho I think Jack is more dynamic in open play. Plus both fijian 'magicians' are playing. Can't wait. Wouldn't be surprised if we win by 30 points.

Answer 8

NO

Answer 9

they were known back in the day for talking with their hands but

current form suggests more flair on a pair of bellbottom jeans!

Indecisiveness and lack of the X-factor talent seems to be the norm of 6 nation teams. All Blacks now need to stop dotting i's and t's and just get out there with guns blazing!!

Their biggest problem will be referrees and officialdom.

Answer 10

Do you need to be that agressive France D ? That's so nice of you to keep the idea of french people being arrogant alive, really...

I don't think the ABs were robbed at all, we worked hard to win and even if our first half was rather bad we did good in the second one. (Though I'm not sure we would have won if it had not been for McAlister's time out.)

If it's any consolation, your team is mythical in France and so respected and admired we're having a hard time believing we just did what we did...

Answer 11

"french flair" bring it on I say. French flair is by far a dynamic part of the french teams' make up, it has proven to be a winning strategy and the ABs will need to shut it down before it even eventuates.

Afraid..... I highly doubt it, with the standard of rugby the ABs are leading up to, they can only get better, it will be a game worth watching.

Bring it on!

Answer 12

There is a huge difference between respect and fear . The all Blacks fear no team but you can see when they have not respected a team as much as they should they have been beaten. The fact that they are playing hard man Robo and the big islanders on the wings means they have respect for the French ability and will not underestimate a yet to impress French side with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Answer 13

Not at all!!!!

We won !!!!!

Thank NZ for this wonderful but painful game!

xxxxxx

Answer 14

No way. The French flair is a great part of the game. Unfortunately they are looking to exchange it for the boot. This will make the game boring. The All Blacks will roll the French by 30+ points. Looking forward to the finals AB's v SA

Answer 15

French flair is over rated, it usually disapears when you need it most, hence the loss in the 1999 World Cup Final.

They take out the number 1 team in the world during the semi's just to lose it to the Aussies in the final!

Answer 16

The French lost their flair against the South American team and havent recovered if there was one from the beginning. Skill, talent, fitness, technical application points to the AB's making it a one way ticket to the finals and brining home the bacon.

Answer 17

how does the irb condone in-experinced refs to ajudicate a game like this one?

unnecessary sinbinning of mcalister and a forward pass that both the toucheys COULD'VE seen...

no justice and the person to blame is the REF!!

throw the stats out the window...!!!

Answer 18

i love all things french i'm a francophile

Answer 19

yes I'm very afraid... the French are favourites in my mind. We will choke again - we haven't had a settled team - too much rotation in hooker (our lineouts will fail) and in midfield. Go Les Bleus!

Answer 20

I totally agree with jonboy. Laporte has fully coached the flair out of the French. Let's hope there is a little bit left somewhere waiting to be unleashed - but not too much because NZ certainly won't be expecting it.

This is going to be a great game. France will need to push our forwards around before they can even start to think about putting the ball in Jauzion's hands and champagne rugby.

Oh, and Jonboy, thanks for your support post concerning our kiwi brother who aint no brother . . .  obviously not the fastest tractor on the farm, but hey, takes all kinds to make the world wide web go around!

Answer 21

The ABs played a great game, the French were great too, and as a Kiwi living in France I had no idea what to feel! I really think the two teams were about equal during this match, a pity we can't make it to the final though...

All I can say is don't worry, the ABs are still world renowned and respected, and the French are just blown away by their win as the entire country thought it was impossible. Just remember that they hadn't beaten us since eight years ago and as they are pretty good players that was a major achievement by the All Blacks. Remember November?

Good game anyway!

Answer 22

New Zealand fans and the NZ team respect and enjoy French Flair, and I hope we see some in the 1/4 final. But we're not afraid. The team will beleive that they have the game plan to nullify and counter the French style of play, as they did successfully in our last few encounters.

Answer 23

As a frenchman, hope  this "legend" will remain all over the world any time, anywhere ;)

Answer 24

The French didnt deserve to win...the ABs were robbed

Answer 25

h**l yeah you guys are afraid of the french flair.

I thought new zealand was supposed to kill france something 60 to 0.

Good game you try hard.

Answer 26

The French flair died after Bernard Laporte took over. It may still exist to some degree but he seems to have coached it out of them. The French are a much more structured team these days. Sure this has made the team more consistent but the exciting and unprediable flair of the French is lacking. It is a shame because they were always good too watch.

Answer 27

The all blacks are the best team in the world. They play hard and honest. They are not dirty players like most countries.

I have followed these games and they come up  as the best. Unfortunately they put a English ref in and it seems he made bad errors. One try should not have been allowed to the french. But been a kiwi we take it and are so proud of our boys. The French team are a lot of mean looking men, they wont win the world cup. I bet my hat on that. I reckon Argentina will.. The game was won by all blacks. France should know that, and own up to it.

Answer 28

french flair?? the french have lost theyr flair they will lose by 20-30 points because the all blaacks are just far to good for them wt has the french done this wc to show they have even a little bit of flair?