Elsewhere in Group C

[Stom]

lol at France.

[Mikey Brown]

Wow. Feels so harsh on the US. Shouldn't really be surprised though.

[Renniks]

I hope this is the France that turn up in a couple of weekends time

[Mikey Brown]

I hope this is the France that turn up in a couple of weekends time

I was getting a bit worried there isn't going to be a real tough test before the quarters to be honest.

This scoreline isn't really telling the story.

[Which Tyler]

I hope this is the France that turn up in a couple of weekends time

It's France - it makes no difference whatsoever to how they'l play against us.

There's nothing in rugby that's less surprising that France being complacent against a team who shouldn't trouble them at all. Possibly with the exception of France cutting loose against a team they shouldn't be able to trouble at all.

ETA: Loving that little analysis from Fitz and POC - Fitz "France were just like spoiled brats refusing to play together or follow instructions" POC "They were just bored"

[Peej]

Hmm. I know we are all familiar with this "we don't know which France will turn up" thing, but actually, France have been well below expectations for years. Not sure they've finished higher than 3rd in the 6 Nations in the last 10 years.

[Scrumhead]

That wasn’t France’s first choice lineup either. I wouldn’t read anything in to the result apart from that it may influence their selection against Tonga and potentially for our game.

If Tonga play like they did against Argentina, they will be a hard nut for the French B team to crack so they may not want to risk as much rotation as they had today.

[Peej]

Tonga also beat France in 2011, though I think this Tonga team is a bit off that vintage

[Scrumhead]

Tonga took France pretty close there.

In a way, I’m hoping France show up next week. If not, I’ll be worried about going into the QFs cold if we go another game without any real test.

[Which Tyler]

Tonga took France pretty close there.

In a way, I’m hoping France show up next week. If not, I’ll be worried about going into the QFs cold if we go another game without any real test.

I suspect they'll be French.
They'll probably decide they'd rather face Aus than Wales, send out their 2nd XV against us, and blow us away with free-flowing, handling rugby, handing us our arses on the score-board

[Danno]

Tonga took France pretty close there.

In a way, I’m hoping France show up next week. If not, I’ll be worried about going into the QFs cold if we go another game without any real test.

I saw very little about France that concerned me and so, like you, am worried about having to make too big a step up in the QF. I think the Japan Scotland match will be the pick of the bunch next weekend.

[Digby]

France like us lack consistency, but they've got some quality players in that side. They really lack consistency though, so whilst they could beat us we'd probably be expecting to win 7-8 games out of 10

[Scrumhead]

There’s no question that they have they talent to beat us IF they click, but I still think that all the evidence suggests that we’d also have to play very badly for that to happen.

To be honest, I’d be pretty hopeful of beating either Australia or Wales, but unless we step in to a completely different gear, I don’t think we’d have what it takes to beat NZ.

[Stom]

The breakdowns in that match were an absolute joke and the problem is, that'll be repeated against us. France are probably the 2nd worst offenders at ruck time for me, who never get picked up on it. SA are the others.

It's just straight off feet, launching yourself into the opposition.

Saying that, we're a lot better at dealing with the breakdown than we were a few years ago. Probably something to do with Underhill and Curry instead of Haskell and Robshaw.

France's danger comes in those big, mobile backrows. They really look very difficult to put down, have good handling, and are relatively quick.

[twitchy]

[Beasties]

Squeeky bum time for the Welsh.

[Banquo]

Picking up some serious knocks as well- losing Biggar and jonathan Davies would be pretty significant. Suspect their overall fitness will win out.

edit- and that try will likely seal it, plus BP