RugbyRebels

A thread for just this match, which is likely to be the only one with much in the way of live conversation, due to time-zone issues and the national make-up of this board.

No spoilers for the other matches please. I suspect I won't be the only one getting up to watch this live, and talk about it; intending to watch the earlier matches later. Yes, I know that runs the high risk of ITV showing spoilers, but let's not increase it here as well.

At Whangarei (surely, of all matches other than NZ v Aus, this one deserves a bigger stadium!)
Ref: Joy Neville
TJs: Aimee Barrett-Theron & Kat Roche
TMO: Ben Whitehouse


France:
1 Annaelle Deshaye
2 Agathe Sochat
3 Clara Joyeux
4 Celine Ferer
5 Madoussou Fall
6 Charlotte Escudero
7 Marjorie Mayans
8 Romane Menager

9 Laure Sansus
10 Caroline Drouin
11 Emilie Boulard
12 Gabrielle Vernier
13 Maelle Filopon
14 Joanna Grisez
15 Chloe Jacquet

16 Laure Touye, 17 Coco Lindelauf, 18 Assia Khalfaoui, 19 Safi N'Diaye, 20 Gaëlle Hermet
21 Pauline Bourdon, 22 Lina Queyroi, 23 Marine Menager


England:
1 Vickii Cornborough
2 Amy Cokayne
3 Sarah Bern
4 Zoe Aldcroft
5 Abbie Ward
6 Alex Matthews
7 Marlie Packer
8 Sarah Hunter

9 Leanne Infante
10 Zoe Harrison
11 Claudia Macdonald
12 Helena Rowland
13 Emily Scarratt
14 Lydia Thompson
15 Ellie Kildunne

16 Connie Powell, 17 Hannah Botterman, 18 Maud Muir, 19 Cath O’Donnell, 20 Poppy Cleall
21 Lucy Packer, 22 Holly Aitchison, 23 Abby Dow

I can only watch the first ten minutes of this, updates please! C'mon England!!!!!

Bit of good luck for Eng with Sansus off. Let’s hope it’s only a 60 min injury.

Late to posting, cooked breakfast ran late, given interest in Sco v Aus down to the last whistle.

Injuries favouring England, but you absolutely hate to see it.
Both essential players, both looked bad, and both with loved ones on the bench!

And now their second best player. England creeping towards dominance.

Take the 3!

Infante too often the first player securing at the breakdown. Needs sorting - slowing down the next phase and she’s obvs not built to best clear outs from oppo backrow.

Scarratt is class.

Cocksure has a better pass than Ben Youngs. Discuss.

Quality under the high ball is pretty ropey for both sides.

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Sat Oct 15, 2022 8:39 am Cocksure has a better pass than Ben Youngs. Discuss.

Quality under the high ball is pretty ropey for both sides.

I’m guessing the like is for Cockayne autocorrecting to Cocksure?!?!?

Legs above horizontal on Kildunne (which presciently autocorrects to skillful) surely…. TMO agrees.

That was a rip with knees on the floor… Overturned - this TMO is quality.

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Sat Oct 15, 2022 8:48 am I’m guessing the like is for Cockayne autocorrecting to Cocksure?!?!?

That, and any dig at Ben Youngs is likely to get a like from me

Living up to its billing as match of the tourney so far.

Surely a dress rehearsal for the final, though those injuries may mount up for France and have a say in the matter - let's hope not.

Squeaky bum time. You’d think with all Eng’s possession and the France injuries we’d be stronger in the last 10 mins.

Brilliant, and very professional last 2 minutes from England.

Great performance. Infante has some engine.

Sounds like it was nervous, but also perhaps France may have shown their hand a bit more and have some worrying injuries. That fair?

Had to work very hard for that. Big effort from France after losing their 8/9 axis.

Just watched the replay, from what I read from the minute by minute updates I was expecting more from France. Their attack was nonexistent bar one excellent kick that caused Kildunne to hesitate. As wobbles go, this seems pretty comfortable. The French defence is heroic but it is also hanging on by the skin of its teeth.

I don't think England allowed France to be good. This England team is so good compared to everyone else. It would take a major wobble for them to walk away with anything else other than the main trophy.

Agreed, France were under constant pressure, with and without the ball, and did a fantastic job to keep us to 1 try. Quite honestly I can't see anyone else keeping England to 1 try.
They were also without their principal decision maker and principal ball carrier for the vast majority of the match, both of whom are world class.

Shit!
https://www.rugbypass.com/news/frances- ... world-cup/

“Following the injury sustained during the match against England, Laure Sansus suffers from a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee. She is therefore out for the rest of the World Cup,” the French rugby federation (FFR) said in a statement.

The injury means that Sansus’s playing career is now over after she hinted towards the World Cup in New Zealand being her last tournament.

That's a real shame, cracking player.