Jedi's column - on to France » allblacks.com
Unlike the deep stirring of blood that consumes a fan of the All Blacks when meeting with the Springboks or even the overwhelming sense of annoyance, when the noisy vagrants from the West Island come calling; no dear reader, France unlock an �emotion� within the All Black supporter.
The French with their mythical � Le Flair. Baa humbug!
Which French team will play the All Blacks� is impossible to predict, will it be the blood red French, who on Armistice Day draw from the earth, the life force spilled by so many, or the white hot French, who to a man burned so furiously with desire in 1986, least we as New Zealanders forget the terrible toll of Nantes, or even that October day at Twickenham.
The result is almost unbearable to consider, when considering the French. They care not for well constructed and deliberate play, orchestrated movements conducted by �our� left foot wonder. They shrug their shoulders; in that despairingly �but it is not French� kind of way, at the sequences developed by Messieurs Henry, Hansen and Smith that create space out wide or weakness around the ruck.
The All Blacks have announced ten changes and the French are struggling to find a suitable first-five eighth replacement, Laporte�s selection of Damien Traille; a centre-three quarter by stature, shows that even France fear the likes of So'oialo, Collins and McCaw, whom are collectively known now as the �marauders�. With no Michalak or Castaign�de the rooster is without a head, although no true All Black supporter truly believes that, without doubt one of them shall step forward and plummet themselves into national hero status.
The usual diversions and dispersions have been cast with French forward coach Jacques Brunel claiming referee leniency is the secret to the All Blacks scrum dominance, it�s enough to make Anton smile.
This is the first �significant challenge� of two, we should all be smiling, for rugby lovers, surely it gets no better than this!
Jedi's column - on to France » allblacks.com
Unlike the deep stirring of blood that consumes a fan of the All Blacks when meeting with the Springboks or even the overwhelming sense of annoyance, when the noisy vagrants from the West Island come calling; no dear reader, France unlock an �emotion� within the All Black supporter.
The French with their mythical � Le Flair. Baa humbug!
Which French team will play the All Blacks� is impossible to predict, will it be the blood red French, who on Armistice Day draw from the earth, the life force spilled by so many, or the white hot French, who to a man burned so furiously with desire in 1986, least we as New Zealanders forget the terrible toll of Nantes, or even that October day at Twickenham.
The result is almost unbearable to consider, when considering the French. They care not for well constructed and deliberate play, orchestrated movements conducted by �our� left foot wonder. They shrug their shoulders; in that despairingly �but it is not Fr
ench� kind of way, at the sequences developed by Messieurs Henry, Hansen and Smith that create space out wide or weakness around the ruck.
The All Blacks have announced ten changes and the French are struggling to find a suitable first-five eighth replacement, Laporte�s selection of Damien Traille; a centre-three quarter by stature, shows that even France fear the likes of So'oialo, Collins and McCaw, whom are collectively known now as the �marauders�. With no Michalak or Castaign�de the rooster is without a head, although no true All Black supporter truly believes that, without doubt one of them shall step forward and plummet themselves into national hero status.
The usual diversions and dispersions have been cast with French forward coach Jacques Brunel claiming referee leniency is the secret to the All Blacks scrum dominance, it�s enough to make Anton smile.
This is the first �significant challenge� of two, we should all be smiling, for rugby lovers, surely it gets no better than this!