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Thread: France say the Wallabies are better than the All Blacks

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    France say the Wallabies are better than the All Blacks

    By Iain Payten
    June 23, 2009 Flattery was deployed as France's first pre-Test weapon, with assistant coach Emile N'Tamack rating the Wallabies as a superior side to the All Blacks.
    Despite attempts to talk themselves down for Saturday's clash, signs of French confidence aren't far beneath the surface as N'Tamack also revealed Les Bleus were "disappointed" to not beat the All Blacks twice and will only get better.

    The world - and the Wallabies in particular - sat up and took notice of France's form in their just-completed New Zealand tour, where they upset the Kiwis in the first Test and lost by four points in the second.

    Australia are braced for a Test with Tri-Nations intensity at ANZ Stadium but the French were quick to reclaim the wounded underdogs tag, saying they're heavily fatigued after a long northern season.

    N'Tamack, a 46-Test Tricolour legend and French backs coach, cannily stirred some Trans-Tasman rivalry by declaring the Wallabies a better outfit than the All Blacks.

    "It is a big game, maybe the hardest game we can have on this tour against maybe the toughest team," N'Tamack said.

    "If you compare the All Black and Australian teams, the Wallabies are more ready to play well.

    "They have their key players in key positions, like (Matt) Giteau. That's why I think they are better than the All Blacks at the moment.

    "The All Black players are at a good level but without their great players like Dan Carter, (Sitiveni) Sivivatu, like (Richie) McCaw.

    "For the Australian team it is different. They are strong."

    After a poor Six Nations tournament, France looked a new team against the Kiwis with old-style Gallic physicality in contact and attacking flair out wide.
    Only a try-saving tackle by second-rower Brad Thorn on Saturday in Wellington stopped New Zealand losing both Tests.

    "It is always good when you have a victory over the (number) two, three, four best team in the world. For the French players it was great for their confidence. But we can't just finish like that," N'Tamack said.

    Asked if his young team had any fear of the ANZ Stadium blockbuster, N'Tamack's confidence emerged.

    "They are unafraid. It will be tough but we were very close last Saturday. That's why we are disappointed. When you can beat a team like the All Blacks you must take the opportunity," he said.

    "I hope we can have the same opportunity against Australia on Saturday, and if we have it I hope the new experience we have now will be enough to take this game."

    Bashing victim centre Matthieu Bastareaud was cleared of a fractured eye-socket but still flew home to France.

    http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...016959,00.html

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    the punters friend..... stick with me and you will be wearing



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    Champion Contributor tragic's Avatar
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    Blowing smoke up our bums AND sticking it to the Kiwis in one swift move!

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    Your eloquence astounds me!


    really!

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    Quote Originally Posted by tragic View Post
    Blowing smoke up our bums AND sticking it to the Kiwis in one swift move!
    hmm.....makes me squirm....


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    sounds like a sausage fest!

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    Quote Originally Posted by travelling_gerry View Post

    "They have their key players in key positions, like (Matt) Giteau. That's why I think they are better than the All Blacks at the moment.


    I love the way coaches do this, depending on whose media they're talking to.

    Over in New Zealand they said how pleased they were to play "the world's best rugby team".

    Now they're in Australia and the Wallabies are apparently better than the world's best rugby team.

    I wonder how that works?

    What I'd love to see is an interview with five of the world's leading rugby coaches where they all become infected by the compulsion that struck Jim Carey in "Liar Liar". That would really be worth listening to.

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    Last edited by rick boyd; 26-06-09 at 13:27. Reason: quote markup being naughty

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    Quote Originally Posted by zimeric View Post
    sounds like a sausage fest!
    a spicy one?

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    Quote Originally Posted by rick boyd View Post
    I love the way coaches do this, depending on whose media they're talking to.

    Over in New Zealand they said how pleased they were to play "the world's best rugby team".

    Now they're in Australia and the Wallabies are apparently better than the world's best rugby team.

    I wonder how that works?
    How about "The Allblacks were the best team in the World until we kicked their asses, We wonder if the Wallabies will be any better!

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    C'mon the

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