OVER THE WEEKEND, New Zealand secured a convincing 20-6 Rugby World Cup semi-final victory over Australia, prompting coach Graham Henry to call their performance “unbelievable”.
In contrast, France coach Marc Lièvremont has lambasted his players, labelling them “spoilt brats”.
His criticism comes despite the side also qualifying for the World Cup final, albeit in a considerably less impressive fashion than New Zealand.
As a result of the evident dissension in the French camp, in tandem with their somewhat fortuitous passage to the final, most critics are tipping New Zealand to triumph.
Tom Fordyce of the BBC wrtites that New Zealand never have “a better chance to bury those [World Cup] ghosts.”
Meanwhile, Stuart Barnes of The Sunday Times (print edition) went as far as to write that that the perceived error made by referee Alain Rolland in France’s semi-final win against Wales had “guaranteed” New Zealand victory.
So what do you think? Are people right to label New Zealand as strong favourites, or are France being underestimated?
Poll Results:
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hope not, come on kiwi’s! beat the cheating french git’s.
france are utterly undeserving finalists, stumbled through the group stages, played one good game against england and largely thanks to Wales being down to 14 players for 60 minutes and a lot of points left on the field are somehow in the final.
whilst the AB’s have a tendency to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, one cannot see France succeeding this time around
Surely if a team get into the final then they are, as of right, deserving finalists. Whatever your opinion of the French team they did enough to get there.
Of course they are deserving finalists wouldn’t be there otherwise whether they’ll win it or not well anything can happen in knock out rugby the quarters/semi finals are a testament to that!
French might have a chance if they hire a manitou or Jcb for their back line
Wouldn’t bother turning up if I was on the French team!