Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Italy shock France with upset victory in Rome

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Italy shock France with upset victory in Rome

Italy rewrote the history books this weekend, coming from 18-6 down to claim a 22-21 victory and their first ever win over France in the Six Nations.

The Stadio Flaminio was in full voice as winger Mirco Bergamasco slotted a 76th minute penalty to seal the pulsating victory and condemn their continental cousins to a humbling defeat.

Bergamasco’s goal kicking has come under a lot of scrutiny during this year’s Six Nations, yet he was the man of the hour, landing six out of his eight kicks and holding his nerve to clinch a difficult match winner.

Italian captain Sergio Parisse was at the fore for the home side, although the Azurri’s success was certainly built on some sloppy French play. Marc Lièvremont's team were ineffective going forward and sloppy with ball in hand; of which Aurelien Rougerie’s knock-on over the line being the worst.

Winger Vincent Clerc gave the visitors an early lead with a superb score, and scrum-half Morgan Parra added a simple penalty. Bergamasco reclaimed six points, but when Parra secured a second penalty and converted his own try to make it 18-6 early in the second half, things looked bleak for the Azurri.

Yet Italy dug-deep and hit back with a try through full-back Andrea Masi. France huffed and puffed yet couldn’t overcome a resolute Italian effort which eventually set up the platform for Bergamasco to rewrite the record books with his foot.

The historic win was an emotional one for Nick Mallett. "We're working and improving all the time, I've stuck with the same group over the last three years," the Italian head coach said.

"I've got a great captain in Sergio Parisse - he's been a lone figure over the last four years, but he's now playing with a team where he just has to do his part - today we had 15, 22 players all playing their parts. I am very proud of my players' performance and it's one of the proudest moments as coach."

Meanwhile, France coach Marc Lièvremont was left seething at his team's sloppiness: "We have to congratulate the Italians because from the first minute to the last minute they were better than us" he said. "This is yet another disappointment and yet another huge disillusionment."

Time: 07:04
Thanks to the BBC

Beautiful

By Anonymous, at March 12, 2011 9:33 pm
Awesome job Italy!

The brains trust in South Africa were absolute poephols for getting rid of Mallet.

By Anonymous, at March 12, 2011 9:35 pm
So pleased for Italy, as a nuetral its been really captivating watching them progress in the 6 Nations. Masi was outstanding all game and Italy's defence was heroic.

Although im dissapointed that every time italy win a game the main focus is on their oppostion playing badly, Nothing should be taken away from ths impressive victory.
But france were not the best ima

By 1AngryTaff, at March 12, 2011 9:35 pm
A historic day for Italian Rugby. We knew a win was coming and today the italians shone through. Italy took the upper hand defensively and in the attack and all the work put in by the italian side has finally paid off.

Parisse again was immense as well as Masi and credit goes to Nick Mallet for showing his dedication, enthusiasm and pride for the italian cause.

FORZA AZZURI!!!!!!

By samitarugby, at March 12, 2011 9:37 pm
Well done Italy.....

For the rest, I am too waisted to write.

F..king disgrace

By Flipje, at March 12, 2011 9:38 pm
Great game from Italy, great effort.

Liévremont is definitly the worst coach France ever had, what a fucktard. And many players too. Fuck dem all.

By rodofle, at March 12, 2011 9:41 pm
Fuck me France. Get it together because recent performances have been absolutely disgraceful. Well done to the Italians!

By Anonymous, at March 12, 2011 9:44 pm
Brilliant to see the Italians finally getting a well deserved win in the 2011 6nations.

By Udi, at March 12, 2011 9:57 pm
Hopefully something will be done about Lievrement. I don't know why he's still there. He's wasted too many chances.

By Anonymous, at March 12, 2011 9:58 pm
Loved it (:

By Nuff, at March 12, 2011 10:00 pm
Cannot be happier.
great job Italy

By Anonymous, at March 12, 2011 10:26 pm
great for Italy to beat France, I hope they can win their next game also.
The standard of this years 6N has been terrible.
England are an awful side.
Ireland are so bad it's not even true.
Wales scored a try today that came from the soccer rulebook of miscalculated non-existant scores.
What a tonne of shit this year.
The southern hemisphere must be pissing themselves laughing at us. No NH team will do well at the world cup judging by the performances of the last couple of months.
I am sickened.

By irishfan, at March 12, 2011 10:31 pm
Historic performance from Italy! Very sad as french, but very happy for Italy, It proves that they have somethin to play in the following years in the 6N.

Concernin France, what could be said? I had the impression there were in holidays. No implication, no motivation, no presence on any rucks. Lookin at the french faces, i had the impression they didn't want to fight as the 6N title was lost vs england

Sack Lievremont? i don't think it's the solution. I'm not fan of the man but change him few months won't be effective. The only thing that he should do: Not tinker, and install leaders (parra, trinh-duc or harinordoquy)
Players? They must take their responsability and take risks on the pitch rather think to fear about their future rwc selection.

Rwc hopes? Yes. i remember that France never do great 6N durin the rwc years. it's another competition with 2 months of preparation with a same group.

Referee? Frenchies must adapt their game to different type of refs. their scrum is the best but was penalised vs a cheeky english pack and a beefy italian one... The fact that u have the power doesn't mean that u will win. but yeah, just before the final whistle, France should have benefited of 2 or 3 penalties. Sour grapes won't change anything. So again congrats to Azzuri ;) !

By Colombes, at March 12, 2011 10:49 pm
Well done Italy, The've been so close - deserved to beat Ireland!

A definit force in world rugby is rising!

By Anonymous, at March 12, 2011 11:02 pm
Irishfan, go and be depressed elsewhere please. I have thoroughly enjoyed this years 6nations. Italy have played awesome, with a better kicker they could have 3 wins under their belt. I cannot wait for the RWC, Italy to do an Argentina? Hope so.

By Rich, at March 12, 2011 11:02 pm
Rich, of course I'm depressed but don't be a deluded fool, Aus/NZ/SA are going to wipe the floor with the home nations at the world cup. France, despite todays result, are the only NH team likely to win a big game down there. It's so depressing. Ireland are so shit.
My only consolation is Leinster. I hope they kick the shit out of Leicester in April. Bod should walk away from international after the world cup and just play for Leinster.
Declan Kidney can't really coach expansive, positive rugby. Such a pity.

By irishfan, at March 12, 2011 11:20 pm
So happy for Italy - this is a great victory for both them and the spread of rugby as a world game.

Just think, Italy have come very close to winning three games so far this 6N - that would have placed them 2nd in the current table!

By Unknown, at March 12, 2011 11:23 pm
@ Irishfan and rich
ive been watching the 6 nations this year and the last two game weekends ive ended up switching over to super rugby because it is more free flowing and thus a better brand of rugby
I would like to see the suer 15 teams take on the six nation teams. It would finally prove SH rugby clubs are better than the NH international teams

By Anonymous, at March 12, 2011 11:27 pm
boys, I hate to say this but your boring me with all this SH/NH chat. Lets just watch the world cup and until then enjoy our rugby, whatever the standard.

By Stirling, at March 12, 2011 11:33 pm
Well said Stirling. It gets old when it comes up on evvvvverrrry single post.

By Greiffel, at March 12, 2011 11:51 pm
I am so fucking happy....well done Italy...fully deserved!!!!

By Anonymous, at March 13, 2011 12:15 am
Amazing win. Great celebrations. Well done Italy!

By Anonymous, at March 13, 2011 12:16 am
ma andatevene tutti a fare in culo va io c'ho le trebbie alee' alee' grossa partita my cousin pin want to far a pale ale what kind of luppol do you suggest me ? grandi grandi. merdeee

By Anonymous, at March 13, 2011 12:34 am
so awesome to see it finally coming together for Nick Mallet and his Italian boys. For so long they've been the laughing stock of NH rugby and this year we've seen them come close to knocking over the big teams. But now this!! truly wonderful to watch.

If this is what Mallet can do with Italy, imagine what he'd have done with SA had the administrators not been as bloody retarded as we now come to expect.

By Tommo, at March 13, 2011 1:36 am
@stirling
I'm a huge irish but just feel deflated even before the world cup, it's unfortunate and sad that we're not shaping up in any way to be competitive. It's not a NH v SH arguement, Irelands coach is just a terrible, unimaginative man who doesn't have the experience or ability to teach the squad the kind of game they need to play to score tried against the best teams - today was a woeful attacking performance yet we're supposed to be playing expansive rugby? Such a disappointment.

By irishfan, at March 13, 2011 1:42 am
@Anonymous above Stirling
Don't watch, It's simple enough. You must have a super time-machine remote to switch over to Super Rugby from the Six Nations when the time differences are huge. And whats with all this sh/nh stuff? Why not just support your own team instead of world divisions?

By Anonymous, at March 13, 2011 1:46 am
Italy has been doing great in this years six nations (with exception to their blowout loss to France) its great that all their hard work paid off! Especially against the French!

By Anonymous, at March 13, 2011 2:13 am
*blowout loss to england

By Anonymous, at March 13, 2011 2:14 am
good to see a mutual respect between the two continental european sides not off the ball shit or pushing and shoving

By Anonymous, at March 13, 2011 3:11 am
Italy have never realy been big contenders in the 6 nations, every year they come bottom or joint bottom etc, yet they play with passion, potential and the fans arrive in huge numbers from all over the country, all in good spirit....this is why Im really happy for them, they deserve a historic win today, france certainly didnt.

Would love to see Italy beating some more big dogs in the rugby arena........just not England lol

By Stag, at March 13, 2011 3:17 am
Historic day for rugby. The IRB fools contemplated throwing italy out of the 6N because of poor results. A few years on and they have toppled a rugby powerhouse, whilst being unlucky against 2 others.

There is a lesson in rugby development in this. Invest more into the upcoming nations, give them the opportunity to compete at the highest level, and we will get to witness scenes like this again and again.

By Anonymous, at March 13, 2011 3:40 am
Hahaha holy crap!!

By Unknown, at March 13, 2011 6:47 am
@irishman

You are talking such a load of bollocks. Apart from today Ireland have been scoring plenty of tries and if it weren't for the crazy amount of stupid errors we'd have scored more. The structure of our attacking game is great, and we create lots and lots of oppurtunites, we just keep making a mess of them.

You're a terrible fan to point the finger straight at Kidney, who can hardly be blamed for the handling errors. Remember this man won us a grand slam, and fair enough I disagree with a few of his selections but jaysus have some faith and get behind the team.

By arealirishfan, at March 13, 2011 7:05 am
Maso>>>Out!
Lievremont>>>Out!
Huget>>>Out!

Italia>>>Congrats!

How long will we continue to play a prehistorical rugby? What a shame to me. The weakest french team of the last 30 years. Lost on the field.

Plz! Stop the slaughtering!

By Anonymous, at March 13, 2011 9:09 am
So the Frenchies blow a cog at Stadio Flaminio and put in, for the most part, a rather limp performance that has been cahracteristic of their 6 Nations campaign. Which all means, of course, that somehow, some way, the grand masters of the mercurial will play the most sublimely phenomonal game of their lives against New Zealand at the World Cup and send us packing once again. Wankers!

By Tier3, at March 13, 2011 10:20 am
Well done Italy, well done Parisse, and well done Mallet. Arguably the best coach in the world?

By Wessel, at March 13, 2011 10:20 am
I had a French boss who played club rugby (srumhalf) in France, where Mallet was the player coach (no 8). He told an interesting tale that they we once asked to be the opponents of the French national team, in a training match.

They managed to get a 5 meter scrum, and Mallet told his team they were going for glory and a try in full earshot of the French national team. They were not amused.

A very aggressive maul formed, and Mallet himself scored.

By Wessel, at March 13, 2011 10:37 am
@Irishfan, hahaha, love the comment about England. The fact that months before a wc they're finally developing a game plan. Just because Ireland are struggling don't take it out on the rest of our great Isle. Well done Italy a great result!!!!

By jimbo1, at March 13, 2011 10:54 am
Masi seems to have found his true calling. He was phenomenal yesterday, deserved man of the match in my opinion, and you know that when someone outshines Parisse that he's good. Hands like glue under the highball, some cracking tackles and some brilliant attacking. He seemed to be everywhere.

Couldn't be happier for Italy. Well deserved.

By wow-jiffy-lube, at March 13, 2011 10:55 am
Great victory of Italy.
France is the Worst French Team of all the history

But I notice the poor quality of the referee Lawrence

By Anonymous, at March 13, 2011 11:39 am
Congrats to Italy.

Don't know what can be done for the French team. Seriously its neither lack of talent nor of potential.... But arghhhhh it was a tough game to watch. Hope they can find themselves before RWC.

I don't see how changing the coach at 6 month of teh WC can help at all... But then again... If they play like that Japan will walk all over the French....

By Quietlaugh, at March 13, 2011 11:53 am
Historic rugby result posted on THE historic rugby site.

Thanks RD.

By Anonymous, at March 13, 2011 12:27 pm
Irishfan,

Seriously you dont have clue do you!!!!!

By Anonymous, at March 13, 2011 12:33 pm
@Colombes
You're setting the right example: True rugby mentality, gracefull in defeat. Not blaming anyone else.

A lot of posters on this site should take notice.

By Guy, at March 13, 2011 12:52 pm
The French played as well as they were allowed to play. The Italians took out all their frustration and finally got a well deserved win. Should be 3 from 4 for them this year, got to sort their kicking out, should use Burton.
@irishfan, you were probably singing Kidney's praises after the Grand Slam, now after a tough 6ns he can't coach? I would question his selection of Darcy time and again after some below par displays and I would have left ROG on another 15mins yesterday, hindsight is easy though. We've been undone by some questionable refereeing and bad handling errors and discipline. Lack of expansive Rugby is certainly not the problem. 3 tries to 1 against the French isn't bad going is it?

To the 5yr old who thinks the s15 teams would beat the 6ns teams, there are test tours regularly played and the travelling NH teams generally kick the clubs arses. Our own great club of Munster has beaten the All Blacks and taken them close on other occasions. Now STFU

By Jack78, at March 13, 2011 12:53 pm
Thanks RD awesome to see Italy pull it off, been waiting for them to start making some moves in the 6N.
And as for the RWC smack talk, it aint set in concrete, as we all know, anything can happen, and it will. Dont be so sure that the NH teams wont make an impact. i can bet you this, even tho it may not be the best rugby being played (according to some) the SH teams will not take them lightly, cause when they have, they have lost.

By adakins, at March 13, 2011 1:08 pm
^ lol, yeah, 'The All Blacks'. Just like Saracens and Leicester beat 'The Springboks'.

Congrats to Italy. Brilliant win and so good to see the crowd, coaches etc going mental :)

By Anonymous, at March 13, 2011 1:13 pm
Guys wtf do you expect? It's international rugby.... It's played on the same sized pitch as standard rugby so that's a team that has 15 world class players on the same sized pitch as a club team that may have 1 or 2 world class players.... Is it any wonder less tries are scored? The games are tighter than a ducks arse and that the games seem to revert to amateur playing? Some of the best games I've ever played were when we were underdogs and occasionally we won...even those losses were good games... The games where we are supposedly evenly match are shit, boring, slow, no one risking much, and generally played inch by inch!!!!!

Now this game!!! Awesome by the Italians, I wishtheyd get a decent kicker, no offence to bergamasco, but I'm sure he doesn't like that duty much!!!

On a side note and take nothing from Italy but this is your typical French team, on paper they are great.. Meddard, trin duc etc... Yet they play half asleep.....

As for chabal... I know he was never greeeeat, but has he got worse over the last two games?!?

By Sam, at March 13, 2011 1:22 pm
It was a great day for Italy, a bad one for french squad, an historic one for both... Italian players will always remenber it...

But let's be clear, it is a shame and disgraceful for french rugby as Medard said yesterday... He said it was more a shame to loose against Italy than loosing 16-59 against Australie, he is right and it's the feeling of most of the french today.
It's the first squad to loose against Italy in an official match.

Those players are for most of them those who won the grand slam last year, that proves french squad is going through a crisis...

By Frenchy, at March 13, 2011 2:05 pm
"He said it was more a shame to loose against Italy than loosing 16-59 against Australie, he is right "

He's incredibly contemptuous to Italians players. And if he wasn't ashamed to lose by 60 points against Australia, well we can see exactly where the problem is in this team. No humility.

By Dalma, at March 13, 2011 2:14 pm
Right, that's maybe not fairplay to say that, but the real meaning was that they didnt deserve to wear french jersey...

Loads of changes have to come...

By Frenchy, at March 13, 2011 2:31 pm
Fantastic for the game! I hope for more parity in test rugby. I'm tired of 2-3 top teams, 7 good ones, then everyone else. Wouldn't it be great to have a RWC when there are 6 teams that could conceivably win?

By Hoopsvsolids, at March 13, 2011 2:51 pm
1AngryTaff said..." im dissapointed that every time italy win a game the main focus is on their oppostion playing badly.. But france were not the best."

You must be disappointed in yourself then Taff.

By JC, at March 13, 2011 2:52 pm
Allright.....

Few comments:
- As already mentioned, well done Italy, they fully deserved their win based on the full game and specially their last 40 minutes. Overall, for the 6 nations level and interest, it is important that team such as Italy does improved and be more and more competitive. I hope this is the starting point for more success for them.
- I could argue that the last scrum could/should have led to a penalty for the French but I am happy it did not. As this would have simply be, once more, the tree hidding the forest for the French inability to play as a XV.
- A lot of critiscm can be adressed on Les bleus: the coaching staff (including Maso), the FFF, the lack of commitment and proud of some players to wear the blue jersey....or simply the fact that quite some do not have the international level so such game (mentality and/or technically). Overall the problem is much deeper (still I do not pretend to be an expert....), I believed...It is about selecting/preparing your top player for the top level and currently the Top 14 does not prepare them for that. Issue such as working relationship between club and federation, physical preparation/number of games will have to be adressed and be acted upon.....but looking at the current situation, I am far from being optimistic....

It will be nice to look sometimes outside our own border.....

By Flipje, at March 13, 2011 3:16 pm
as an irish fan im worried for the world cup if we play the way we normally do italy will beat us

By TImmy, at March 13, 2011 5:29 pm
I think Italy will get a Grand Slam or at least a title in the next 10 years.

Delighted for the Italians and fans and for Mallet, he has deserved this for a long time.

Now we have to play them next... oh dear...

ScotsSevensNutjob

By Anonymous, at March 13, 2011 5:40 pm
AMAZING result for Italy!!

Can I just say congratulations on behalf of all England fans for your perserverence and heart..... you could see how much that victory meant the whole team and Nick Mallett.

Very well deserved and I hope days like this inspire another generation of Italian players to play the game and take Italy to the next level......

By Anonymous, at March 13, 2011 6:06 pm
@Dalma: that's exactly the frenhcs problem.
No humility and, as italian prop Lo Cicero said after the game ended, "before the game they were laughing at us...".
To all english supporters: please thanks Italy too, you will win the 6N without fuss.

By Lucius, at March 13, 2011 6:12 pm
Alessandro Zanni has been quietly brilliant in all the games so far, following on from his performances last year in the absence of Parisse. He's not going to outshine Parisse in terms of flash play but he almost always beats the first man, as much with footwork as with power, and he tackles like a machine.

One note though: Italy should have definitely conceded a penalty at that final scrum time, in front of the posts. The referee was scared to give the penalty as he would have been like the Christians to the proverbial lions. Oh, well. Boo hoo.

By Zavala, at March 13, 2011 8:47 pm
Here's RD's summary of France's 6N game vs Scotland of last year...

http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2010/02/bastareaud-brace-helps-france-to-win.html

France is going backwards :-/

By Bruno, at March 13, 2011 10:06 pm
Regarding French 'humility' or lack of, their sports paper L'Equipe sums it up, the title for the build upi to the Italian game was "Vacanze Romain"...Roman Holiday, well enjoy your stay! The Italians certainly did! Fair play to them, a real blood and guts team who deverved the win and it could have been by more!

All the best from Ireland!

By Eire go Breà, at March 13, 2011 10:53 pm
Bravo les ritals. Vous avez du coeur, on est fiers de vous. maintenant, on sera 2 vraies équipes contre ces baiseurs de moutons.

Congrats to Italy. As a Frenchman I'm shocked by Marc Lièvremont. The man actually gave the blue jersey to about 90 guys in his 4 years as a coach.

To be honest, we DO have excellent players. Even all of u guys must reckon that. The reason why we won last year's Grand Slam is ONLY because of the fact that we have excellent players who could play despite the poor coaching.

If you watch all our games, you'll see what we lack of: Spirit, and a gameplan. The exact two things that a coach is here to provide. Domenech, Lièvremont...because of assholes, we French people keep on being pissed on and laughed at by every single person in the planet...

By Anonymous, at March 13, 2011 10:58 pm
@ Eire go grebea (or whatever)

don't talk about humility mate, didn't our side, by playing its POOREST rugby ever, win against yours a month ago?

oh, and uh...where were we? Ireland, isn't it?

didn't O'Gara miraculously save your poor ass against Italy?

go back to f*** a sheep and don't talk about humility

By Anonymous, at March 13, 2011 11:01 pm
Fantastic result for the Azzurri. Just delighted for them and well deserved.

By Anonymous, at March 13, 2011 11:19 pm
Everyone can say what they like about how bad the French were, but so far they've trounced the Scots, beat the Irish away and narrowly lost to the English. The fact is if you ignore the English game as a bad day at the office, the Italians have been really close in the last few games and in all of them they've really deserved the win.

They had the heart and the focus and deserved this win.

By Nick, at March 13, 2011 11:22 pm
Well done Italy, hell of a win.
For all the people who critisized Mallet, just goes to show what little they know about rugby. Mallet has taken a team that were almost always convincingly beaten and made them competitive.
This a is a huge victory for Italy.

As for France, jesus, shurley they've got to fire the coach and get a new one.

They are not playing good at all, they are really terrible at the moment and need to change their whole game plan quickly.

If they don't they are going to get embarressed at the World Cup.

By Jono, at March 13, 2011 11:22 pm
Brava Italia.
You deserve it on this match.

un Français

By Un Français, at March 14, 2011 11:57 am
Forzzzza Itaaaliaaaa!

Meanwhile England steal their match with a try with 2 forward pass!

So ashamed for them
Scotland deserved to win!

By ForzaaaaItaliaaa, at March 14, 2011 11:59 am
Congrats to Italy!
They may didn't deserve the victory on this match but particulary deserve it for their 10 years of improvement.

It was the only credible victory of the WE after the controversial try of wales and the forward passes try of england

as for France, they really should change of gameplan. change Lievremont should be a mistake, he is not domenech ;) but he lacks a bit of experience.
Keep the front row and the leaders (dusautoir, haroniordoquy, trinh-duc, parra and clerc) and try the true high-level players (picamoles, bastareaud, heymans, lakafia, pape, malzieu, fofana)
time to change or they'll be ravaged

By Louis, at March 14, 2011 2:05 pm
yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah real emotion... I cried...

By edo n.5, at March 14, 2011 2:38 pm
This is a great day for rugby

By Juggernauter, at March 14, 2011 9:07 pm
Had my comment deleted for no reason, why rd?
I said Italy should worry Ireland in the world cup"

By Bill, at March 14, 2011 10:23 pm
Bill, I can't remember. Comments get removed if offensive, provocative, insulting, vulgar, etc.

If yours was none of the above then I apologise as perhaps I clicked on the wrong one.

By GMC, at March 14, 2011 10:39 pm
wow absolutely amazing!this is so good for rugby!the italian supporters are truly dedicated!

By Anonymous, at March 15, 2011 12:41 pm
Fantastic win by Italy. But what a horrible looking trophy. The French must have designed that modern art monstrosity. When Parisse is lifting it after the match I'm sure he is wondering how in the world is he supposed to drink Peroni out of it.

By Anonymous, at March 15, 2011 2:14 pm
^ anonymous here above
Best comment ever!
The trophy is so inconceivably ugly it took me a while to realize it was a trophy.

By Laura Guglielmo, at March 15, 2011 3:21 pm
All this is showing to me is that France can keep there massive salaries while the worlds best players go their, there youngsters dont get the chances while guys like Palmer and wilko get rejuvinated!

Viv la France!

So pleased for Italy, a result like that has been coming for a long time!!! I hope they build on it!

By Anonymous, at March 15, 2011 5:18 pm
Congrats to this great Italian team for a well deserved victory!
As a Frenchman and a rugby fan i am pissed off. Not by the defeat but by the way we lost the game and by the fact that at a few months to the WC this result has put French rugby in a very very bad situation: French rugby sits on a big pile of shite.
We have a coach who gives up on his players. He clearly said that some of the players will not play anymore for the national team.
We have players who don't perform at their full potential (i do believe there's a lot of talent in this team), and they seemingly don't follow the game plan as Lievremont complained about. Jauzion already said that in any case he decided to take a break with the national team; this is sad.
We have a silent federation and a mass of sad/pissed off fans all over the country.

French rugby is in a dead end at the moment and Lievremont has absolutely no solution. He sacked 6 players from the Rome game, even Poitreneau who didn't play!?? Thanks God Chabal is out with Pierre, but WTF about Rougerie & Jauzion? They underperformed but they are the centers Lievremont always wanted to see in the team; he's actually proving that his game plan, his chosen pair is not working. Now we'll have Traille/Marty who played together in 2008! Both are slow, or Traille/Estebanez who never played, another new guy. France is indeed going backwards.
We need to have impact players at key positions. What about Jauzion/Fritz, or Jauzion/Bastareau as centers? Huget at the wing is a mistake, i'd like to see Malzieu coming back.
We also need a second fly half to help Trinh Duc. In the scrum Nallet should replace Pierre, i'd like to see Thion back in the team, Picamoles in place of Chabal, or Ouedraogo with Bonnaire & Harinordoqui.
All these guys are very good players and they'd help a great deal.
The Federation is in a dead end, they can't do anything. They should have sacked Lievremont after the test vs. Australia, now they can't do that; too late. They gave Lievremont all the credit to do anything he wants...and he does so.
Some players should be blamed, they are underperforming and don't show any passion nor pride on the pitch, it's time some guys take their responsability. Dussautoir is a great players but a bad captain, we need a new one.

Lievremont has wasted 4 yrs and a lot of talent accross the country not giving time to some young talented players.

I wish the French team good luck vs wales but it'll be very difficult and i'm afraid i think that if France wins it'll give a wrong "message", it'll give the impression that maybe it's not too bad.

France won over Scotland and Ireland, we put on a good fight vs. England but it was only an illusion really.

I need a hug. Sorry i needed to tell my story.

Come on Ireland!

Frenchie

By Frenchy, at March 15, 2011 7:48 pm
As a Frenchman, I must say I was delighted by the result. I'm now happy to say that anyone can win the 6N!
I understand that many Frenchmen can feel a bit disappointed by what happened. However my personal point of view is that France's game was good, even very good considering these past 6 months. Italy was simply better than us. Their defense was outrageous and Masi exemplified a creative and dangerous attack. And all that bragging about our scrum seems to have been horseshit. Good job Italy, hope you get a Grand Slam soon!

By Cyp, at March 15, 2011 11:02 pm
Im an Englishman and this was a great game.

I love watching the French play their fluid game. However I completely agree with you that Italy winning is the best thing that could happen for the tournament, They have been so close so many times.

Bottom line for me this is the best tournament on the planet, and only those that belong to one of the nations will ever understand the passion behind these matches!

By Anonymous, at March 16, 2011 10:40 am