Are you sure Samoa are better than France?

[Gerrumonside ref]

They couldn’t, could they?

Be an amazing boost to the French game if they could capitalise on any signs of an injury hit Samoan side feeling sorry for itself.

What do you think?

[Damien]

This made me laugh, a lot . Bravo!

[Gerrumonside ref]

3 minutes ago, Damien said:

This made me laugh, a lot . Bravo!

What would represent a good score for France here?

[GUBRATS]

Don't be fooled , once we hit 4 scores the Samoans eased off , they knew the game was gone and they're not winning the group , they'll beat France 

[Gerrumonside ref]

1 minute ago, GUBRATS said:

Don't be fooled , once we hit 4 scores the Samoans eased off , they knew the game was gone and they're not winning the group , they'll beat France 

Yes, and the pre-tournament warm up game between Tonga and France  suggests the same.

Guess it’s hoping beyond hope.

Class almost always tells in rugby league.

 

[Damien]

1 minute ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

What would represent a good score for France here?

It's hard to tell with a French team that traditionally has such a strong mentality and is used to playing at the higher intensity of SL and Elite 1. I'm not sure if such a mentally weak and poorly prepared Samoa with all of its NRL players can step up to that level.

[Gerrumonside ref]

24 minutes ago, Damien said:

It's hard to tell with a French team that traditionally has such a strong mentality and is used to playing at the higher intensity of SL and Elite 1. I'm not sure if such a mentally weak and poorly prepared Samoa with all of its NRL players can step up to that level.

Elite 1 does ‘sound’ like the better competition just from the use of the word ‘elite’.

I mean ‘NRL’ could mean anything!  

I’ll go for broke and say France to produce the biggest shock in World Cup history!

Edited October 16, 2022 by Gerrumonside ref

[Gerrumonside ref]

I feel like I might earn some bad rep from this thread.

[MrPosh]

50 minutes ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

Elite 1 does ‘sound’ like the better competition just from the use of the word ‘elite’.

I mean ‘NRL’ could mean anything!  

I’ll go for broke and say France to produce the biggest shock in World Cup history!

Normally Rubbish League.

[UTK]

From afar the France camp looks very professional and committed, they've held consistent preparation camps throughout the year, had a game mid-season and then a tough warmup v Tonga, built a diverse yet comprehensive coaching staff including one of the best coaches in the game in Trent Robinson, lots of good signs for the organisation as a whole.

They get a nice draw in the sense that they ease into the competition against Greece after the Tonga warmup, then get a tough game against England to see where they're at and before looking for the key result in the final pool game v Samoa. The key outs for France provide the bulk of experience within their eligible playing pool which is understandably hard to replace, for the early stages of the Tonga warmup they looked shellshocked and afraid of carrying the ball into the defensive line but warmed into the game and will be better for that experience.

Samoa should improve as a team as the tournament progresses but their injury woes are going to be compounded by the strange squad selection that leaves 23 props as backup for every injury. The main difference between the sides is going to be the physicality gap, France would need to find an approach to the game that can circumvent this problem - something that could be challenging due to the mixed form and talent available in their spine. 

Stranger things have happened, a respectable showing against England would engender a lot of confidence after the result this week.

[Mr Frisky]

1 hour ago, GUBRATS said:

Don't be fooled , once we hit 4 scores the Samoans eased off , they knew the game was gone and they're not winning the group , they'll beat France 

Eased off.. From what mark did they ease off??

[Dunbar]

On 16/10/2022 at 10:17, GUBRATS said:

Don't be fooled , once we hit 4 scores the Samoans eased off , they knew the game was gone and they're not winning the group , they'll beat France 

If there's one thing we all know about sports, it is that the teams that give up during a game are always the one's to win in the end.

Edited October 18, 2022 by Dunbar

[ATLANTISMAN]

Having followed the French national ream for more years than i care to remember i am crossing my fingers here.

 

P

[dealwithit]

France can win. Need to be disciplined. Something Gigot was during the Challenge Cup winning season. Hasn’t been seen since. 

[ATLANTISMAN]

Just now, dealwithit said:

France can win. Need to be disciplined. Something Gigot was during the Challenge Cup winning season. Hasn’t been seen since. 

Hopefully a good win tomorrow v Greece will give them confidence.

 

P

[Tosh]

Samoa must be glad they are playing the French.

[Tosh]

1 hour ago, MrPosh said:

Normally Rubbish League.

Narrow-minded Rugby League.

[Big Picture]

58 minutes ago, dealwithit said:

France can win. Need to be disciplined. Something Gigot was during the Challenge Cup winning season. Hasn’t been seen since. 

The outcome might depend on how much their Toulouse contingent has improved from having a year in SL.  Will there be enough improvement in those players for France to be good enough now to beat Samoa?

[GeordieSaint]

The key for France is improvement. I don’t expect them to beat Samoa. But I want to see them competitive. And that means demonstrating commitment, especially in defence; and showing discipline when under pressure and when decisions don’t go there way. This what I expect Robinson will be keen to instill. 2025 is the key date for France RL; not 2022.

[Irish Saint]

4 hours ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

I feel like I might earn some bad rep from this thread.

You stick to your beliefs mate. I'm sticking to mine Samoa to make the semi final at least.

[Damien]

2 minutes ago, Irish Saint said:

You stick to your beliefs mate. I'm sticking to mine Samoa to make the semi final at least.

Brave call. I can't see them beating Tonga at all but I guess stranger things have happened.

[Kirmonds pouch]

6 hours ago, Mr Frisky said:

Eased off.. From what mark did they ease off??

I know a truly idiotic post, makes you wonder what game some people imagine they saw.

[londonrlfan]

I hope France do. Every WC Samoa get overhyped and tipped to win it, and every time they're poor. It would be better for the sport for France to win and progress.

[Hvy wg]

England battered Samoas forwards. Im not sure at all we could do the same and it changes everything.

[SydneyRoosters]

Massive Call, France win

Cohesion is key and is arguably more important than skill.

France are the most cohesive team in the World Cup for almost of all there players coming from 2 clubs.

Whilst Samoa are the complete opposite, 0 Cohesion and Chemistry and purely a side put together with no relationship basis.

On skill it is obviously Samoa, But France have a few very good players who would walk into the Samoan side Garcia and showed time and time again the season that he is up there with the best locks in SL, And Mourge is Something to Behold. Gigot on a good day is unstoppable. French Outside backs are very classy, and the rest of the team is also very solid no real issues in the squad, however I can’t say the same about Samoa. There side is completely full with issues and I personally can’t see them developing and growing as a team enough in 2 weeks to take down the French.