Rugby - France Wales

Don't keep that game on a DVD. Unless you want to show your students why a spear tackle is forbidden, you can break the neck or kill a player, and you will get a red card.
Wales plaid a more offensive rugby, and even scored a try. But the instructions from the French coach were to keep only three priorities: defense, no penalty, and... defense! France never intended to develop an attack by the wings... even after Wales played with only 14 players, probably because France coaches analysed the solidity of Wales defense, against South Africa and Ireland. And in the last 10 minutes France was not even keeping players in the rucks tot ry win the ball back, everybody on their feet... zero player in the ruck... waiting for the next red wave. Of course only the result counts, and France got it. But the 50m penalty from Wales missing the post by a few cms 5 minutes before the end could have changed the result...
Congratulations to the Welsh players who gave it all for 60 mn of play at 14 and could still have won. The captain who took the red card for the spear tackle will not sleep tonight... Watch for Wales in next year 6 nations tournament, as most of the players are between 19 and 23!
Congratulations to the winner France, for their defense, even if they let a try scored with one player more, and for the almost zero penalty game!... The final next Saturday will show if France can put more than one exceptional game at each world cup, and most of all establish a winning strategy against New Zealand or Australia.
Of course dont miss tomorrow semi-final between New Zealand and Australia, both teams do not want to lose...! like no team in the 6 nations tournament want to loose against England...!!

Rugby - Rules 101

Rugby rules made simple with both teams wearing New Zealand and Australia colours, to help you follow Sunday semi-final...
http://www.videobash.com/video_show/rules-to-rugby-49363

Rugby - New Zealand - Australia - South Africa - France - Wales

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New Zealand beat Argentina without really convincing, but they did convince previously... when they had Dan Carter. Without Dan Carter, New Zealand can lose to any of the teams still in the semi-finals...

South Africa lost against Australia mostly due to their poor performance, but one must admit that the New Zealand referre did not help... he did not whistle a hand in a ruck 5 cms away from the goal line which by other standards could have been a penalty try for South Africa and give them the victory. But South Africa also dropped more balls or did more knock-ons than any other international team in this tournament. Australia was theirs to eat, yes, but... when Australia scored twice in their three pasages in South Africa 22m in the first 30 mn, South Africa did not score a single point in the first 30 mn in the 7 or 8 presences in the Australian 22m... SOrry for you South Africa, you were my favorite, but you blew it, when you could have gone all the way.

So... France - Wales Saturday... anybody's guess, it will all depend how Wales counter the persistent help of the French full back 15 to his backs for defense or attack, often at their level.
As for New Zealand without Dan Carter, or Australia the way they played Sunday... they could both be beaten by an exalted French or Welsh team. The kicker will probably make the difference,... and the referee...