New Zealand v France World Cup 2007

[El Diablo]

Now this question is mostly fopr those from the "home nations" being England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales...

WHO WILL YOU BE SUPPORTING IN THE QUARTER FINAL BETWEEN FRANCE AND THE ALL BLACKS?

This poll is due to a few of my friends that have never travelled assuming that the Brits would support the All Blacks over France. I disagreed saying that it would not be that clear cut as the All Blacks do not have the "love" of the home nations due to thuggary and arrogance of some Kiwi players (and the fact that the AB's usually - but not always - win).

So who will it be and why?
NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A CHOICE OVER THE COUNTRIES -JUST THE RUGBY TEAMS.

[Papewaio]

If France plays at its best it is a beauty to behold... even if that destroys my team the All Blacks... now if the AB's are doing a bit of thuggery they can lose for all I care.

[Subedei]

I am looking forward to this game. I have never seen the All Blacks play in this world cup so I look forward to that. On the other hand France got better and better during the last weeks. Plus they are the hosts of the WC.

I am sure it will be an intense game. Best wishes to both teams, may the better one win.

[scotchedpommes]

France. I feel obliged to support the underdog, and a European team.
[or as you tend to term or categorise teams in this sport, one from
the "Northern Hemisphere"] Their home support always seems minimal
or otherwise unenthusiastic to me, and not only in this sport, so perhaps
someone needs to give them a hand.

[naut]

I can't see New Zealand losing.

[scotchedpommes]

Nah, course. Even I know they'll absolutely tank France.

[Slug For A Butt]

Although the All Blacks have a fantastic record against the French recently, not just winning but demolishing them in their last five meetings, I really hope that France turn it on and show what a good team they can be.
I only say that so when England brush the Wallabies aside , we don't have to meet NZ on route to the cup again.
Hell... at least the Scots aren't going any further, it's almost a bye for the Pumas.

[scotchedpommes]

Hell... at least the Scots aren't going any further, it's almost a bye for the Pumas.

Well, I'll have to get my oh-so-quirky Aussie hat out, then. It's always nicer
when other people make these decisions for me.

[Craterus]

I want France to win.

[Slug For A Butt]

Well, I'll have to get my oh-so-quirky Aussie hat out, then. It's always nicer
when other people make these decisions for me.

Hook, Line and Sinker.

[Xehh II]

I don't care about rugby, I only voted for the AB's because I'm from NZ.

[Craterus]

Hmm. This poll is rather odd though.

I don't want France to win because "they play the game like no other". I just like to support the underdogs.

[Hepcat]

I definitely want to All Blacks to win, since we never seem to get noticed by the world for much else. The one thing that I have rugby however is the insane amount of media attention, it's on the headlines all the time and if we ever lose then there are endless interviews on the tv where people drone on and on about how it's a national tragedy and how we need to do all this stuff to make sure something as horrible as this never happens again.

If the French flattened Auckland with missiles it wouldn't be as big a story over here as if they'd defeated us at rugby. I just think that we take rugby far to seriously, after all, it's just a game.


Oh and as for the thuggery and arrogance, I think that's rubbish. I don't know how many people abroad understand the immense pressure we put upon them to win. We expect them to win, if you're calling the All Blacks arrogant for going in to win it then you'll be calling most NZers arrogant too.

[Papewaio]

I definitely want to All Blacks to win, since we never seem to get noticed by the world for much else.

You'd be surprised how little is mentioned about Rugby Union in NSW let alone the rest of Australia. I imagine the rest of the world doesn't really notice what the All Blacks do... poor ignorant masses.

[Hepcat]

You'd be surprised how little is mentioned about Rugby Union in NSW let alone the rest of Australia. I imagine the rest of the world doesn't really notice what the All Blacks do... poor ignorant masses.

Seriously!?!?!?
Well then it just shows how much the media has brainwashed me into thinking that the rugby world cup is the centre of the universe and a massively important world event.

[Strike For The South]

The All Blacks for the HAKA alone

[El Diablo]

Sorry I may have made this a tad too confusing...

I was wanting to know who people will be SUPPORTING not who they think will win. I know a few French that think the All Blacks will win but will be supporting France (obviously).

As for the guy commenting on what I said about All Black Thuggary - that is not my opinion (I am a Kiwi living back in NZ again) it is a pretty common theme of what people have said to me when I have lived "overseas".

It strarted from a conversation I had back in Wellington who assumed that as we were playing the French in Wales most people would be supporting NZ. I did not think it that clear cut.

[Hepcat]

Ah ok, sorry. It's just that I assumed it was your opinion when you said this:

I disagreed saying that it would not be that clear cut as the All Blacks do not have the "love" of the home nations due to thuggary and arrogance of some Kiwi players (and the fact that the AB's usually - but not always - win).

[Incongruous]

Considering the AB's posses the best props and locks in the world, it's going to be a slaughter. The backline is simply to fluid for northern hemisphere teams to lock it down, I mean one minute Rocko is on the left, then the right and then the center. He makes a mockery of positions, it's great!
However as a Pom I really hope we smash the wallabies and then face the Frogs.

[Slug For A Butt]

However as a Pom I really hope we smash the wallabies and then face the Frogs.

Cheering on the Garlic munchers and the English this weekend. England vs France semi is a dream.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Allez les Bleus!

Why oh why did this game have to be in Cardiff? Bah, a World Cup on home soil and teh biggie is played in Wales.

England vs France semi would be fantastic. I didn't exactly put my life's savings on France progressing though...
The absolute top-form isn't there, even if we have grown a bit during the tournament somewhat. Let's hope it will be another 1999 tonight...

[Slug For A Butt]

ENGLAND ENGLAND ENGLAND...!!!!!

English muscle has dumped Australia out, now come on France time to do your bit.

Also I think it makes a mockery of the World Cup to play home matches away from home, but before the French complain, they must remember that is the price they are paying for denying England the World Cup. You aint going to get the Home Nation vote for nothing...

However as a Pom I really hope we smash the wallabies and then face the Frogs.

We're half way there.

[Incongruous]

No no, we are all the way there.
YEEESSSSS!
England vs. France.
C'mon England.

[Hepcat]

We lost.


Well done France!


It's a pity there's going to be all the scapegoating now by the media. Some people just can't accept the fact that we got beat, fair and square.

[Lorenzo_H]

Now all the English need is for South Africa to lose...

[Slug For A Butt]

Now all we need the same attitudes from England and France to make for another great game next weekend. I'm not looking any further than that.
Two hard fought, tight matches yesterday. Congratulations to France and England, they deserved the wins.
Now... back to the traditional English/French hostilities we all know and love.
All we need is for Brian Moore to open his mouth a coupe of days before the match. Get the Frenchies to lose their tempers like in the good old days eh?

[stilgar]

A bit late but I was for France

and France has won !!!!!!!!

[Craterus]

[naut]

It's a pity there's going to be all the scapegoating now by the media.

Same in Australia, it's so irritating. Good thing I'm an Englishman though.

[Slug For A Butt]

It's always a good thing to be an Englishman.