France Name Parra at 10; Lievremont bases selection on lessons of Henri Bergson

‘To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.’

Parra plays a decent twenty minutes at fly half against Japan, and arguably the best 9 in the northern hemisphere over the last few years is shunted out of his position because of Mad Marc's doctrine.

But what do people think about France's chances for the rest of the torunament? Will they beat New Zealand and find themselves in a more difficult draw? Will they lose, as is expected, a find a path that, really, they should be confident of beating all the way to the final.

France usually has the cliched brilliant performance at the World Cup, and the equally cliched dire performance. Often, these come against NZ and England respectively. England will always fancy their chances against France, as they're the only 6N team that, 9 times out of 10, will beat them up up front.

But it's interesting. Could the brilliant performance come against a NZ side who, thus far, have been going through training ground patterns to the try line against Japan and Tonga? This would leave them with a much more difficult route to the final, meeting at least one of SA or Australia in the semis, who you'd expect them to lose to.



So what are peoples' throughts? Will they beat NZ? And, using both hypothetical paths, what do people think they'll do against the teams they should meet on these paths? And does Marc's shuffling effect anything? The more things change...

I think it all depends on which directions the seagulls are flying in

France are still France.

It would surprise me one jot if they turned over New Zealand on the weekend but don't think they will.

Lievremont is just a tinkerer and doesn't seem to know his best side still after all this time.

Lievremont is a moron. The only reason I can come up with for giving a playing his starting debut at 10 against the All Blacks in a World Cup match is that Lievremont wants to lose the game to get into what looks like the NH part of the draw.

I think France will lose by at least 20 points. The only good thing is that Lievremont is already leaving, so they don't have to waste breath firing him.

Interesting that people suggested NZ could consider losing in order to get the better half of the draw...

New Zealand wouldn't dare throw this game at home surely would they. As for Lievremont picking Parra at 10 with view of throwing it he won't have to do that anyway the way they have been playing.

Its just his idiotic selection

It's got nothing to do with them being at home. If they throw the game, they're out of the torunament, because they've cheated!

NZ will want to crush them. When you're the All Blacks I don't think you need to worry too much about the draw. Getting Scotland or Argentina in the QF is a pretty cushy number rather than facing England I would have thought. Yes, Aus or SA in the semi is probably tougher than Wales/Ire, but NZ probably accept that they'll have to beat either SA/Aus to win the thing anyway. I think the draw is irrelevant for them.

Parra is the sort of player who will play like an actual genius at 10 and have one of those games that a player only dreams of...probably

very suprised at this selection,

also where's michalak these days?

With harindordoquy, trinh duc, heymans and Servat all on the bench id say france are definitely looking to take a dive. Not the players i reckon they'll give it everything as you would expect but lievremont has definitely picked a weakened team.

Hell be happy with no injuries and not to take a pasting.

The draw probably hasn't changed who New Zealand will have to play in the semi final and final. It's probably just changed the order in which they have to play them.

I love that he's done this and not all that surprised. Parra's 20mins against Japan at 10 were the best I've seen from a French 10 in ages. This could backfire or it could be a master stroke. Looking forward to this match even more now!

funnyExiledScot wrote:NZ will want to crush them. When you're the All Blacks I don't think you need to worry too much about the draw. Getting Scotland or Argentina in the QF is a pretty cushy number rather than facing England I would have thought. Yes, Aus or SA in the semi is probably tougher than Wales/Ire, but NZ probably accept that they'll have to beat either SA/Aus to win the thing anyway. I think the draw is irrelevant for them.

thats largely true. The real value for the abs is get put under some pressure during pool play.
France hopefully will do that.
The idea of scotland or argentina probably appeals to GH more as that is guaranteed to test us.
Them either SA, who will have had a desperate battle with both samoa and oz. Or oz who have their own problems. And both have been hammered last eden park visit.
After that. A NH team in the final?
Could be worse.
Going the other side provides a tougher last 8 and more chance of an upset.
Nope. GH will want to deal to france.

Has any one told Scotland or Argentina they could both still top the group,then if Ab`s beat France, AB`sv England QF .

Cool.
And we know how the last one went dont we jonah.

haha. good old lievremont. is he a genius or a complete wally. who knows

parra is an excellent player but its a serious ask in a game as big as this to throw him in out of position,especially given that france defensively are not great in the backs.

other than that and selecting harinorduquy on the bench it is a strong side.

should still be a great game

dublin_dave wrote:haha. good old lievremont. is he a genius or a complete wally. who knows

parra is an excellent player but its a serious ask in a game as big as this to throw him in out of position,especially given that france defensively are not great in the backs.

other than that and selecting harinorduquy on the bench it is a strong side.

should still be a great game

he's french...

I think France are aware that NZ would not be allowed to lose this game, from fans, pundits, coaches etc., even if it left them with the easier draw, whereas French fans would be quite happy, especially with the knowledge that they could meet them in the final. That would be a game that France would love.

What's wrong with Harinorduquy? Has he lost form to not be starting or have other 8's over taken him?

yappysnap wrote:What's wrong with Harinorduquy? Has he lost form to not be starting or have other 8's over taken him?

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nothing very wrong but he hasnt played 8 for while (even for Biarritz to accomodate Lakafia) and his recent form at 6 hasnt been spectacular.

The Abs will not want to lose this match.

Was'nt Sean Fitzpatrick who once said the (New Zealand public)expect the Abs to expect to win every game they play no matter who they are playing?

No, losing this game for the Abs will be seen as losing face. They will not want to lose face not at home, not on home soil thats for sure.