France for the Wooden Spoon!

So according to most betting sites, France are currently in 2nd place for the spoon that is wooden. Italy are in first place after a very poor performance at Murrayfield. France have England at Twickers up next, and then Ireland. Both are arguably the ones to beat this tournament.

So what the hell is going on? Have France been totally overrated as a team? Is Saint-Andre making wrong selections? Is the team just having a slow start to the tournament?

Present your thoughts on the matter.

Team that Destroyed Australia
15 Brice Dulin, 14 Wesley Fofana, 13 Florian Fritz, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Vincent Clerc, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 1 Yannick Forestier, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 3 Nicolas Mas, 4 Pascal Pape, 5 Jocelino Suta, 6 Yannick Nyanga, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 8 Louis Picamoles.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Thomas Domingo, 18 Vincent Debaty, 19 Sebastian Vahaamahina, 20 Damien Chouly, 21 Morgan Parra, 22 Francois Trinh-Duc, 23 Yoann Huget

Team that flopped against Wales
15 Yoann Huget, 14 Wesley Fofana, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Benjamin Fall, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 1 Yannick Forestier, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 3 Nicolas Mas, 4 Jocelino Suta, 5 Yoann Maestri, 6 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 7 Thierry Dusautoir (capt), 8 Louis Picamoles.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Luc Ducalcon, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Damien Chouly, 21 Morgan Parra, 22 Francois Trinh-Duc, 23 Florian Fritz

St. Andre is a terrible coach and selector. And they don't have a really good flyhalf.

Feckless Rogue wrote:St. Andre is a terrible coach and selector. And they don't have a really good flyhalf.

There are a lot of good players still in French Provincial Rugby. What is needed is a coach that knows about the values of disciplined forward play, someone like the former French captain who led the side in the 2007 World Cup Hooker Raphaël Ibañez or the great French number 8/lock forward Fabien Pelous.

I'm hoping France get the spoon for the next two years! It's about time we had more wooden spoon contenders.

Morgannwg wrote:I'm hoping France get the spoon for the next two years! It's about time we had more wooden spoon contenders.

When was the last time England got the Wooden Spoon?

I think technically France are the only contenders for the Spoon this year, since it goes to a team that loses all their matches and everyone else has won one.

gboycottnut wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:I'm hoping France get the spoon for the next two years! It's about time we had more wooden spoon contenders.

When was the last time England got the Wooden Spoon?

2003 wasn't it?

Morgannwg wrote:I'm hoping France get the spoon for the next two years! It's about time we had more wooden spoon contenders.

Really? I thought it was just the team who finished last, wether it be by points or points difference.

Would be hilarious if France got the wooden spoon though, that would surely be the end of Saint-Andre

There is no way France will take a wooden spoon. There are too many good players in the French team.

maestegmafia wrote:There is no way France will take a wooden spoon. There are too many good players in the French team.

There are better not in the team though!

thebluesmancometh wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:There is no way France will take a wooden spoon. There are too many good players in the French team.

There are better not in the team though!

Swap around a few players like, Trinh-Duc for Michelak and maybe get Parra at nine. Fofana at 12 with Fritz outside him and they'll win all their remaining games.

Trip to Twickenham? England favourites. Trip to Dublin? Ireland favourites. The pressure could be massively on the French for their home finale against Scotland.

France focus should be in playing proper rugby not in avoiding the spoon. Its not like you get relegated. Now they have 2 weeks to rest and work properly so should be way way better prepared against England. Not saying they have a big chance to win but at least I hope they will try. Hopefully they should get some players back such as Clerc.

Part of the problem is lack of preparation as they played a Top 14 match a week before Italy so the players are being played too much by the clubs. A bit like football in England ........strong league poor national team plus poor selection

bsando wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:I'm hoping France get the spoon for the next two years! It's about time we had more wooden spoon contenders.

Really? I thought it was just the team who finished last, wether it be by points or points difference.

Would be hilarious if France got the wooden spoon though, that would surely be the end of Saint-Andre

I meant more contenders each year in general, instead of just the usual two.

Amazingly enough I think it might just happen.

England away - France haven't won at twickenham since 2007 and that was a friendly. Last 6 Nations win 2005, and can't see that changing.

Ireland away - Doable, Ireland looked pretty guff today and injuries to Zebo & Sexton would be a big blow.

Scotland home - Well, if Wales could win in Paris why can't we! Hopefully by the time super Saturday comes around Scotland will have picked up another win. And depending how other results France could indeed be staring down the barrel of a wooden spoon, if not a white wash!