Present: Ben, Richard, Elisa, Kai and me.
Pre-match expectations: having had our appettites well and truly whetted by the exceptional Wales v Ireland, we expected much of the same. Brutal rugby, fast running, England playing to the potential that we know they possess against the French basket cases. Unfortunately, so much depended on what the French brought to the table, because they could be amazing or pony.
Predictions: England to sneak it against the team we always knock out in the World Cup.
Game: pints in hand, volume cranked fairly high, patriotism at full blast. Come on England.
Half-time status: this is terrible. England started brightly but have since been torn apart by a French side that want it more. England’s mistakes, like their passing, have been woeful. Toby Flood sums it up best when passed the ball and failing on a drop goal, turning to his teammates and shrugging his shoulders as if to say “why the hell did you pass me the ball?” No invention at all, one soft try and one good one sees France ahead 16-0 at the break.
Full-time status: England played much better in the second half but were still let down by basic errors. If the French had been more clinical and less profligate with their kicks then the scoreline could have been far worse. England did not play like world beaters and as such were beaten by a much better team. A disappointing but entirely deserved result. France win 19-12.
Man of the match: the French captain, Thierry Dusatoir, who literally seemed to be involved in every French move, omni-present, singlehandedly trampling on England’s dreams and wiping them off his boot.
‘Food’: several litres of Heineken.
Conversation keywords: England are so rubbish they look like a pub team. Variations on a theme.
Comments: the awkward joyful hugging after Foden’s try was so British.
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