Jump to:
- Search box
- Navigation
- Main Content
Missing Men
Can you solve the Missing Men? Today, Leicester's class of '06 v Northampton.
Loose Pass
This week covers Australia, planning and a curious coaching situation.
Latest Lions news
All of the latest news surrounding the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.
Premiership latest
All the latest news, previews, match reports and reaction from England.
Super Rugby news
All the latest Super Rugby news, views, previews and match reports right here!
France
Sorry, this story is unavailable
- France Fixtures
| Fixture | Details |
|---|---|
| All times are local | |
| International Match | |
| Saturday , June 8 | |
| New Zealand vs France | 08:35 |
| Saturday , June 15 | |
| New Zealand vs France | 08:35 |
| Saturday , June 22 | |
| New Zealand vs France | 08:35 |
| More International Match fixtures | |
- Table
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wales | 5 | 8 |
| 2 | England | 5 | 8 |
| 3 | Scotland | 5 | 4 |
| 4 | Italy | 5 | 4 |
| 5 | Ireland | 5 | 3 |
| 6 | France | 5 | 3 |
Around Planet Rugby
-
Competitions
Win games consoles, holidays, tickets to sporting events and much more with Planet Rugby
-
Facebook
Sign up to the Planet Rugby Facebook fan page
-
Twitter
Follow Planet Rugby updates on Twitter
Comments
jontheref says...
Come rain, come shine.
COME ON WALES!
Posted 08:07 17th March 2012
Axax says...
Ah ah, so pathetic! So now if I understand correctly, my Welsh friends already have a good excuse if they lose the game: it is because of the roof! It was open, OMG!! Lol... To be honest I used to admire a lot the Wales team, but I have to admit it is over since the World Cup and all this ridiculous whining following the semi. Ah, if only your Halfpenny was a tiny bit more successful ;) Anyway, tomorrow is another day, and I really hope the French team will rule over Cardiff! COME OOONNNN FRANCEEEE!!!!!!!
Posted 18:56 16th March 2012
jontheref says...
APV1
have you checked the UK sunshine records lately?
That is why so many of us have solar panels on our roof!
Posted 15:57 16th March 2012
RugbyLocos says...
APV1....... in my case your second argument falls on deaf ears, as I live in sunny Spain.
I tried to get tickets for this game but they were sold out - just as well really; I'm not much up for watching plodding stop-start - lets have another scrum because you dropped the wet muddy ball - rugby in the rain. Although watching Wales lifting the Grand Slam 6 Nations Trophy would have been ¨Muy chuli¨ as they say over here.
As for your first argument, I think you are clutching at straws there old chap !!!
Posted 15:33 16th March 2012
APV1 says...
@ RugbyLocos - perhaps the rest of us are just made of tougher stuff than the welsh and the SH teams...
Or is it (more likely) that the Welsh are so fed up of spending 483 days a year in the rain, they want an afternoon off..?
;-)
Posted 14:58 16th March 2012
RugbyLocos says...
It now transpires that the French want the roof left open because otherwise it interferes with their Satellite GPS system that monitors the work rate of their players and helps them to make decisions on substitutions (stated last night by PSA himself in a press meeting).
So the Frenchies can use ¨un-natural¨ modern rugby technology and Wales can't???. They'll be giving players bionic arms and legs next !!!
Posted 11:16 16th March 2012
lawynd says...
I actually agree with Gatland - the idea of the closing roof is to improve playing conditions, so it should always be closed if adverse weather is forecast.
Posted 10:42 16th March 2012
RugbyLocos says...
Never mind; if Wales don't take the slam this year it will be next year and the following year - so bring it on Frenchies !!!
All those of you that are banging on about Gatland, and soggy scrum-provoking, natural, windy and wet rugby conditions are obviously from countries that have lost out in the 2012 championship stakes and are gutted that Wales are; and will remain for the next few years; the best northern hemisphere team.
You won't see southern hemisphere teams asking for the roof to be left open.
Posted 10:33 16th March 2012
Reds says...
My god........is it only me that can see that everybody whining about Gatland has n't mentioned anything about the game.
Gatland wants to showpiece his team, he believes in the team and just like the paying customer at the gate and the millions of people watching worldwide.
Its about the game, the advancement of the game and first and foremost a good game. France want it it open, they have already surrendered again by hoping it rains and gain the advantage. So why not want the advantage yourself........no brainer!
Posted 08:58 16th March 2012
jontheref says...
This thread is akin to the use of the TMO, "we have the technology, but we don't use it".
Grow up all you naysayers, it is the 21st C., as someone else said, let's go back to nailed in studs and sodden (rugby) balls to play with.
And I though I was stuck in the dark ages.
The iRB are trying to make the sport more customer friendly, like games with minimal tackling, but want the roof open?
madness.
Posted 08:44 16th March 2012
startledwombat says...
... and to add another element of uncertainty, water will be sprayed on the pitch to see if it ices over...
Posted 06:58 16th March 2012
lostprofit says...
If France want to play Gatland at his own game that is fine with me, the man is too big a moan for my liking.
But it wont make a difference anyway, Gallaic indifference to not been in with a shout to win will mean WSales will romp away with it.
Posted 01:54 16th March 2012
Frank81 says...
@ APV1 - I completely agree. He needs to show a modicum of class now and again, a la McGeechan.
@ OttawaSteve - Why should both teams have to agree to have the roof open? It should be that they both have to agree to have it closed. Rugby is an OUTDOOR sport and players should be able to adapt to conditions. Good teams have the game plan to succeed in all kinds of conditions. Should be a good test for the Welsh.
Posted 01:21 16th March 2012
atg77 says...
The rules are clearly set out. Get over it gatland.
Posted 00:17 16th March 2012
JamieTheProp says...
Legal playing field - most teams don't have a retractable roof - so why should Wales have the advantage of effectively deciding what the weather will be like for home games!
This is akin to them asking for home games at the World Cup to be played in their stadium - why should they have home advantage at a tournament they have not taken the financial risk to host?
Arrogance! Isn't that what we English are accused of? The Welsh - the new English (without the World Cup win)!
Posted 23:55 15th March 2012
jontheref says...
This goes back to 1999.
RWC final.
France v Australia.
France wanted the roof open.
Comment by Tim Horan.
If you have a Ferrari you don't keep it in the garage. If you have a stadium with a roof, you don't keep it open.
As a paying customer, I want the place to be warm, not have to wear my thermals in a concrete box.
The difference in temperature when the roof is open is about 12 degrees lower, and that is on a sunny day in March! Let alone a rainy day!
I wasn't sitting on the east stand in the sun last week, but you needed a baseball cap or sun hat to see the game!
Daffodils don't keep the sun off!
Dragon hats do to some extent.
Posted 22:19 15th March 2012
scrumdog says...
Wouldn't surprise me if the roof got 'stuck in' the closed position..the Welsh have been lucky so far and over rate themselves as usual. They should never have won over Ireland but Gatland continues his whinging...rugby is an outdoor sport played in the ambient elements and is a true test of the games skills.
Posted 19:17 15th March 2012
APV1 says...
Gatland as possible Lions Coach-contender worries me a little. He hints, intimates and suggests that he would be willing to cheat. Didn't he also admit to considering faking an injury in the RWC, so that the scrums would be uncontested?
I'm not sure I want someone who will openly admit to these things leading the Lions.
That aside, rugby's an outdoor game and sometimes it rains. Get over it. If you can't prepare a team for wet and dry weather rugby, I certainly don't want you as Lions coach.
Posted 18:27 15th March 2012
Can_Nuck_Over says...
What about the paying fans? I would expect after spending my hard earned money to watch a match in such a state of art stadium that I wouldn't have to sit in the rain.
Posted 18:18 15th March 2012
RugbyLocos says...
I have to say, if I paid good money to attend an international rugby match at a stadium which has a retractable roof; and the game was made totally scrappy due to poor weather conditions; I can assure you that I would be more than just ¨Unhappy¨.
Gatland is totally right in saying that there is a responsibility to make the game as attractive as possible. To ask to keep the roof open knowing that there is a forecast of rain is simply absurd.
Wales v France matches are usually among the best in the 6 nations, and offer a great spectacle to sports lovers in general. Obviously the French are already resigned to the fact that they can't beat Wales in an open running game - what a sad state of affairs !!!
COME ON WALES !!!
Posted 17:34 15th March 2012