RUGBY WORLD CUP: First Semi-Final

15.10.2011
Wales v France in Auckland (World Cup, Semi-Final 1)

Venue: Eden Park

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

Preview
Can France reproduce the passion, the power and the skill that saw them outplay England 19-12 last weekend? Can Wales build on the flare, the skill and the passion they showed against Ireland? We will have to see after 80 minutes of what I’m predicting will be a fast, furious and fascinating Semi-Final.

Wales seem to me to be the more consistent, balanced side. France had a memorable win over England but can they reproduce that form? This team has shown they can be very much up and down under the present coach.

Last Five Encounters
19.03.2011 France 28-9 in Paris (6 Nations)
26.02.2010 France 26-20 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
27.02.2009 France 21-16 in Paris (6 Nations)
15.03.2008 Wales 29-12 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
26.08.2007 France 34-7 in Paris (6 Nations)

Wales This World Cup (Pool D)
11.09.2011 v South Africa L 16-17 in Wellington
18.09.2011 v Samoa W 17-10 in Hamilton
26.09.2011 v Namibia W 81-7 in New Plymouth
02.10.2011 v Fiji W 66-0 in Hamilton
08.10.2011 v Ireland W 22-10 in Wellington (WCQF)

France This World Cup (Pool A)
10.09.2011 v Japan W 47-21 in Albany
18.09.2011 v Canada W 46-19 in Napier
24.09.2011 v New Zealand L 17-37 in Auckland
01.10.2011 v Tonga L 14-19 in Wellington
08.10.2011 v England W 19-12 (WCQF)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-Wales 3rd, France 7th
Europe Table-France 1st, Wales 4th

IRB Ranking Points
Wales 83.21, France 82.68

Prediction: Wales by 3 points

Teams

Wales
15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 James Roberts, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Michael Phillips, 8 Tobias Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton, Capt. 6 Daniel Lydiate, 5 Alun-Wyn Jones, 4 Luke Charteris, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements
16 Lloyd Burns, 17 Paul James, 18 Bradley Davies, 19 Ryan Jones, 20 Lloyd Williams, 21 Stephen Jones, 22 Scott Williams.
Head Coach: Warren Gatland

France
15 Maxime Médard, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Aurélien Rougerie, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Alexis Palisson, 10 Morgan Parra, 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Julien Bonnaire, 6 Thierry Dusautoir, Capt. 5 Lionel Nallet, 4 Pascal Papé, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 William Servat, 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux.
Replacements
16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Fabien Barcella, 18 Julien Pierre, 19 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 20 Francois Trinh-Duc, 21 Jean-Marc Doussain, 22 Cedric Heymans.
Head Coach: Marc Lievremont