Looks like we can expect some more winter like conditions for tonight's match. Aiding the chill feeling is the fact that this will be the first match with the super late 9pm kickoff, which is for the benefit of overseas broadcasters, rather than the 55,000 spectators.
For full details of my prediction of a Welsh victory check out my Semi Final preview. I think the conditions will favour their complete game, so I am even surer that the leek will prevail tonight.
With 20 minutes to go in the build-up, I need to comment on something which has been bugging the ex-sound recordist in me. All of the "comments guys" who appear on the field in this tournament have been provided with Webb Ellis trophy "hood ornaments" for their microphones. These look ridiculous - like they've come from the $2 shop. They are in every respect wrong.
Also 65,000 punters are watching the match at the Millennium stadium in Wales - heaps more than at the actual match! That is a sure sign that the Welsh will be up for this game.
The Welsh forwards make an imperious start, with a prefect line-out followed by a 20 metre maul forward, but they have a poor case of the dropsies and lose their early advantage. Not to be outdone, the French return this with interest and soon find themselves inside the Welsh 22.
Both teams are chancing their arms, but the slippery conditions mean the pill is dropped at crucial moments. James Hook gets the first points on the scoreboard after 8 minutes, converting a penalty that seemed unjust to France. French open side Dusautoir is unfairly penalised for fairly challenging Welsh possesion. 3-0 Wales.
Prop Adam Jones, the last remaining Welsh "hair bear", leaves the park injured after 10 minutes. This is disappointing for Wales and the fans. He is a great character. But the Welsh are really on the right side of referee Alain Roubert who is penalising the French quite harshly at the early stage of this match.
Wales are looking bloody good, but don't make the most of early territory and possession. The score remains 3-0 until the 17th minute when all hell breaks lose. Welsh skipper Sam Warbuton smashes Les Bleu's winger Vincent Clerk into the turf in a semi spear tackle. He gets shown the red card, and the French will have a one man advantage for the remaining 3/4s of the match.
A yellow card would probably have been fairer. Now Wales must use a back to maintain 8 men in the pack at scrum-time. They've lost the best forward and their skipper. Disaster.
Morgan Parra soon puts the teams even, converting a scrummaging penalty, 3-3. After 22 minutes.
Wales are in big trouble. Well they would be IF France knew how to use the 1 man advantage, but they play clumsy floundering footy for the next 10 minutes and fail to look at all convincing.
Welsh fly half James Hook misses his opportunity to get his team back ahead by missing a 40 metre penalty after 28 minutes. Parra does much better with a similar kick on 36 minutes and puts the French ahead for the first time at 6-3. And that is the score at the break.
Surely if the Welsh had not lost Warbuton they would be all over France. Warren Gatland might still find a way to refocus his team and elect some tactics to get them back in it. The lacklustre French are there for the taking.
Ole! They're back.
Halftime has brought red bush tea and Mary's shortbread, delicious.
France start the half as if they were England. They are all about the kick, the drop kick and territory. They are counting on their numerical advantage of players to win the game, but like England (at this tournament) they don't have the skills to put Wales away.
Parra puts France 9-3 ahead after 49 minutes. but as we all know a 6 point lead is never safe in Rugby. Wales have subbed off the very disappointing James Hook, whose 2 missed penalties in this game are the only difference on the score board.
Paul Schrader, one of my companions watching this game, has just muttered, "You'd be pissed off if you paid $900 to watch this". And he's right (not that he needs to pay for too many tickets - jammy bugger). Pissed off until the world's biggest halfback Mike Phillips scores another huge try! This is the same giant who broke open the Irish game last week. Stephen Jones misses the conversion, but now it's a one point match. 9-8 France after 60minutes.
It's amazing that the team with 14 on the park are the first to score a try. It shows the Welsh resilience and also demonstrates the lack of French ambition. Most neutral parties to this match would be supporting Wales 100%.
And now it is totally all-Wales on the all-out attack. The French look less composed than against the 15 English men last week, but with 5 minutes to go they maintain the tiny lead. Until they cough up a kickable penalty. At 50 metres, the kick is within Lee Halfpenny's range... not quite, it goes one foot UNDER the crossbar. Wales are desperately unlucky.
The Welsh bombard the French line for the remaining 5 minutes to no avail. Wales have been beached as bro, they have their poor kicking and the red card to blame. The French will make their 3rd Rugby World Cup final, but must do much better if they play 15 men next week.
Final Score France 9 - 8 Wales
45 Games - 255 Tries
Tweet of the Match - "Rubbish. France had nothing, could barely beat 14 men. Here's hoping ABs can play them in the final. #RWC2011" @dbridges_nz
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