Match thread for this group B clash.
PNG vs France
- Thread starter jamesgould
- Start date
rhugh89
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Papua New Guinea v France preview
By Dominic Brock
NRL.com
6:00am Sat 26th October, 2013
Who
Papua New Guinea v France
Where
Craven Park, Hull
When
Sunday October 27, 4pm (local time)
Monday October 28, 2.30am (NSW); 1.30am (Qld)
Rugby league is Papua New Guinea's national sport and the Kumuls will be keen to get their World Cup campaign off to the right start against France.
They've been starved of World Cup success of late after being cruelly drawn in a group against powerhouses Australia, New Zealand and England in the 2008 tournament.
Their best performance at a Cup came eight years earlier when the Kumuls advanced to the quarter-finals after going through their group undefeated.
A repeat of that feat is unlikely this time around, with the Kiwis and Samoa standing in their way, but the French look to be ripe for the picking after being shocked 22-18 by the USA in their warm-up match last week.
The Kumuls have lost star hooker James Segeyaro to injury, but have a more than capable replacement in the form of former Panther and Shark Paul Aiton.
Watch Out France
Papua New Guinea's strength is where it matters – through the spine. Their attack will come through the spark of Aiton at hooker, North Queensland's Ray Thompson in the halves and Gold Coast speedster David Mead at fullback, with captain Neville Costigan anchoring the forward pack at lock.
They've also got one of the best brains trusts in the business, with national legend Adrian Lam coaching the side and assisted by record-breaking Maroons mentor Mal Meninga.
Papua New Guinea's physical nature could also prove too much for the French, who were thumped by the stronger Fiji and Samoan sides at the 2008 World Cup.
Watch Out Papua New Guinea
French five-eighth Thomas Bosc is the team's attacking star, while retiring Cowboys utility back Clint Greenshields has bags of experience and will be a constant threat from fullback.
France's best asset is their cohesion – 16 of their 24-man squad are club teammates at the Catalans Dragons, while Greenshields played alongside many of them in his time at the club between 2007 and 2012.
That familiarity should be a real strength for the French in a tournament when other teams will still be fine-tuning their combinations in the first round of matches.
Key Match-Up
David Mead v Clint Greenshields. The battle of the fullbacks pits a young natural finisher against an experienced veteran who made his first-grade debut almost a decade ago.
Mead has performed miracles on the right wing for the Gold Coast Titans but will have a larger role as the Kumuls' custodian, continuing in the kind of roaming role he played in William Zillman's absence for the late part of the 2013 season for the Titans.
Greenshields scored three tries in his six games at fullback for the Cowboys this season when filling in for the injured Matt Bowen, and his running game will be one of France's best weapons in breaching Papua New Guinea's defence.
Televised
Live – 7mate at 2:30am (NSW); 1.30am (Qld)
The Way We See It
France's loss to the USA rings alarm bells for a team that has plenty of home-grown talent but doesn't possess much in the way of NRL-quality players. The Kumuls on the other hand have key players in key positions.
Ray Thompson's experience playing alongside arguably the world's best playmaker Johnathan Thurston all season should serve him well at this tournament, and with Lam and Meninga pulling the strings Papua New Guinea should get the points here. The Kumuls to win by 12 points.
http://www.nrl.com/papua-new-guinea-v-france-preview/tabid/10874/newsid/75152/default.aspx
- - - Updated - - -
Costigan feeling at home in Hull
By Wayne Gardiner
AAP
11:36pm Sat 26th October, 2013
Neville Costigan will look to add another chapter to the love story between Hull KR and Papua New Guinea when he leads his country out by the Humber on Sunday.
Costigan has signed a two-year deal with Rovers which will start after the World Cup and he will give his new fans a preview of his talents when PNG face France in their Group B opener.
Adrian Lam's men can expect the support of the locals to fall on their side too, for Costigan is not the first Papua New Guinean to sign for the Robins.
Rovers were so taken by Stanley Gene in the 1995 World Cup that he never returned home, enjoying a career that took in KR, Hull FC, Huddersfield and Bradford, with a coaching role with KR following. His star shines so bright in his homeland that he is practically classed as royalty there.
Visits back to PNG have included his powering parts of the island with electricity with the relative riches he has earned in England, so understandably Costigan is happy to be following in his footsteps.
"I didn't think we would have so much support over here, but coming to Hull where we are based, and with Stanley Gene... Man they all love him there," he told Press Association Sport.
"I didn't realise how big he was here, but he comes to see us every day and everybody knows him. It's good to have someone like that in your corner and he will be someone I hook up with when I move to Hull. It would be nice to do as well as he did."
As a result of the partisan 'home' support, France can expect to be treated as the away team.
Their coach Richard Agar would have anticipated that anyway, considering he spent four years in charge of KR's bitter rivals Hull FC.
"It will be like an away game for us but for me personally, playing one of our games in Hull will be familiar territory," he told reporters.
"I wasn't sure which way the support was going to go but we can't concentrate on that.
"We have to make sure we get people on our side with the way we play and how we conduct ourselves within the city."
France need a performance to banish memories of their shock loss to the United States last weekend in their only warm-up game.
"We had a setback against USA, but we'll be better for that run-out and it blew some cobwebs off us," Wakefield coach Agar added.
"I may not be French but I still felt the same amount of pride as the players did."
http://www.nrl.com/costigan-feeling-at-home-in-hull/tabid/10874/newsid/75161/default.aspx
By Dominic Brock
NRL.com
6:00am Sat 26th October, 2013
Who
Papua New Guinea v France
Where
Craven Park, Hull
When
Sunday October 27, 4pm (local time)
Monday October 28, 2.30am (NSW); 1.30am (Qld)
Rugby league is Papua New Guinea's national sport and the Kumuls will be keen to get their World Cup campaign off to the right start against France.
They've been starved of World Cup success of late after being cruelly drawn in a group against powerhouses Australia, New Zealand and England in the 2008 tournament.
Their best performance at a Cup came eight years earlier when the Kumuls advanced to the quarter-finals after going through their group undefeated.
A repeat of that feat is unlikely this time around, with the Kiwis and Samoa standing in their way, but the French look to be ripe for the picking after being shocked 22-18 by the USA in their warm-up match last week.
The Kumuls have lost star hooker James Segeyaro to injury, but have a more than capable replacement in the form of former Panther and Shark Paul Aiton.
Watch Out France
Papua New Guinea's strength is where it matters – through the spine. Their attack will come through the spark of Aiton at hooker, North Queensland's Ray Thompson in the halves and Gold Coast speedster David Mead at fullback, with captain Neville Costigan anchoring the forward pack at lock.
They've also got one of the best brains trusts in the business, with national legend Adrian Lam coaching the side and assisted by record-breaking Maroons mentor Mal Meninga.
Papua New Guinea's physical nature could also prove too much for the French, who were thumped by the stronger Fiji and Samoan sides at the 2008 World Cup.
Watch Out Papua New Guinea
French five-eighth Thomas Bosc is the team's attacking star, while retiring Cowboys utility back Clint Greenshields has bags of experience and will be a constant threat from fullback.
France's best asset is their cohesion – 16 of their 24-man squad are club teammates at the Catalans Dragons, while Greenshields played alongside many of them in his time at the club between 2007 and 2012.
That familiarity should be a real strength for the French in a tournament when other teams will still be fine-tuning their combinations in the first round of matches.
Key Match-Up
David Mead v Clint Greenshields. The battle of the fullbacks pits a young natural finisher against an experienced veteran who made his first-grade debut almost a decade ago.
Mead has performed miracles on the right wing for the Gold Coast Titans but will have a larger role as the Kumuls' custodian, continuing in the kind of roaming role he played in William Zillman's absence for the late part of the 2013 season for the Titans.
Greenshields scored three tries in his six games at fullback for the Cowboys this season when filling in for the injured Matt Bowen, and his running game will be one of France's best weapons in breaching Papua New Guinea's defence.
Televised
Live – 7mate at 2:30am (NSW); 1.30am (Qld)
The Way We See It
France's loss to the USA rings alarm bells for a team that has plenty of home-grown talent but doesn't possess much in the way of NRL-quality players. The Kumuls on the other hand have key players in key positions.
Ray Thompson's experience playing alongside arguably the world's best playmaker Johnathan Thurston all season should serve him well at this tournament, and with Lam and Meninga pulling the strings Papua New Guinea should get the points here. The Kumuls to win by 12 points.
http://www.nrl.com/papua-new-guinea-v-france-preview/tabid/10874/newsid/75152/default.aspx
- - - Updated - - -
Costigan feeling at home in Hull
By Wayne Gardiner
AAP
11:36pm Sat 26th October, 2013
Neville Costigan will look to add another chapter to the love story between Hull KR and Papua New Guinea when he leads his country out by the Humber on Sunday.
Costigan has signed a two-year deal with Rovers which will start after the World Cup and he will give his new fans a preview of his talents when PNG face France in their Group B opener.
Adrian Lam's men can expect the support of the locals to fall on their side too, for Costigan is not the first Papua New Guinean to sign for the Robins.
Rovers were so taken by Stanley Gene in the 1995 World Cup that he never returned home, enjoying a career that took in KR, Hull FC, Huddersfield and Bradford, with a coaching role with KR following. His star shines so bright in his homeland that he is practically classed as royalty there.
Visits back to PNG have included his powering parts of the island with electricity with the relative riches he has earned in England, so understandably Costigan is happy to be following in his footsteps.
"I didn't think we would have so much support over here, but coming to Hull where we are based, and with Stanley Gene... Man they all love him there," he told Press Association Sport.
"I didn't realise how big he was here, but he comes to see us every day and everybody knows him. It's good to have someone like that in your corner and he will be someone I hook up with when I move to Hull. It would be nice to do as well as he did."
As a result of the partisan 'home' support, France can expect to be treated as the away team.
Their coach Richard Agar would have anticipated that anyway, considering he spent four years in charge of KR's bitter rivals Hull FC.
"It will be like an away game for us but for me personally, playing one of our games in Hull will be familiar territory," he told reporters.
"I wasn't sure which way the support was going to go but we can't concentrate on that.
"We have to make sure we get people on our side with the way we play and how we conduct ourselves within the city."
France need a performance to banish memories of their shock loss to the United States last weekend in their only warm-up game.
"We had a setback against USA, but we'll be better for that run-out and it blew some cobwebs off us," Wakefield coach Agar added.
"I may not be French but I still felt the same amount of pride as the players did."
http://www.nrl.com/costigan-feeling-at-home-in-hull/tabid/10874/newsid/75161/default.aspx
rhugh89
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
France vs PNG - 2013 World Cup @ MS3 Craven Park, Hull
Head to Head
Played - 13
France - 8
Drawn - 1
PNG - 4
In England
Played - 0
France - 0
PNG - 0
World Cup Matches
Played - 4
France - 3
PNG - 1
France's Record in the World Cup
Played - 53
Won - 14
Drawn - 3
Lost - 36
PNG's Record in the World Cup
Played - 24
Won - 4
Drawn - 1
Lost - 19
Facts and Figures
* PNG have lost their last 4 games at the World Cup
* France have lost their last 2 games at the World Cup
* France have won 4 out of their last 6 Tests
* PNG have only won 2 out of their last 14 Tests
* France have won 3 out of their last 4 matches against PNG
* The last 6 test between these 2 nations have all been decided by 12 points or less
* France are ranked 4th in the RLIF ranking while PNG are ranked 6th
* France have been runners up in the World Cup twice in both 1954 and 1968
* PNG's best result was the Quarter Finals in 2000
* France are one of only 3 teams to compete at every World Cup since it's inception in 1954 (Australia and NZ are the other nations)
Head to Head
Played - 13
France - 8
Drawn - 1
PNG - 4
In England
Played - 0
France - 0
PNG - 0
World Cup Matches
Played - 4
France - 3
PNG - 1
France's Record in the World Cup
Played - 53
Won - 14
Drawn - 3
Lost - 36
PNG's Record in the World Cup
Played - 24
Won - 4
Drawn - 1
Lost - 19
Facts and Figures
* PNG have lost their last 4 games at the World Cup
* France have lost their last 2 games at the World Cup
* France have won 4 out of their last 6 Tests
* PNG have only won 2 out of their last 14 Tests
* France have won 3 out of their last 4 matches against PNG
* The last 6 test between these 2 nations have all been decided by 12 points or less
* France are ranked 4th in the RLIF ranking while PNG are ranked 6th
* France have been runners up in the World Cup twice in both 1954 and 1968
* PNG's best result was the Quarter Finals in 2000
* France are one of only 3 teams to compete at every World Cup since it's inception in 1954 (Australia and NZ are the other nations)
Aidos
Andrew 'Joey' Johns
Yeah, same. I remember when they played Australia a few years ago. Very physical and they belted us in the first 20mins. We blew them off the park after that as they used up all their energy, but it was a really entertaining match
What about their game against England in the 08 World Cup? But for some dodgy officiating, they'd have probably won!
The stats are very interesting for both today's games thanks [MENTION=1596]rhugh89[/MENTION]! PNG's recent record is so misleading, because they never get a chance to play any sides other than the big three. France meanwhile play plenty of tests against other European and UK sides.
When PNG did play some other pacific teams in the 2009 Pacific Cup, they smashed them.
PNG in a canter, I reckon.
The stats are very interesting for both today's games thanks [MENTION=1596]rhugh89[/MENTION]! PNG's recent record is so misleading, because they never get a chance to play any sides other than the big three. France meanwhile play plenty of tests against other European and UK sides.
When PNG did play some other pacific teams in the 2009 Pacific Cup, they smashed them.
PNG in a canter, I reckon.
Aidos
Andrew 'Joey' Johns
Yeah, that was a brilliant game. (Gene I think his name was) had a blinder.
Not sure about now but their outside backs were all 105kg+ monsters and were hard to handle.
Captain Planet
Trent Estatheo
is there radio coverage ? im ln JH hospital broke my ankle sat sailing be he for few days nd they have **** tv outa question
danielyou56
1997 & 2001...
gotta be PNG don't really know much about france but imo PNG could be a force(maybe not top) in the world cup.
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is costigan captain?
- - - Updated - - -
how is ray thompson playing
- - - Updated - - -
is costigan captain?
- - - Updated - - -
how is ray thompson playing
Yeah, Costigan is PNG's captain this year.
Looks like a great crowd!
Looks like a great crowd!
danielyou56
1997 & 2001...
Mead at fullback is gonna be great to see
Ray Thompson's mum was born in PNG, btw.
danielyou56
1997 & 2001...
meant as in thought kade broke his face didn't know he was superman at recovery 
- - - Updated - - -
can't believe greenshields is playing winger looked amazing at fb for cowboys
- - - Updated - - -
can't believe greenshields is playing winger looked amazing at fb for cowboys
Oh haha.
Early warning shot by PNG, but good defence from France.
Early warning shot by PNG, but good defence from France.