Team for France

[fivepointer]

Ewels is OK. Nothing flash but he does the basics well and is a real workhorse. He'll be fine and its good that he gets a start in a very demanding fixture.
Big test for Furbank but sometimes you have to trust in a young player. Same applies to Stuart who has got the nod over Williams. He'll get on, its just a matter of how long he gets.
We've covered Curry at 8 and Lawes at 6 and i still fail to see why we're putting ourselves into such a position when alternatives were available.
The bench is - LCD, Genge, Stuart, Kruis, Ludlam, Heinz, Devoto and Joseph
That should mean some game time for Devoto when inevitably Ford is withdrawn in the 2nd half.

[p/d]

And there was me wondering if Ewels would ever start. Big game for him

Nothing to worry about, he’ll have a stormer.

[Oakboy]

Why Devoto AND Joseph on the bench. assume mako is crocked. Carrying might be an issuette

Mako had an eye injury in training reportedly. So, a back three injury puts Devoto or Joseph on the wing? If, late in the game, both come on, one replaces Tuilagi and one plays on the wing?

I think this must be the least balanced squad, XV and 23 for years.

[Adam_P]

Really happy for Furbank, and equally confused at the lack of back 3 cover on the bench. Back row is stupid, but always was going to be based on the squad he selected

[Oakboy]

Ewels is OK. Nothing flash but he does the basics well and is a real workhorse. He'll be fine and its good that he gets a start in a very demanding fixture.
Big test for Furbank but sometimes you have to trust in a young player. Same applies to Stuart who has got the nod over Williams. He'll get on, its just a matter of how long he gets.
We've covered Curry at 8 and Lawes at 6 and i still fail to see why we're putting ourselves into such a position when alternatives were available.
The bench is - LCD, Genge, Stuart, Kruis, Ludlam, Heinz, Devoto and Joseph
That should mean some game time for Devoto when inevitably Ford is withdrawn in the 2nd half.

You think Tuilagi will do 80?

[Puja]

Ewels is OK. Nothing flash but he does the basics well and is a real workhorse. He'll be fine and its good that he gets a start in a very demanding fixture.
Big test for Furbank but sometimes you have to trust in a young player. Same applies to Stuart who has got the nod over Williams. He'll get on, its just a matter of how long he gets.
We've covered Curry at 8 and Lawes at 6 and i still fail to see why we're putting ourselves into such a position when alternatives were available.
The bench is - LCD, Genge, Stuart, Kruis, Ludlam, Heinz, Devoto and Joseph
That should mean some game time for Devoto when inevitably Ford is withdrawn in the 2nd half.

You think Tuilagi will do 80?

Joseph's on the bench as well.

Mind, that will mean that Ford gets subbed 45 minutes in for Joseph so we can have Tuilagi at 12, and then Devoto will get 3 minutes at the end when Manu come soff.

Puja

[Oakboy]

Ewels is OK. Nothing flash but he does the basics well and is a real workhorse. He'll be fine and its good that he gets a start in a very demanding fixture.
Big test for Furbank but sometimes you have to trust in a young player. Same applies to Stuart who has got the nod over Williams. He'll get on, its just a matter of how long he gets.
We've covered Curry at 8 and Lawes at 6 and i still fail to see why we're putting ourselves into such a position when alternatives were available.
The bench is - LCD, Genge, Stuart, Kruis, Ludlam, Heinz, Devoto and Joseph
That should mean some game time for Devoto when inevitably Ford is withdrawn in the 2nd half.

You think Tuilagi will do 80?

Joseph's on the bench as well.

Mind, that will mean that Ford gets subbed 45 minutes in for Joseph so we can have Tuilagi at 12, and then Devoto will get 3 minutes at the end when Manu come soff.

Puja

With a debutant FB and no competent back-three cover???

[p/d]

Ewels is OK. Nothing flash but he does the basics well and is a real workhorse. He'll be fine and its good that he gets a start in a very demanding fixture.
Big test for Furbank but sometimes you have to trust in a young player. Same applies to Stuart who has got the nod over Williams. He'll get on, its just a matter of how long he gets.
We've covered Curry at 8 and Lawes at 6 and i still fail to see why we're putting ourselves into such a position when alternatives were available.
The bench is - LCD, Genge, Stuart, Kruis, Ludlam, Heinz, Devoto and Joseph
That should mean some game time for Devoto when inevitably Ford is withdrawn in the 2nd half.

You think Tuilagi will do 80?

Joseph's on the bench as well.

Mind, that will mean that Ford gets subbed 45 minutes in for Joseph so we can have Tuilagi at 12, and then Devoto will get 3 minutes at the end when Manu come soff.

Puja

I read that as ‘when Manu comes soft’ ...... and 80’s porn sprang to mind

[Mikey Brown]

Ewels is OK. Nothing flash but he does the basics well and is a real workhorse. He'll be fine and its good that he gets a start in a very demanding fixture.
Big test for Furbank but sometimes you have to trust in a young player. Same applies to Stuart who has got the nod over Williams. He'll get on, its just a matter of how long he gets.
We've covered Curry at 8 and Lawes at 6 and i still fail to see why we're putting ourselves into such a position when alternatives were available.
The bench is - LCD, Genge, Stuart, Kruis, Ludlam, Heinz, Devoto and Joseph
That should mean some game time for Devoto when inevitably Ford is withdrawn in the 2nd half.

You think Tuilagi will do 80?

Joseph's on the bench as well.

Mind, that will mean that Ford gets subbed 45 minutes in for Joseph so we can have Tuilagi at 12, and then Devoto will get 3 minutes at the end when Manu come soff.

Puja

Well that’s my excitement about this game cut in half. Cheers buddy.

[p/d]

You think Tuilagi will do 80?

Joseph's on the bench as well.

Mind, that will mean that Ford gets subbed 45 minutes in for Joseph so we can have Tuilagi at 12, and then Devoto will get 3 minutes at the end when Manu come soff.

Puja

With a debutant FB and no competent back-three cover???

long time moaning of Daly at fb, questioning Billy and touting Devoto ..... and still not happy

[Mikey Brown]

Also how good would it have been to see if Dombrandt could do his thing in this game?

EJ you’re a tosspot, much as you’re doing a lot of things right.

[Freddo]

I'd rather Daly went back to the wing but is it more likely Thorley is brought in over Furbank? Haven't seen much of either player so who is the guy in form?

Thorley looks more ready for international rugby. He's older, in his second season, and more physically robust, so I'd probably pick him.

On the other hand, Furbank is an actual full-back, which is something of a novelty for us. Hell of a baptism of fire though.

Puja

Furbank it is then. Glad a 15 is at 15 but it is a massive game for him. Good luck to the lad.

Is there really no other Number 8s out there who could do what Billy does? I know Nathan Hughes was found wanting at international level but I just don't get why we are changing the fantastic 6 and 7 axis we have had with Curry and Underhill.

[jngf]

Ewels is OK. Nothing flash but he does the basics well and is a real workhorse. He'll be fine and its good that he gets a start in a very demanding fixture.
Big test for Furbank but sometimes you have to trust in a young player. Same applies to Stuart who has got the nod over Williams. He'll get on, its just a matter of how long he gets.
We've covered Curry at 8 and Lawes at 6 and i still fail to see why we're putting ourselves into such a position when alternatives were available.
The bench is - LCD, Genge, Stuart, Kruis, Ludlam, Heinz, Devoto and Joseph
That should mean some game time for Devoto when inevitably Ford is withdrawn in the 2nd half.

Ewels is too lightweight for my tastes and 2/3 of backrow is a joke. Tom May on RFU website was fawning all over this selection just like much of rugby press especially Telegraph’s Mick Cleary who appears to be a real RFU Yes man. Where do they get such corporate stooges from? - have they considered careers in politics? Stephen Jones may have some Uber wacky opinions but at least he isn’t a Twickers mouthpiece unlike aforementioned!

[Puja]

You think Tuilagi will do 80?

Joseph's on the bench as well.

Mind, that will mean that Ford gets subbed 45 minutes in for Joseph so we can have Tuilagi at 12, and then Devoto will get 3 minutes at the end when Manu come soff.

Puja

Well that’s my excitement about this game cut in half. Cheers buddy.

No charge!

Overall, the selection is exciting - we've still got Ford at 10 (I was concerned that the RWC final was going to be his fault and we'd be stuck with Farrell at 10 forever), it's a bold decision at full-back which we'll learn something useful from, and it's great to see Stuart over Williams. Just wish we weren't trying a lock at 6 for the 20th time on the basis of "Maybe it'll work this time".

Puja

[p/d]

Ewels is an absolute grafter. Can he slip into 8 for certain plays?

[Oakboy]

Joseph's on the bench as well.

Mind, that will mean that Ford gets subbed 45 minutes in for Joseph so we can have Tuilagi at 12, and then Devoto will get 3 minutes at the end when Manu come soff.

Puja

With a debutant FB and no competent back-three cover???

long time moaning of Daly at fb, questioning Billy and touting Devoto ..... and still not happy

Er, I've never touted Devoto. Thorley would be better on the bench, IMO. The other two points I'll own up to.

[Puja]

I'd rather Daly went back to the wing but is it more likely Thorley is brought in over Furbank? Haven't seen much of either player so who is the guy in form?

Thorley looks more ready for international rugby. He's older, in his second season, and more physically robust, so I'd probably pick him.

On the other hand, Furbank is an actual full-back, which is something of a novelty for us. Hell of a baptism of fire though.

Puja

Furbank it is then. Glad a 15 is at 15 but it is a massive game for him. Good luck to the lad.

Is there really no other Number 8s out there who could do what Billy does? I know Nathan Hughes was found wanting at international level but I just don't get why we are changing the fantastic 6 and 7 axis we have had with Curry and Underhill.

Dombrandt could in theory, but he has a fairly crap autumn and winter and looked to be suffering from second season syndrome, with selection for Quins being in doubt, let alone for England. He had one good game before the squad was announced (still with plenty of flaws) and then one belter after he was not selected, so public opinion is that Eddie's a tit for not picking him, but I can't say as I blame him.

Leaving out Simmonds though is a shocker.

Puja

[Puja]

Ewels is an absolute grafter. Can he slip into 8 for certain plays?

He has at least played there for his club before.

.
.
.

Actually, that would be entertaining if Eddie's just been f*cking around and it turns out Ewels is packing at 8 with Lawtoje at 4 and 5.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Is there really no other Number 8s out there who could do what Billy does? I know Nathan Hughes was found wanting at international level but I just don't get why we are changing the fantastic 6 and 7 axis we have had with Curry and Underhill.

I don't think there's another #8 in world rugby, who does what Billy does.
If this is a signal that we're looking to see how we can use a completely different style of #8, then I'm all in favour; and if there's a right time to try such an experiment, then it's now. I don't like it, of course, and would rather have an actual #8 in there, but we've all had time to get used to that idea.
If the plan is to reach a backrow of Hill, Underill, Curry; but doing it in stages, then... fair enough I guess.
I'm more upset by a lock at flank than by a flanker at 8

[Oakboy]

I think the debuts will be overshadowed by the lack of backrow/bench balance. Unfortunate, that. Still, we have experience at 9/21 by way of compensation

[Peej]

Can’t believe you left Worsley v Wales out of your list of successes

We may have lost that game, but didn't Melon Head get man of the match that day? His job was to get off the back of the scrum and chop down Jamie Roberts, which he did continuously.

Different game. 2009 motm and 2005(?) played 8 with Hazell and Jones

Ta!

[Scrumhead]

Yeah - I feel the same. Just when I thought we’d learned that locks at 6 doesn’t work, there goes Eddie Jones AGAIN ... just infuriating when I actually like all of the other selection calls.

[Peej]

Presumably Joseph to wing and Daly to fullback if things aren't going well for Furbank?

[Stom]

Is there really no other Number 8s out there who could do what Billy does? I know Nathan Hughes was found wanting at international level but I just don't get why we are changing the fantastic 6 and 7 axis we have had with Curry and Underhill.

I don't think there's another #8 in world rugby, who does what Billy does.
If this is a signal that we're looking to see how we can use a completely different style of #8, then I'm all in favour; and if there's a right time to try such an experiment, then it's now. I don't like it, of course, and would rather have an actual #8 in there, but we've all had time to get used to that idea.
If the plan is to reach a backrow of Hill, Underill, Curry; but doing it in stages, then... fair enough I guess.
I'm more upset by a lock at flank than by a flanker at 8

Yeah...

Look, I understand it. France have 2 pretty immobile locks and 3 giant backrowers.

Curry at 8 could, in theory, give you a huge advantage in moving quickly around the pitch. Especially with Itoje and Lawes who are very good at getting around the pitch.

But then you go and stick Lawes at 6... and lose a backrower...and completely negate any potential advantage! I mean, what!!!

You're not exactly going to lose in D with any of the actual backrowers at 6. Especially if Lawes is then at 4. But no, we have a lock at 6 again and a chance to show that France can negate their mobility issues.

Clusterfuck.

[Banquo]

Yeah - I feel the same. Just when I thought we’d learned that locks at 6 doesn’t work, there goes Eddie Jones AGAIN ... just infuriating when I actually like all of the other selection calls.

You like Ewels at lock, Curry at 8, Youngs/Heinz, and Faz at 12, with two centres on the bench?