Stade de France Saturday 19th March

[FKAS]

Scott Robertson or Andy Farrell, then. Who's your money on? The dream ticket of course would be an all-Wigan panel of Farrell, Edwards and Gleeson, but that's so Northern I think rugby union would explode.

Gleeson is going to be lucky to keep his job after the absolute dire mess that has been our attack this 6N.

I have no idea what's going on with this selection. It's going to be a kick fest against a team capable of going length of the field if we mess up on a kick chase/kick.

Sinckler on the bench? Either he's fit or he's not. Launchbury out of the squad entirely? Steward on the wing? It's not going to be a fun game for us.

[Peej]

There's no way Chessum is a better pick than Launchers.

[tigran]

Barring training injuries, general mishaps, covid, scrumpox and any other undesirable infections, the French team to confront England will probably be:

Starting XV: Jaminet; Villière, Danty, Fickou, Penaud; Ntamack, Dupont; Alldritt, Cros, Jelonch, Woki, Willemse, Baille, Marchand, Atonio.

Les finisseurs: Mauvaka, Gros, Haouas, Taofifenua, Flament, Cretin, Lucu, Ramos. (the bench was 5:3 in Cardiff, but Galthié will surely revert to 6:2 next Saturday).

While there are no obvious weaknesses in their playing ability, mentally they will be vulnerable, as they usually are before playing England. Their fickle supporters will be expecting a Grand Slam but if England can force some mistakes and get the French crowd to start whistling and jeering, a surprise could be on the cards.
This match is tailor-made for a Brian Moore type of player, one who gets under the oppo's skin and persistently niggles. Genge is capable of doing this but he's equally capable of seeing the red mist, which wouldn't be very productive.
This has the makings of a fascinating match and could be as tight as a "cul de canard"!!

Cliché from english pundits that they no longer believe themselves..
The french public believe again and will support this team whatever thé outcome

[tigran]

We are going to get taken roughly, without lubrication. France have had their scare and their poor performance against Wales and their coaching team will be making sure that there is no repeat. Meanwhile, England were in disarray before one of their best players and their only openside in the squad was ruled out. And, if that wasn't bad enough, Charlie Ewels is going to be banned and unavailable!

We will not get within 20 points.

Puja

I stand by my original prediction after seeing that team.

Puja

This is à bunch of very good players

[tigran]

From the BBC article:
Capture.PNG

It's not a surprise tactical switch BBC. It is the most boring, most obvious, most retrograde thing we could possibly do - giving up any thoughts of being a fully functional rugby team in favour of lumping the ball high to our tallest bloke, like an U11s basketball team.

Sack Jones.

Puja

This is no surprise, it's probably thé Best tactic against us

[TheDasher]

I like Furbank, lovely footballer, quick, good vision etc. But is he a better fullback than the other fly-half / full-back option, Max Malins?

[Spiffy]

From the BBC article:
Capture.PNG

It's not a surprise tactical switch BBC. It is the most boring, most obvious, most retrograde thing we could possibly do - giving up any thoughts of being a fully functional rugby team in favour of lumping the ball high to our tallest bloke, like an U11s basketball team.

Sack Jones.

Puja

This is no surprise, it's probably thé Best tactic against us

Not sure that it is, but even if it is, it's a very limited tactic. A tall bloke, even Steward, is no guarantee of securing the high ball. Set against that is his lack of experience and speed on the wing. He could potentially be well skinned by either French wing, the best pair in the 6N.

[Timbo]

It’s not the team I would have gone for, and like everyone else can’t say I’m brimming with confidence. BUT, do disagree with some on here that targeting kicking, kick chase and aerial battle against this French team is ‘retrograde’ or negative. Only have to look at the French stats to see that kicking to regather and disrupt and playing off the broken field it creates is integral to their attacking strategy. And defensively their back 3 have been pretty vulnerable in the air. You’ve got to play to your strengths, and we have a giant that is great under the high ball while they have a couple of short arses. That said, surely it’s not beyond the wit of Jones/Gleeson to utilise Steward’s aerial ability in attack while still keeping him at fullback.

Like Blamire, not sure why Launchbury was brought in to much fanfare last week, given minimal time and jettisoned this week. Although he did look a tad rotund I thought. With Isiekwe, Lawes, Itoje & Chessum all in the 23 we must be hoping to go after their lineout.

[morepork]

France: don' t kick it back and skin the fuckers with ball in hand.

Jones gets worse the longer he is in charge. How the fuck can England be reduced to that backline with the player resources at their disposal.

[Danno]

That said, surely it’s not beyond the wit of Jones/Gleeson to utilise Steward’s aerial ability in attack while still keeping him at fullback.

And yet here we are after 4 consecutive starts with Steward at 15, and mighty few breaks or tries to show for it.

Not having a pop, I'm just done giving the coaching team the benefit of the doubt

[p/d]

So Furbank in because there is nobody better at returning those long kicks. Still not convinced that is a tactical master stroke

Big game needed from Isiekwe. Yet to be convinced he is a test match animal. For me Lawes looked excellent back at lock, where he should be. Launch looked really flat footed when he came on last week, unfortunately.

Simmonds and Underhill need to be right on it and we need more of the same from Nowell.
Genge is now a confirmed leader, expecting another big game, George to step up a gear - really not keen to see the Aussie tour guide making an early appearance - and as for Stuart, well, needs his rugby and not his mullet to be the talking point.

[Puja]

So Furbank in because there is nobody better at returning those long kicks. Still not convinced that is a tactical master stroke.

To be fair, Steward's not had a great 6N. I'm still reeling from him against Ireland catching an overhit kick, failing to make up his mind whether to run, pass, or kick across 10 metres and eventually run out of time and mishit a kick to the centre of the park and straight down the full-back's throat for an easy counter.

Note, that's not to say he's a bad player or that he deserved to be dropped, but to say he is only young and Furbank's possibly a better bet in terms of decision-making and effective returning of kicks rn.

Puja

[Danno]

So Furbank in because there is nobody better at returning those long kicks. Still not convinced that is a tactical master stroke.

To be fair, Steward's not had a great 6N. I'm still reeling from him against Ireland catching an overhit kick, failing to make up his mind whether to run, pass, or kick across 10 metres and eventually run out of time and mishit a kick to the centre of the park and straight down the full-back's throat for an easy counter.

Note, that's not to say he's a bad player or that he deserved to be dropped, but to say he is only young and Furbank's possibly a better bet in terms of decision-making and effective returning of kicks rn.

Puja

To be fair, Steward has Ford yelling at him at his club for those decisions. Furbank will find himself in similar situations and I'm not convinced he'll perform any better in the face of the France brass band without a barking conductor, which Smith is not, yet. I'd have like Ford and Daly to start this one, Smith and Nowell on the bench. But there's plenty of nonsense elsewhere to nullify that anyway.

Prepare thy anus, for France is going in dry.

[Oakboy]

The assumption appears to be that Furbank will just be fielding kicks all evening. Might defensive, tackling duties not be part of the requirement of a FB v France? I'd prefer Steward in that role.

[FKAS]

There's no way Chessum is a better pick than Launchers.

Well the lock selection seems to be lineout focussed and Chessum is good at stealing lineouts.

I think we'd all have had Itoje, Launchbury, Lawes as the combination had we picked. Lawes and Itoje go after the lineout in the air and Launchbury does his anti-maul thing he does. I suspect Launchbury offers more shive come scrum time which we might need with Antonio and Willemse in the French side.

[Mikey Brown]

Does Sinkler’s rest period from concussion expire at half time or something?

This feels like Eddie’s built his selection around a couple of very specific sequences of play, that France would have to engage with to be effective. I hope they don’t cheat and show Steward up for not being a winger.

It’s still funny to me that he publicly criticised Lancaster for playing Robshaw at 7 and er, Mike Brown on the wing, then come 2018 he’d done both, albeit for different reasons. This doesn’t feel miles off that.

[p/d]

So Furbank in because there is nobody better at returning those long kicks. Still not convinced that is a tactical master stroke.

To be fair, Steward's not had a great 6N. I'm still reeling from him against Ireland catching an overhit kick, failing to make up his mind whether to run, pass, or kick across 10 metres and eventually run out of time and mishit a kick to the centre of the park and straight down the full-back's throat for an easy counter.

Note, that's not to say he's a bad player or that he deserved to be dropped, but to say he is only young and Furbank's possibly a better bet in terms of decision-making and effective returning of kicks rn.

Puja

Agree regards Steward. And I actually think Furbank’s main attribute is coming into the line and general work rate. That said still find it unsettling that we are so, well, unsettled that we are tinkering game to game. Just hope it proves more successful than the Welsh Adams at 13 game plan

[tigran]

From the BBC article:
Capture.PNG

It's not a surprise tactical switch BBC. It is the most boring, most obvious, most retrograde thing we could possibly do - giving up any thoughts of being a fully functional rugby team in favour of lumping the ball high to our tallest bloke, like an U11s basketball team.

Sack Jones.

Puja

This is no surprise, it's probably thé Best tactic against us

Not sure that it is, but even if it is, it's a very limited tactic. A tall bloke, even Steward, is no guarantee of securing the high ball. Set against that is his lack of experience and speed on the wing. He could potentially be well skinned by either French wing, the best pair in the 6N.

They will just try an do what the welsh have done to us, nearly succeeding... They won't be easy to break I guess, and feed on our mistakes, without running the ball that is to say playing in our hands... It's understandable.

I hope Jaminet has got few training sessions under the high ball..

[badback]

This is depressing.

Here’s some therapy. That video of 2001-2003…

[Danno]

This is depressing.

Here’s some therapy. That video of 2001-2003…

All you've done is make me feel old(er)!

[badback]

This is depressing.

Here’s some therapy. That video of 2001-2003…

All you've done is make me feel old(er)!

Wiser

[Spiffy]

This is no surprise, it's probably thé Best tactic against us

Not sure that it is, but even if it is, it's a very limited tactic. A tall bloke, even Steward, is no guarantee of securing the high ball. Set against that is his lack of experience and speed on the wing. He could potentially be well skinned by either French wing, the best pair in the 6N.

They will just try an do what the welsh have done to us, nearly succeeding... They won't be easy to break I guess, and feed on our mistakes, without running the ball that is to say playing in our hands... It's understandable.

I hope Jaminet has got few training sessions under the high ball..

I don't think Jaminet is as bad in this department as made out. Everyone drops a few every now and then. His general play and goal kicking tend to balance it out. Jones has mentioned that France kick the ball more than anyone when in possession. But they don't have to do that. If they are smart they will run the ball all day against England. They have the backs to do it. England will be committed to a kicking game themselves since their backs do not pose much of a threat with ball in hand against a very tough French defence. I doubt that France will be as sloppy as they were against the Welsh with a home advantage and the grand slam on the line.

[francoisfou]

Hmm! When did Eddie pick a team without any odd selections? I’ve not see much if Stuart at tight-head, so can’t really comment, but his opposite number, Baille is a good ‘un. Still, Eddie knows best, doesn’t he?

[Dan. Dan. Dan.]

Hmm! When did Eddie pick a team without any odd selections? I’ve not see much if Stuart at tight-head, so can’t really comment, but his opposite number, Baille is a good ‘un. Still, Eddie knows best, doesn’t he?

The Scotland game we were all pleasantly surprised!
I do still wonder if this is just all part of the World Cup planning for unsettling the XV as a forced experiment. But honestly I'm just bored of all that now. I think he must be at risk of losing the dressing room...

[Mellsblue]

Hmm! When did Eddie pick a team without any odd selections? I’ve not see much if Stuart at tight-head, so can’t really comment, but his opposite number, Baille is a good ‘un. Still, Eddie knows best, doesn’t he?

The Scotland game we were all pleasantly surprised!
I do still wonder if this is just all part of the World Cup planning for unsettling the XV as a forced experiment. But honestly I'm just bored of all that now. I think he must be at risk of losing the dressing room...

He’s unsettling me.