France vs England - 2.15pm Saturday

[Puja]

France: Jacquet; Boujard, Filopon, Vernier, M Menager; Drouin, Sansus; Deshayes, Sochat, Joyeux, Fall, Forlani, Ferer, Hermet (capt), R Menager.
Replacements: Touye, Lindelhauf, Brosseau, Annery, Gros, Chambon, Tremouliere, Boulard.

England: Rowland; Thompson, Scarratt (capt), Aitchison, Breach; Harrison, Infante; Cornborough, Davies, Bern, Aldcroft, Ward, Matthews, Packer, Cleall.
Replacements: Cokayne, Botterman, Muir, Galligan, Beckett, Kabeya, Hunt, Kildunne.

[Puja]

Looking forward to this one. I always find the other England games in the Women's 6N to be hard to watch, because we know the winner before the game starts; it's just a question of how convincing the win is. This one is the big test though and I'm really excited to watch us go toe-to-toe.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Yep, me too. My weekend is organised around this match.

[Mellsblue]

[fivepointer]

This should be a proper match.
England far too good for the other teams but France will pose quite a challenge.

[francoisfou]

The game's at Bayonne's Stade Jean Dauger, where the French crowd'll be very vocal.
Has the makings of a belter and not to be missed!

[Mr Mwenda]

Very much looking forward to this. Come on England!

[Mellsblue]

Nervy start.

[Mellsblue]

Strike that…. bad start.

[Mr Mwenda]

Yes, that penalty was a shocker. Not used to being tested like this.

I hope that menager gets a hattrick so we can have menager trois.

[Mellsblue]

Generous interpretation on whether that ruck became stationary.

[Mr Mwenda]

Agreed, France can feel aggrieved.

Much better play in the lead up though.

[Mellsblue]

Kick receipt in the backfield is unbelievably bad.

[Mr Mwenda]

Fortunately the French line out and discipline bare also poor.

[Mellsblue]

Fortunately the French line out and discipline bare also poor.

Agreed. Lots of appealing to/at Davidson….. it’s not a surprise she might be favouring Eng.

[Danno]

Is the TMO asleep?

[Mellsblue]

Big defence there. I was sure a couple of those mauls were going to lead to a try.

[Mr Mwenda]

Yes, well judged defensive decisions by England. France ran out of patience and blew it.

[Mr Mwenda]

England managed the sinbin period bloody well. France, not so much.

[Danno]

I love commentary when Cokayne is playing

[Mr Mwenda]

England will have mixed feelings. Good to win (presumably) but backs did very little and that is a concern.

Great block from Thompson.

[Mellsblue]

Yep, the only time they made any metres was Scarratt on the scissors. Aitchison is a big step down from Rowland who, based on today, is wasted at 15.

[fivepointer]

England had to work very hard for that. France had enough possession and good positions to have won.
Our backs are a bit toothless. Get Rowland at 10 and bring in a more direct hard running inside centre.

[I R Geech]

Fortunately the French line out and discipline bare also poor.

Agreed. Lots of appealing to/at Davidson….. it’s not a surprise she might be favouring Eng.

Don’t be so ridiculous. Her own professionalism aside the auld alliance between France and Scotland still means something.

[Mellsblue]