Team for France

[Epaminondas Pules]

Good point well made.

Well considering Jones said as such with regards to his selection to the final. He didn’t blame Ford, just said the selection and performance in the semi final had altered his mind.

And pack wise Mako isn’t fit so Marler starts anyway and other than that Ewels into the second row (where Lawes started) and Lawes to 6 Curry to 8. Its hardly like he’s added massive ballast to ensure that the previous scrum beasting doesn’t happen again. And to be fair a large amount came through the tighthead side where hopefully the only major difference is that Sinkler doesn’t go to head knock induced sleep after a couple of minutes.

Mako is 'rested' I'd read; and Lawes provides major ballast on the flank (where SA had a huge weight advantage both sides) where it counts for the props, plus lineout extras, plus a pseudo PSDT in the loose. I read it as a set piece beef up- plus be interesting to see what Lawes role in the loose is.

Yeah course it does! It’s nothing to do with balancing the lack of Billy with a bigger 6. The blasting of the scrum was predominantly on the tighthead side so a slightly larger blindside and smaller 8 does what exactly?

[Banquo]

Well yes. It was going to be suboptimal regardless with the loss of Billy. I'm happy with what he's selected. You're not. The middle bit is kind of moot as Willis isn't in the squad and neither are alternative scrum halves or Dombrandt, so in terms of team selection mean little in practice. EJ could have changed the midfield to something untested, or go with what he knows for the first game of the six nations away in Paris. I'm more than happy with the midfield that has worked well in the past. Furbank is a brave call, especially as his high ball hasn't shown to be a major upgrade from Daly. Think I'd have gone with Thorley and retained Daly. but fair fucks to him. Daly should be fine on the right wing.

And yes hate is maybe a strong word, but this board does read like Daily Mail comments whenever the name Farrell is mentioned. Though it is kind of amusing to see adults vent spleens just because some frankly moronic journalist wrote some bollocks about him in a newspaper somewhere. You can almost feel the anger in the key presses.

I’m struggling with the concept that you ask me for alternatives but reject them because Eddie didn’t put them in the initial squad. You are then saying he’s made the best of the selection options he gave himself, and there we disagree. On Faz- meh, he's just a player with some good and some ordinary skills who works hard, over-rated generally, think you are slightly overreacting the other way.

Btw on the midfield indeed he could have risked untested as he has in the back row and back three!

I’m struggling with the fact that you don’t seem to be able to grasp the restrictions of the squad, judge me on the restrictions of said squad, and base your opinions on a squad that hasn’t been selected, but hey ho.

I'm just struggling now....you asked me who I'd have selected and I told you- You then said well they aren't in the squad so its moot. I said consistently that view and your expectation and hence 'happiness' was based on the 'restrictions' of Eddies squad (even if I disagree- if that's 'judging' then gee whizz). The restrictions of the squad are those placed by Eddie,

Kinda circular. Lets start again- would you have picked a different initial squad?

[Banquo]

Well considering Jones said as such with regards to his selection to the final. He didn’t blame Ford, just said the selection and performance in the semi final had altered his mind.

And pack wise Mako isn’t fit so Marler starts anyway and other than that Ewels into the second row (where Lawes started) and Lawes to 6 Curry to 8. Its hardly like he’s added massive ballast to ensure that the previous scrum beasting doesn’t happen again. And to be fair a large amount came through the tighthead side where hopefully the only major difference is that Sinkler doesn’t go to head knock induced sleep after a couple of minutes.

Mako is 'rested' I'd read; and Lawes provides major ballast on the flank (where SA had a huge weight advantage both sides) where it counts for the props, plus lineout extras, plus a pseudo PSDT in the loose. I read it as a set piece beef up- plus be interesting to see what Lawes role in the loose is.

Yeah course it does! It’s nothing to do with balancing the lack of Billy with a bigger 6. The blasting of the scrum was predominantly on the tighthead side so a slightly larger blindside and smaller 8 does what exactly?

A much larger blindside (10kg) will definitely help out a prop, either side of the pitch/scrum. I also note Marler's selection, and as I'd said, Mako was 'rested'. Also, its an acknowledgement that we need beef in Billy's absence. Not sure why you are aerated- it would make sense to look at addressing the obvious issues we faced v SA.

[Epaminondas Pules]

I’m struggling with the concept that you ask me for alternatives but reject them because Eddie didn’t put them in the initial squad. You are then saying he’s made the best of the selection options he gave himself, and there we disagree. On Faz- meh, he's just a player with some good and some ordinary skills who works hard, over-rated generally, think you are slightly overreacting the other way.

Btw on the midfield indeed he could have risked untested as he has in the back row and back three!

I’m struggling with the fact that you don’t seem to be able to grasp the restrictions of the squad, judge me on the restrictions of said squad, and base your opinions on a squad that hasn’t been selected, but hey ho.

I'm just struggling now....you asked me who I'd have selected and I told you- You then said well they aren't in the squad so its moot. I said consistently that view and your expectation and hence 'happiness' was based on the 'restrictions' of Eddies squad (even if I disagree- if that's 'judging' then gee whizz). The restrictions of the squad are those placed by Eddie,

Kinda circular. Lets start again- would you have picked a different initial squad?

What struggling from picking from those actually available in the squad? It’s hardly difficult mate. There’s a squad and you pick for it.

[Banquo]

I’m struggling with the fact that you don’t seem to be able to grasp the restrictions of the squad, judge me on the restrictions of said squad, and base your opinions on a squad that hasn’t been selected, but hey ho.

I'm just struggling now....you asked me who I'd have selected and I told you- You then said well they aren't in the squad so its moot. I said consistently that view and your expectation and hence 'happiness' was based on the 'restrictions' of Eddies squad (even if I disagree- if that's 'judging' then gee whizz). The restrictions of the squad are those placed by Eddie,

Kinda circular. Lets start again- would you have picked a different initial squad?

What struggling from picking from those actually available in the squad? It’s hardly difficult mate. There’s a squad and you pick for it.

Struggling that you seem to be deliberately missing my point.

[Epaminondas Pules]

I'm just struggling now....you asked me who I'd have selected and I told you- You then said well they aren't in the squad so its moot. I said consistently that view and your expectation and hence 'happiness' was based on the 'restrictions' of Eddies squad (even if I disagree- if that's 'judging' then gee whizz). The restrictions of the squad are those placed by Eddie,

Kinda circular. Lets start again- would you have picked a different initial squad?

What struggling from picking from those actually available in the squad? It’s hardly difficult mate. There’s a squad and you pick for it.

Struggling that you seem to be deliberately missing my point.

That you’ll judge me on the actual squad and then pick from players not included in said squad?

[Timbo]

Quite excited to see Sinckler and Stuart as a one-two punch at tight head. Stuart, LCD, Genge, Kruis and Ludlam off the bench is serious strength and if used correctly by Eddie should/could be the winning of the game.

[Banquo]

What struggling from picking from those actually available in the squad? It’s hardly difficult mate. There’s a squad and you pick for it.

Struggling that you seem to be deliberately missing my point.

That you’ll judge me on the actual squad and then pick from players not included in said squad?

I'm not 'judging' you. You simply asked me who i'd select instead of the players you are 'happy' with- I went to the players broadly available....as you didn't say, oh and they have to be from the training squad (unless I missed that)....because I was asking the broader question of why you were happy. As it happens, I also disagree- as I was also clear- with selecting Lawes at 6, I'd have gone with one of the specialist back rows instead, I had no choice in your conditions between Youngs and Heinz, and I'd have gone Manu and JJ in midfield and Faz to bench. I don't understand why this is a tricky concept, but to try and move forward asked you what your unconstrained view would be, fitness permitting. Clearly a misunderstanding- and its only opinions, though I do think Lawes at 6 to be questionable

[Digby]

Not picking Hill seems a big waste of a chance, even before it's going back to a selection that doesn't tend to work for us

[Mr Mwenda]

The team seems reflective of Jones' approach throughout. Evolution preferred to revolution. I can see the logic. Time in camp is clearly important to EJ (to be fair if it's not why have a coach?) so he prefers a lock at 6 and Curry at 8 to having too many people who have been out of the loop.

I'm intrigued to see how this team gels. C'mon england!

[Digby]

It annoys me I'm more intrigued to see how France gel, and I'm not as excited about France as I was before Dupont had to withdraw from the game

[Stom]

It annoys me I'm more intrigued to see how France gel, and I'm not as excited about France as I was before Dupont had to withdraw from the game

Wait, Dupont is missing too? That's a big blow after Penaud. Who starts at 9, then?

[p/d]

I'm intrigued to see how this team gels. C'mon england!

I’m intrigued to see if Ewels drops into 8 for certain plays, hoping the replacement front row get a full 30 mins and praying Furbank shows he has the game at a international level.

And, it goes without saying, looking forward to quoting the Daily Mail tomorrow

[Digby]

It annoys me I'm more intrigued to see how France gel, and I'm not as excited about France as I was before Dupont had to withdraw from the game

Wait, Dupont is missing too? That's a big blow after Penaud. Who starts at 9, then?

Always possible it's only Penaud who's missing. A near empty bottle of Cointreau suggests my memory of last night (and reading a story on the phone pretending to listen to people at the dining table) might not be all it could

[p/d]

It annoys me I'm more intrigued to see how France gel, and I'm not as excited about France as I was before Dupont had to withdraw from the game

Wait, Dupont is missing too? That's a big blow after Penaud. Who starts at 9, then?

Don’t think so

[Digby]

It annoys me I'm more intrigued to see how France gel, and I'm not as excited about France as I was before Dupont had to withdraw from the game

Wait, Dupont is missing too? That's a big blow after Penaud. Who starts at 9, then?

Always possible it's only Penaud who's missing. A near empty bottle of Cointreau suggests my memory of last night (and reading a story on the phone pretending to listen to people at the dining table) might not be all it could

Yep, complete brain fail on my part. I even had in mind it was the winger missing and still came up with the wrong name this morning. I'll put some coffee on

[Banquo]

Wait, Dupont is missing too? That's a big blow after Penaud. Who starts at 9, then?

Always possible it's only Penaud who's missing. A near empty bottle of Cointreau suggests my memory of last night (and reading a story on the phone pretending to listen to people at the dining table) might not be all it could

Yep, complete brain fail on my part. I even had in mind it was the winger missing and still came up with the wrong name this morning. I'll put some coffee on

I'd suggest the brain fail was pre-Cointreau

[Digby]

Always possible it's only Penaud who's missing. A near empty bottle of Cointreau suggests my memory of last night (and reading a story on the phone pretending to listen to people at the dining table) might not be all it could

Yep, complete brain fail on my part. I even had in mind it was the winger missing and still came up with the wrong name this morning. I'll put some coffee on

I'd suggest the brain fail was pre-Cointreau

you think it was the port? could be, could be

[morepork]

So. You gonna pump them or what?

[Which Tyler]

Okay, apparently the Mareillies has got me over my RWC hangover.
Properly excited about a match for the first time since the final

[jngf]

Curry just flattened in the carry!

[jngf]

Curry is pants at no.8 (quelle surprise?)

[Mr Mwenda]

Gordon Bennett, Youngs is so slow at times.

Itoje is working his arse off.

[morepork]

Ben Youngs....one o'clock half struck.

[Which Tyler]

Fazlet dislocated shoulder?