Leicester vs Exeter

[Banquo]

What was the 2nd of the 3?

I was making allowances for anything I'd forgotten or never seen (of course, some would put 2003 final, or the 2003 Wellington matches up there as well, with good cause, but I don't think they were as good in terms of performance).
Personally I'd put NZ and Ire 2019 as the best 2 England performances I've ever seen

England v Ireland 2003 would be up there, also England v Oz 2003 not the RWC final.

[Oakboy]

What was the 2nd of the 3?

I was making allowances for anything I'd forgotten or never seen (of course, some would put 2003 final, or the 2003 Wellington matches up there as well, with good cause, but I don't think they were as good in terms of performance).
Personally I'd put NZ and Ire 2019 as the best 2 England performances I've ever seen

England v Ireland 2003 would be up there, also England v Oz 2003 not the RWC final.

What about France in 2003 when in the build-up the much heralded French back row was going to tear us apart? Hill, Back and Dallaglio put in one of the best ever performances by a back-row unit.

[Mikey Brown]

I was making allowances for anything I'd forgotten or never seen (of course, some would put 2003 final, or the 2003 Wellington matches up there as well, with good cause, but I don't think they were as good in terms of performance).
Personally I'd put NZ and Ire 2019 as the best 2 England performances I've ever seen

England v Ireland 2003 would be up there, also England v Oz 2003 not the RWC final.

What about France in 2003 when in the build-up the much heralded French back row was going to tear us apart? Hill, Back and Dallaglio put in one of the best ever performances by a back-row unit.

Has JNGF hacked your account?

[Oakboy]

England v Ireland 2003 would be up there, also England v Oz 2003 not the RWC final.

What about France in 2003 when in the build-up the much heralded French back row was going to tear us apart? Hill, Back and Dallaglio put in one of the best ever performances by a back-row unit.

Has JNGF hacked your account?

The poor sod does not have a monopoly on liking good back-row play. It's just not an obsession for most of us.

[Digby]

What was the 2nd of the 3?

I was making allowances for anything I'd forgotten or never seen (of course, some would put 2003 final, or the 2003 Wellington matches up there as well, with good cause, but I don't think they were as good in terms of performance).
Personally I'd put NZ and Ire 2019 as the best 2 England performances I've ever seen

England v Ireland 2003 would be up there, also England v Oz 2003 not the RWC final.

I was interested in the thought'd he's started 8 out of the last 10 matches and 2 of those 8 were among the best ever performances.

[Banquo]

I was making allowances for anything I'd forgotten or never seen (of course, some would put 2003 final, or the 2003 Wellington matches up there as well, with good cause, but I don't think they were as good in terms of performance).
Personally I'd put NZ and Ire 2019 as the best 2 England performances I've ever seen

England v Ireland 2003 would be up there, also England v Oz 2003 not the RWC final.

What about France in 2003 when in the build-up the much heralded French back row was going to tear us apart? Hill, Back and Dallaglio put in one of the best ever performances by a back-row unit.

In the 6N? Cos the back row in the 6N was Moody, Back and Hill. If you mean the RWC semi, we did what we needed to, Hill did well to cope after injury.

[Oakboy]

England v Ireland 2003 would be up there, also England v Oz 2003 not the RWC final.

What about France in 2003 when in the build-up the much heralded French back row was going to tear us apart? Hill, Back and Dallaglio put in one of the best ever performances by a back-row unit.

In the 6N? Cos the back row in the 6N was Moody, Back and Hill. If you mean the RWC semi, we did what we needed to, Hill did well to cope after injury.

I meant the RWC SF against Betsen, Magne and Harinordoquy. I seem to remember one of them getting replaced fairly early so comprehensively were they outplayed. In the build-up, punditry were adamant that the French unit was the best in the world and that ours would get outplayed.

[Banquo]

What about France in 2003 when in the build-up the much heralded French back row was going to tear us apart? Hill, Back and Dallaglio put in one of the best ever performances by a back-row unit.

In the 6N? Cos the back row in the 6N was Moody, Back and Hill. If you mean the RWC semi, we did what we needed to, Hill did well to cope after injury.

I meant the RWC SF against Betsen, Magne and Harinordoquy. I seem to remember one of them getting replaced fairly early so comprehensively were they outplayed. In the build-up, punditry were adamant that the French unit was the best in the world and that ours would get outplayed.

Really, don't remember that.

[Puja]

In the 6N? Cos the back row in the 6N was Moody, Back and Hill. If you mean the RWC semi, we did what we needed to, Hill did well to cope after injury.

I meant the RWC SF against Betsen, Magne and Harinordoquy. I seem to remember one of them getting replaced fairly early so comprehensively were they outplayed. In the build-up, punditry were adamant that the French unit was the best in the world and that ours would get outplayed.

Really, don't remember that.

I remember concern because France had played a game around 2002 (ish?) where they beat us by their entire back row rushing (and occasionally cheap-shotting) Wilkinson. I don't remember any real concern that France would beat us though or that they were the best back row in the world.

Puja

[Digby]

I meant the RWC SF against Betsen, Magne and Harinordoquy. I seem to remember one of them getting replaced fairly early so comprehensively were they outplayed. In the build-up, punditry were adamant that the French unit was the best in the world and that ours would get outplayed.

Really, don't remember that.

I remember concern because France had played a game around 2002 (ish?) where they beat us by their entire back row rushing (and occasionally cheap-shotting) Wilkinson. I don't remember any real concern that France would beat us though or that they were the best back row in the world.

Puja

It didn't help Jonny that rather than try to avoid the French back row he basically went looking for Betsen, Jonny rather lost the plot in that loss to France

[Banquo]

Really, don't remember that.

I remember concern because France had played a game around 2002 (ish?) where they beat us by their entire back row rushing (and occasionally cheap-shotting) Wilkinson. I don't remember any real concern that France would beat us though or that they were the best back row in the world.

Puja

It didn't help Jonny that rather than try to avoid the French back row he basically went looking for Betsen, Jonny rather lost the plot in that loss to France

Yep to both.

[Oakboy]

Ah, dodgy memory - it was a sin-binning, not a substitution - Betsen!


England 24-7 France
England booked their place in the World Cup final against Australia with a tense victory over France in appalling conditions in Sydney.
High winds and torrential rain effectively ended all hopes of running rugby between two of the most explosive sides in world rugby.
In the end it was left to Jonny Wilkinson and Frederic Michalak to battle it out, Wilkinson steering his side into Saturday's final with all 24 of England's points - courtesy of three drop goals and five penalties.
Michalak, in contrast, managed just one kick from five attempts as the pressure of an attritional semi-final took its toll.
In the majority of the game's key contests, England held the upper hand, the return of Richard Hill giving them the edge in the back row, while Matt Dawson and Wilkinson enjoyed their best games of the tournament.

We needed passion and it was a great display
Martin Johnson
More England reaction
They were also far more disciplined, while France had a sin-binning in either half - Christophe Dominici and Serge Betsen the villains.
Only in the line-out were the English truly outgunned as Steve Thompson's throwing let his fellow forwards down.
The Six Nations champions dominated the opening 10 minutes and were duly rewarded with Wilkinson's first drop goal.

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But just as Clive Woodward's side looked to be settling into their rhythm, Betsen scored against the run of play.
England's line-out was caught out as the ball fell for the French flanker, who just managed to ground the ball despite the efforts of Hill.

Betsen scored the game's only try
From there, France dominated as England were run ragged despite Dominici being sin-binned for deliberately tripping Jason Robinson with his leg.
England finally regained the lead just before half-time following two Wilkinson penalties either side of a drop goal.
Both sides had been clearly affected by nerves from the outset, and they were still there in abundance in the second half.
Michalak and Wilkinson - normally so reliable - were both off target with straightforward penalties, as each side tried to gain a stranglehold in the dire conditions.
England finally managed to get the upper hand with 25 minutes to go when Betsen was sin-binned for a late tackle on Wilkinson.

England adapted to the weather better than us
Fabien Galthie
More France reaction
The English fly-half this time made no mistake with his spot kick.
Michalak's disappointing night ended prematurely when he was replaced by the more experienced Gerald Merceron but, for all his efforts, he failed to bring his players to life.
As the clock ticked on, Wilkinson grew in confidence, adding a further two penalties and a drop goal to round off the contest.


England: J Lewsey; J Robinson, W Greenwood, M Catt, B Cohen; J Wilkinson, M Dawson; T Woodman, S Thompson, P Vickery; M Johnson (capt), Ben Kay; R Hill, N Back, L Dallaglio.
Replacements: D West, J Leonard, M Corry, L Moody, K Bracken, M Tindall, I Balshaw.
France: N Brusque; A Rougerie, T Marsh, Y Jauzion, C Dominici; F Michalak, F Galthie (capt); J Crenca, R Ibanez, S Marconnet; F Pelous, J Thion; S Betsen, O Magne, I Harinordoquy.
Replacements: Y Bru, O Milloud, D Auradou, C Labit, G Merceron, D Traille, C Poitrenaud.