Team for France

[Epaminondas Pules]

France got some rub but equally we just executed so badly in that first half. Almost everything went wrong that could go wrong. Execution failing in multiple areas compounding error after error. Even then we had plenty of ball in the French 22 and just fucked it with simple errors and bad decisions. Time and again decision making let us down. We didn’t get the rub but that’s momentum for you. Happens all the time. Ended up with too much to do and were too late with some changes.

Hey ho.

[Oakboy]

Jones has said after the game that Tuilagi was fully fit. Honest, does one think??

[Puja]

Annoying as fuck that. Mostly for me that we failed to execute in the 22 and failed to chance personnel when those starting were not cutting it.

Credit to Genge, LCD, Ludlam off the bench. Lawes standout by a mile. Curry, one scrum aside actually controlled quite well, but as a pack we were totally absent. Both scrum halves were poor, but equally we weren’t clearing the ruck well or providing options. Ford was poor as was Farrell and losing Manu really hurt us. Furbank, fair play came back well in the second half. Nothing spectacular but he seemed to realise he could actually play.

Jonny May outstanding in attack but it did take solo genius to get anything. Close to the line the forwards were utterly clueless.

People will pinpoint Lawes at 6 being a problem, but that doesn’t lose lineouts, that doesn’t cause brainfarts, that doesn’t cause the rest of the pack to shut off. That doesn’t cause your support and clearance to fail. It doesn’t cause your fly half to make bad decisions. It doesn’t cause your backs to drop ball after ball. That’s not selection it’s execution.

You missed several - he lost the ball out the back three times and fluffed the presentation on ball going forward twice. Proof, if proof was needed, that 8 is a specialist position and you can't just shove anyone in there.

I agree with most of the rest of what you've said, except that I'd argue Lawes at 6 was the largest problem. It was a major contributor to our support and clearance failures and meant that, what ball we retained came back slowly. Plus losing a third back row meant we were down a dynamic carrier and were sending in Curry on the crash ball where, god bless his little cotton socks, he tried manfully, but was largely embarrassed.

Oddly, I think Eddie's team played like jngf's back row predictions today. We argue that the number on their back shouldn't matter and that it should just affect where they pack down in the scrum, but time and again, we made Curry do the Vunipola work, Underhill do the Curry work, and Lawes... was maybe supposed to be doing something in the loose? The number *shouldn't* matter, but Eddie is making it so.

Puja

[Buggaluggs]

I don't think there'll be a grand slam this year. BPs might be vital. That was soft from France to gift that to Eng at the end.

I’m on honeymoon ............. but I’d still fancy Wales to win at home.

Congratulations, young man. You did well to miss today's game. It was poor.

Disagree. I thought it an excellent game. Exciting from start to finish and great skills on display. Particularly Dupont and May.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Conversely, two moments of brilliance by May meant that the score ended up flattering us. The performance by the team unit was horrendous, especially considering the amount of possession we had.

Perhaps, Jones's emphasis on physical beasting of the players in training would be best replaced by some intensive practise so that at least the simple things were done well.

Frankly, replacing one SH who had stuttered and showed himself to be well past usefulness with an older one who did everything even worse is really embarrassing.

In the 2nd half, Ford had a few superb kicks, generally played well and then got replaced, leaving Farrell on. If that is not clueless management, I shudder to think of what could be worse.

Oh, and Dombrandt looked superb for Harlequins today in the bit that I saw.

I'm more with epamidemus. Yes changes need to come but it's not as bad as it initially looked. Francey had a first half when virtually everything came off it felt. So it goes sometimes

Are you related to Eddie Jones, by any chance?

As opposed to jilted by him

[Mr Mwenda]

Conversely, two moments of brilliance by May meant that the score ended up flattering us. The performance by the team unit was horrendous, especially considering the amount of possession we had.

Perhaps, Jones's emphasis on physical beasting of the players in training would be best replaced by some intensive practise so that at least the simple things were done well.

Frankly, replacing one SH who had stuttered and showed himself to be well past usefulness with an older one who did everything even worse is really embarrassing.

In the 2nd half, Ford had a few superb kicks, generally played well and then got replaced, leaving Farrell on. If that is not clueless management, I shudder to think of what could be worse.

Oh, and Dombrandt looked superb for Harlequins today in the bit that I saw.

I'm more with epamidemus. Yes changes need to come but it's not as bad as it initially looked. Francey had a first half when virtually everything came off it felt. So it goes sometimes

Are you related to Eddie Jones, by any chance?

No, are you?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Annoying as fuck that. Mostly for me that we failed to execute in the 22 and failed to chance personnel when those starting were not cutting it.

Credit to Genge, LCD, Ludlam off the bench. Lawes standout by a mile. Curry, one scrum aside actually controlled quite well, but as a pack we were totally absent. Both scrum halves were poor, but equally we weren’t clearing the ruck well or providing options. Ford was poor as was Farrell and losing Manu really hurt us. Furbank, fair play came back well in the second half. Nothing spectacular but he seemed to realise he could actually play.

Jonny May outstanding in attack but it did take solo genius to get anything. Close to the line the forwards were utterly clueless.

People will pinpoint Lawes at 6 being a problem, but that doesn’t lose lineouts, that doesn’t cause brainfarts, that doesn’t cause the rest of the pack to shut off. That doesn’t cause your support and clearance to fail. It doesn’t cause your fly half to make bad decisions. It doesn’t cause your backs to drop ball after ball. That’s not selection it’s execution.

You missed several - he lost the ball out the back three times and fluffed the presentation on ball going forward twice. Proof, if proof was needed, that 8 is a specialist position and you can't just shove anyone in there.

I agree with most of the rest of what you've said, except that I'd argue Lawes at 6 was the largest problem. It was a major contributor to our support and clearance failures and meant that, what ball we retained came back slowly. Plus losing a third back row meant we were down a dynamic carrier and were sending in Curry on the crash ball where, god bless his little cotton socks, he tried manfully, but was largely embarrassed.

Oddly, I think Eddie's team played like jngf's back row predictions today. We argue that the number on their back shouldn't matter and that it should just affect where they pack down in the scrum, but time and again, we made Curry do the Vunipola work, Underhill do the Curry work, and Lawes... was maybe supposed to be doing something in the loose? The number *shouldn't* matter, but Eddie is making it so.

Puja

Lawes was the largest problem??? Ok!!!!!!

[Buggaluggs]

At 17-0 down Eng had an easy 3 but went for 7 and failed. I'm a huge believer in taking the 3 if it changes the state of the game from 3 scores down to 2 scores. Had Eng taken those 3, they conceivably would have been just 7 down at the end and playing for the draw.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Manu has tweaked his groin apparently. Hopefully it’s minor. Without him with offered fuck all in the backs.

[Epaminondas Pules]

At 17-0 down Eng had an easy 3 but went for 7 and failed. I'm a huge believer in taking the 3 if it changes the state of the game from 3 scores down to 2 scores. Had Eng taken those 3, they conceivably would have been just 7 down at the end and playing for the draw.

Decision making in the 22 was utter gash. With the amount of possession in the 22 we had to only score 17 was criminal!

[tigran]

Well done France. Great to have you back

Cheers p/d

Where's you great secretary of an avatar ?

I would like to take credit for that but, alas, I believe the avatar belonged to Oakboy.

Really ? The brunette with an engaging décolleté wasn't your avatar ?

Where' s oakboy ?

[tigran]

May is some player...

[Shiny]

Is anyone slightly concerned for next week. I feel Scotland would have beaten us today as well. Apart from Sir Jonny May we never looked like creating or scoring anything.

[Digby]

Could just be one of those games but it 2 terrible performances in the last 2 games now, and the media will easily be able to write the Sarries players all looked like their minds were elsewhere because of the issues at their club.

Hopefully the selection makes more sense next weekend and we go from there.

[Buggaluggs]

yeah. I think I remember p/d having a hottie as an avatar too. Not as sexually stimulating as mine - obviously - but nice, all the same.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Is anyone slightly concerned for next week. I feel Scotland would have beaten us today as well. Apart from Sir Jonny May we never looked like creating or scoring anything.

Quite pleased. A proper tough away game with some big players missing. It’s proper stand up or lose. Just what’s needed.

[Digby]

Is anyone slightly concerned for next week. I feel Scotland would have beaten us today as well. Apart from Sir Jonny May we never looked like creating or scoring anything.

We actually created any number of chances and just didn't execute or get decisions remotely correct. But I'd agree we didn't look like scoring

[jngf]

Could just be one of those games but it 2 terrible performances in the last 2 games now, and the media will easily be able to write the Sarries players all looked like their minds were elsewhere because of the issues at their club.

Hopefully the selection makes more sense next weekend and we go from there.

I actually think it’s an unhappy squad and that the Sarries episode is having a cancerous impact. No easy solution but release Farrell from captaincy and bench him might be a start?

[Timbo]

I was a bit dismayed when I saw the initial squad, and even more nonplussed when I saw the team selection, but was willing to adopt a wait and see approach. Not that there were huge isssues with any of it, but just a few bits that then seem to throw the whole thing out of kilter. I don’t want to be too reactive, as we may bounce back and even win the championship yet...but today was like rewinding back to 2018 all over again.

Like 2018, if Eddie wants to push this team on again he needs to be bold in selection. Back then it was starting George and Sinckler, pushing Curry and Underhill forwards and moving Daly to fullback. Now, I think Genge and LCD are demanding greater involvement, Ted Hill at 6, a whole load of ball carrying backrowers, Devoto, Thorley, some dynamism at 9....Once we made the changes today we looked a whole load better.

Just doing what we were doing during the World Cup, but without the Vunipolas and Manu is doomed to failure.

[Digby]

Could just be one of those games but it 2 terrible performances in the last 2 games now, and the media will easily be able to write the Sarries players all looked like their minds were elsewhere because of the issues at their club.

Hopefully the selection makes more sense next weekend and we go from there.

I actually think it’s an unhappy squad and that the Sarries episode is having a cancerous impact. No easy solution but release Farrell from captaincy and bench him might be a start?

I've no idea if it's actually an issue, but a performance like that will allow for speculation the players will not like.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Could just be one of those games but it 2 terrible performances in the last 2 games now, and the media will easily be able to write the Sarries players all looked like their minds were elsewhere because of the issues at their club.

Hopefully the selection makes more sense next weekend and we go from there.

I actually think it’s an unhappy squad and that the Sarries episode is having a cancerous impact. No easy solution but release Farrell from captaincy and bench him might be a start?

Why do you think that? On what evidence? You do know they’ve had clear the air talks yeah?

[fivepointer]

Rank bad performance in reality. Far too many errors and poor execution. Very flat in the 1st half, lacking any degree of sharpness.
Curry at 8 didnt work with him losing control of 3 key balls at the back of scrums. I thought Furbank never settled and the backs as a whole created diddly squat. Forwards didnt do much outside a very good scrum either. Hasnt anyone told them they can pass or offload?
But credit France who displayed a degree of discipline and pragmatism that hasnt always been there. Their half backs were a cut above ours.

[Oakboy]

Could just be one of those games but it 2 terrible performances in the last 2 games now, and the media will easily be able to write the Sarries players all looked like their minds were elsewhere because of the issues at their club.

Hopefully the selection makes more sense next weekend and we go from there.

I actually think it’s an unhappy squad and that the Sarries episode is having a cancerous impact. No easy solution but release Farrell from captaincy and bench him might be a start?

I agree that it could well be an unhappy squad but I disagree about the cause. The malaise started in Japan. Whichever way you look at it, since our top SF performance, it is played 2, lost 2 and we turned up for neither match. I'd say the team unit performance against SA was 3/10 and today's was barely above 4.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Could just be one of those games but it 2 terrible performances in the last 2 games now, and the media will easily be able to write the Sarries players all looked like their minds were elsewhere because of the issues at their club.

Hopefully the selection makes more sense next weekend and we go from there.

I actually think it’s an unhappy squad and that the Sarries episode is having a cancerous impact. No easy solution but release Farrell from captaincy and bench him might be a start?

I agree that it could well be an unhappy squad but I disagree about the cause. The malaise started in Japan. Whichever way you look at it, since our top SF performance, it is played 2, lost 2 and we turned up for neither match. I'd say the team unit performance against SA was 3/10 and today's was barely above 4.

So how does that demonstrate an unhappy squad?

[Timbo]

Could just be one of those games but it 2 terrible performances in the last 2 games now, and the media will easily be able to write the Sarries players all looked like their minds were elsewhere because of the issues at their club.

Hopefully the selection makes more sense next weekend and we go from there.

I actually think it’s an unhappy squad and that the Sarries episode is having a cancerous impact. No easy solution but release Farrell from captaincy and bench him might be a start?

Let’s at least stick the stuff we can see, not start pulling guesses out of our arses. You’ve no idea what the mood in camp is like, absolutely none.