Squad for 6N

[francoisfou]

French team


Fickou on the wing.

Bouthier covering 10

I’m quite surprised that Carbonel isn’t the back up 10. Will Fickou be opposite de Merwe? If so, that makes sense because Thomas can sometimes be a revolving door. France should win but can’t see them winning with a bp and the necessary margin to win the title.

[Adder]

French team


Fickou on the wing.

Bouthier covering 10

I’m quite surprised that Carbonel isn’t the back up 10. Will Fickou be opposite de Merwe? If so, that makes sense because Thomas can sometimes be a revolving door. France should win but can’t see them winning with a bp and the necessary margin to win the title.

More likely to be against wee Graham.

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[Mikey Brown]

Surprised he's picked broadly the same side as per Ireland, rather than rolling the dice and giving some of the guys who did well against Italy a go (Jones/Cherry/Steele)

Still, I can see the logic: we can't give Vakatawa any space, so having our best defender on the field makes sense (besides, why would you pick Harris ahead of Maitland for the EQP allowance, if he wasn't going to start). Price probably brings better kicking and service. Would have felt Cherry would have been a better shout to give a bit more reliability in the throwing early doors

Anyone feeling optimistic?

Exactly my thoughts on those 3 in the second paragraph. Maybe it’s just good Turner knows that Cherry can be trusted now, and if he’s been going well in training then fair enough because he offers a lot around the field.

We have a team that can win this but not if our set piece goes to shit again.

Both teams should be plenty fired up, I guess we’ll see who channels that better, but no reason not to think we can go and win this.

Fickou on the wing I always feel removes a lot of his impact and organisation skills (I’m still baffled why they do this, isn’t he their defensive leader? Then again we stick Harris on the wing every so often) but Vincent is a handful too.

[whatisthejava]

Why Alex Craig over Maitland is the weird one for me, but i suppose he needs a second row more than a wing as R Gray must still not be trusted

[Adder]

Vakatawa is their defensive leader actually.
But Fickou can cover. Both Fickou and Penaud. can and have played center.

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[stevedog1980]

They need to sort the breakdown out ASAP. It's beyond a joke now. In my view, Wyn Jones was assisting AWJ with that tackle (he had hands on the French player) and never broke contact before competing for the ball. I haven't seen the replay with sound on so I have no idea if the referee was telling him to let go or considered it to be fair competition. To my mind, the referee should have penalised Wyn Jones there before Willemse even had to think about clearing him out. I definitely think it's time the referee's stopped having a word in the ears of defenders to stop playing the ball and just started calling an instant penalty

[Mikey Brown]

Jesus. Yes. The on-field coaching creates so many ridiculous situations like that. You may get told to leave the ball alone (for example) but by that time you’ve been slowing it down for a second or two already. Same with hovering offside, playing the 9 etc.

Obviously with refs having completely different approaches to the breakdown the players are keen to keep communicating with them during the game about what is and isn’t legal, but it’s crazy at this point.

[stevedog1980]

French team


Fickou on the wing.

Bouthier covering 10

I’m quite surprised that Carbonel isn’t the back up 10. Will Fickou be opposite de Merwe? If so, that makes sense because Thomas can sometimes be a revolving door. France should win but can’t see them winning with a bp and the necessary margin to win the title.

What are your thoughts on Taofifenua making the bench? I'd have thought if he was fit, he would start and if not fit would be out of the squad. Seems a bit of a gamble to have him on the bench?

[francoisfou]

French team


Fickou on the wing.

Bouthier covering 10

I’m quite surprised that Carbonel isn’t the back up 10. Will Fickou be opposite de Merwe? If so, that makes sense because Thomas can sometimes be a revolving door. France should win but can’t see them winning with a bp and the necessary margin to win the title.

What are your thoughts on Taofifenua making the bench? I'd have thought if he was fit, he would start and if not fit would be out of the squad. Seems a bit of a gamble to have him on the bench?

I never thought he’d have even been considered after coming off with a knee injury, but he’s apparently come through training without worries, but nonetheless a bit risky. I’m really pleased that Jelonch is at 6. He’s been signed by Toulouse to replace Jerome Kaino and has a bright future.

[stevedog1980]

I never thought he’d have even been considered after coming off with a knee injury, but he’s apparently come through training without worries, but nonetheless a bit risky. I’m really pleased that Jelonch is at 6. He’s been signed by Toulouse to replace Jerome Kaino and has a bright future.

Yeah, I'd assumed if he was fit enough to bench, he'd be fit enough to start. I could understand running the risk if it were a front row player knowing you could sub back on the original player if they went down with a complication.

I haven't seen much of Jelonch to be honest with you, I'll keep an eye on him.

[switchskier]

A bit surprised with the four centres approach given that France need a big bonus point win. But I'm guessing that it's a case of getting your best players on the park rather than suggestive of a particular style or approach. No real weaknesses in there, it's going to be a challenge

[Cameo]

Not surprised or disappointed by the Scotland team even if I would have preferred Jones. Think the Price and Turner calls are correct, by need to be ready to bring Cherry on early if necessary.

I never get France moving Fickou to the wing. He's good there but they are arguably breaking up the best centre partnership in the world.

Oh, and I feel like I'm banging this drum a lot recently but Graham is great and seems to be underated by some. I'm not sure Maitland is even that much better chasing a high ball.

[whatisthejava]

I’m really not confident on Friday. I think wales wins the championship but we lose a close game. It has an Aldi Price brain fart written all over it.

I even think we might be there or there about after 75 but he will demonstrate once again how he refuses to fucking learn any lessons and prob box kick straight into touch from a pass back into out 22

[francoisfou]

Not surprised or disappointed by the Scotland team even if I would have preferred Jones. Think the Price and Turner calls are correct, by need to be ready to bring Cherry on early if necessary.

I never get France moving Fickou to the wing. He's good there but they are arguably breaking up the best centre partnership in the world.

Oh, and I feel like I'm banging this drum a lot recently but Graham is great and seems to be underated by some. I'm not sure Maitland is even that much better chasing a high ball.

I always question the wisdom of players out of position, but as you say, he is good there, and his replacement Arthur Vincent is a tremendous prospect.

[Mikey Brown]

I’m really not confident on Friday. I think wales wins the championship but we lose a close game. It has an Aldi Price brain fart written all over it.

I even think we might be there or there about after 75 but he will demonstrate once again how he refuses to fucking learn any lessons and prob box kick straight into touch from a pass back into out 22

Very possible. That or basically any other one of our players who love making costly mistakes just as we’re closing in on a win.

I wonder how much we actually look at strategy in those sorts of moment. Is it really just Price deciding on a whim that gifting possession away with 4 minutes left is a good idea? It may well have been in the past, but must surely be a big focus for Townsend.

[septic 9]

Fagerson junior out, Haining starts. Ryan Wilson to get 50th cap from the bench - delighted for him

[whatisthejava]

Fagerson junior out, Haining starts. Ryan Wilson to get 50th cap from the bench - delighted for him

I really think he is past it but considering its a last minute change what can you do, I reckon Haining will do well and then Wilson covers all 3 spots in the event of a forced injury.

If he can wind up the french to the point where they punch him that would be awesome

[septic 9]

Fagerson junior out, Haining starts. Ryan Wilson to get 50th cap from the bench - delighted for him

I really think he is past it but considering its a last minute change what can you do, I reckon Haining will do well and then Wilson covers all 3 spots in the event of a forced injury.

If he can wind up the french to the point where they punch him that would be awesome

being simply knackered is a bigger worry than past. he has been running on empty and still been a top performer for Glasgow. I think I read he has made 30 starts in a row, and I know he has to be dragged off.

he still appears to be ahead of Bradbury, Crosbie and anyone else - Wilson does cover across the back row but we don't need bench cove for openside, Richie gives us that. In fact if either flanker gets crocked, its entirely possible that Skinner goes into the back row and Craig to lock, before Wilson gets a look in. I hope he gets on though and gets his 50th cap. He has earned it

[Mikey Brown]

Agreed there. Nice to have a good option as a third jumper and a bit of experience to being off the bench.

Big opportunity for Haining who I think has been lucky to get so many, looking pretty off the pace since a promising couple of early appearances.

[Cameo]

Agreed there. Nice to have a good option as a third jumper and a bit of experience to being off the bench.

Big opportunity for Haining who I think has been lucky to get so many, looking pretty off the pace since a promising couple of early appearances.

Pity about Fagerson. Know what you mean about Haining. I think I'm a little suspicious because of how knackered he looked at 60 mins on his first start, but I'd probably like other players for that. He's tended to be solid at worst though.

Ritchie has fallen off the radar a bit in terms of Lions chat. He was very good against England then got injured. Okay but not special against Ireland and then not needed really against Italy. Hoping for a big game from him on Friday.

[septic 9]

Big opportunity for Haining who I think has been lucky to get so many, looking pretty off the pace since a promising couple of early appearances.

how many is so many?

[septic 9]

Know what you mean about Haining. I think I'm a little suspicious because of how knackered he looked at 60 mins on his first start, .

he did. Not a surprise TBH. Test match is much faster than pro14, and way faster than Edinburgh style under Cockerill, and in first cap he would be working his arse off to prove his worth

[Big D]

Wilson makes sense. Experienced and doesn't need to settle into camp etc. He will rock up and get on with it.

[Cameo]

Know what you mean about Haining. I think I'm a little suspicious because of how knackered he looked at 60 mins on his first start, .

he did. Not a surprise TBH. Test match is much faster than pro14, and way faster than Edinburgh style under Cockerill, and in first cap he would be working his arse off to prove his worth

Yeah, exactly. He just seemed to grind to a halt like me after a layoff rather than top pro stepping up. Looks are deceptive though and it was actually a good debut. Equally, while he hasn't nailed down a starting spot at Edinburgh, not many would get ahead of Mata.

Wilson is sensible on such little notice. I take it Thompson and Graham are still injured or is Graham just out. Not long ago he was flavour of the month but the Wales game just wasn't impressive.

[stevedog1980]

Yeah, exactly. He just seemed to grind to a halt like me after a layoff rather than top pro stepping up. Looks are deceptive though and it was actually a good debut. Equally, while he hasn't nailed down a starting spot at Edinburgh, not many would get ahead of Mata.

Wilson is sensible on such little notice. I take it Thompson and Graham are still injured or is Graham just out. Not long ago he was flavour of the month but the Wales game just wasn't impressive.

Was he not subbed on fairly early in that game after Thompson got injured and then hooked himself just after half time? Pretty sure I remember them asking Townsend if Graham was injured and he just replied “no.”