[2015 RWC] Warm Up Match: France vs England (22/08/2015)

[goodNumber10]

corbisiero injured:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...-in-severe-jeopardy-after-latest-setback.html

*** i feel dirty posting so many torygraph links, i honestly don't read it, it's just popping up in my twitter stream

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

corbisiero injured:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...-in-severe-jeopardy-after-latest-setback.html

*** i feel dirty posting so many torygraph links, i honestly don't read it, it's just popping up in my twitter stream

Good god the guy is made of glass... I think his rugby career could be over if he can't survive 1 season without injury.

 

[psychic duck]

corbisiero injured:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...-in-severe-jeopardy-after-latest-setback.html

*** i feel dirty posting so many torygraph links, i honestly don't read it, it's just popping up in my twitter stream

Mullan has come on a lot this season and Corbisiero arguably just selected on reputation at this stage. So not all that much of a loss. Feel sorry for him to have yet another injury though, was immense for Lions in 2013.

 

[kesh]

Shame really, sat behind big Ed for all those years played a few games got injuried and has never really looked like he'd recover fully. At least his got a Lions medal. Brookes in, unless his lower back pain settles quick though even then i doubt SL would risk Corbs now given the amount of games involved.

New scrummage rules, Marler/Vunipola improving and his injuries and time out of the game i doubt he would of got his starting spot back anyways, though would liked to see him get a fair crack at it if only to keep folk on their toes.

 

[Chistera]

France ought to line up its best XV too, except for its halfback pairing maybe. What it should look like:
1.Ben Arous 2.Guirado 3.Slimani 4.Maestri 5.Papé 6.Chouly 7.Le Roux 8.Picamoles 9.Tillous-Borde/Kockott 10.Talès 11.Nakaitaci 12.Fofana 13.Bastareaud 14.Huget 15.Spedding/Dulin
Dusautoir's still out and won't play for sure. Not sure if Picamoles will get a starting spot once again, Goujon might get the chance to show his worth at 8 -but facing a rested Vunipola will be a stiff challenge. Not sure about half-backs and centres as well, I wonder if either of Talès or Michalak will get a run at fly-half, Lancaster fielding his strongest team has put pressure on Saint-André to do the same and Trinh-Duc is far superior to both of them in my opionion. Fickou might also start at 12, Fofana sliding to 13 and Bastareaud moving to the bench.

 

[TobesHodges]

I would of liked to see Burgess play if Basteruad does, see how Sam fairs against a heavy weight in midfield, because you would guarantee Basteruad would have run straight at him first thing..

 

[goodNumber10]

I would of liked to see Burgess play if Basteruad does, see how Sam fairs against a heavy weight in midfield, because you would guarantee Basteruad would have run straight at him first thing..

That would be amazing.

 

[TobesHodges]

France ought to line up its best XV too, except for its halfback pairing maybe. What it should look like:
1.Ben Arous 2.Guirado 3.Slimani 4.Maestri 5.Papé 6.Chouly 7.Le Roux 8.Picamoles 9.Tillous-Borde/Kockott 10.Talès 11.Nakaitaci 12.Fofana 13.Bastareaud 14.Huget 15.Spedding/Dulin
Dusautoir's still out and won't play for sure. Not sure if Picamoles will get a starting spot once again, Goujon might get the chance to show his worth at 8 -but facing a rested Vunipola will be a stiff challenge. Not sure about half-backs and centres as well, I wonder if either of Talès or Michalak will get a run at fly-half, Lancaster fielding his strongest team has put pressure on Saint-André to do the same and Trinh-Duc is far superior to both of them in my opionion. Fickou might also start at 12, Fofana sliding to 13 and Bastareaud moving to the bench.

I thought Fofana and Basteruad were out of favour with PSA, they have both said they've been slightly snubbed by the coaches, neither have set the world alight this season, though Fofana is a class act, it would be ridiculous not to play him.. I think your best 9 and 10 is Parra and TD, + i think Krockett is bit of a douche, always getting into fights etc. If I was PSA I wouldn't come away from that partnership, unless getting Tilles-borde in at 9(who had a great season with Toulon).
I think the French have an awesome back row in Le Roux, Pic's and Dusitour(when fit) I think Nyanga is better than Chouly. I think the real weakness in the French team at the moment is the tight 5, especially the second row, Meastri, Pape and Franquri don't have great mobility around the park, I think PSA has to play Vahaamhama(God knows how to spell) to get some kind of balance in that area.
So all in all, its a bit like what everyone has been saying, which is France haven't really built towards this WC and no-one really knows what the best team is, which also makes them unpredictable (as ever) and very dangerous.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Anyone else think that Lancaster's public hailing of Jonny May's outstanding performance in camp prior to the first game was actually a really clever coaching ploy?
May looked extremely confident (particularly in his own pace) where he had looked a bit nervous previously - I'm not suggesting he wasn't a standout performer in the camp, just that Lancaster might have known exactly what he was doing...

 

[goodNumber10]

For certain.

Public display of confidence in a player is only there for that reason.....

Or to make Lancaster look truly ruthless when he cuts him next week.

 

[gaston le gaff]

unpredictable and dangerous France will alway be BUT fours years of prep and over a 100 players used and nobody in France can tell you the first choice 2, 8, 9, 10, 15, will be for this WC. We are 3/4 weeks away from the start of the WC i do seriouly think this is a very grave problem, and there is only one person to blame and it's certainly not the players!!!!!!

 

[HowieLO6]

Steering back to the point about whether or not Slade will make the cut, I'd beg to differ.

While the historical trend does suggest that the majority of teams will take 3 scrummies and a pair of 10s, his versatility ought to count for more than that of, say, Cipriani.

Bearing in mind we've three tough games in the group, which will inevitably take their toll, I'd prefer SL to take a 3rd outhalf. While Cipriani covers (loosely) a position in which we have sufficient cover, if we find ourself with just one of Ford and Faz nursing a knock then we're scuppered. 3 scrumhalves, 2 flyhalves, 3 wings, 3 centres, 2 fullbacks and a utility man. Seems like a fair budget.

 

[goodNumber10]

Steering back to the point about whether or not Slade will make the cut, I'd beg to differ.

While the historical trend does suggest that the majority of teams will take 3 scrummies and a pair of 10s, his versatility ought to count for more than that of, say, Cipriani.

Bearing in mind we've three tough games in the group, which will inevitably take their toll, I'd prefer SL to take a 3rd outhalf. While Cipriani covers (loosely) a position in which we have sufficient cover, if we find ourself with just one of Ford and Faz nursing a knock then we're scuppered. 3 scrumhalves, 2 flyhalves, 3 wings, 3 centres, 2 fullbacks and a utility man. Seems like a fair budget.

don't forget Wigglesworth and Goode both cover 10 as well - they will be more than adequate for a team like uruguay/back up 10 on game.

 

[TobesHodges]

don't forget Wigglesworth and Goode both cover 10 as well - they will be more than adequate for a team like uruguay/back up 10 on game.

I wouldn't want Wiggle at 10 :lol: Goode is a decent 10 back up..

 

[Willodell100]

Steering back to the point about whether or not Slade will make the cut, I'd beg to differ.

While the historical trend does suggest that the majority of teams will take 3 scrummies and a pair of 10s, his versatility ought to count for more than that of, say, Cipriani.

Bearing in mind we've three tough games in the group, which will inevitably take their toll, I'd prefer SL to take a 3rd outhalf. While Cipriani covers (loosely) a position in which we have sufficient cover, if we find ourself with just one of Ford and Faz nursing a knock then we're scuppered. 3 scrumhalves, 2 flyhalves, 3 wings, 3 centres, 2 fullbacks and a utility man. Seems like a fair budget.

I just don't think SL is going to take Slade. I really think he should for all the reasons you state above and more but it feels like he is definitely taking Goode as fullback cover for Brown with Foden or Pennell getting game time*.

Because Goode is in the squad I think SL believes he has sufficient cover at 10. I am more concerned about 13 & Joseph getting injured as we don't have any specialist cover there.

As mentioned on here before balance is key to our midfield and, if we take Barritt, Burgess & Burrell along with Joseph, I think we lack balance & pace if Joseph can't play.

*anyone tell me what on earth has happened to Foden/Pennell? Seems against SL's mantra to not give whichever one is in the training camp an opportunity. Because of this there seems to be no competition at all for squad places in the back 3.

 

[ChromeDome]

As seen in the 6nat, I'm expecting to see JonJoe Shift out to the wing in the second half as cover there is a little limited. This will leave 12trees and burrell a chance in the centre, but more interestingly, could lead to a burgess-barritt combo in the WC. Not the most amazing attacking prospect on offer but could provide a midfield block that's second to none. Of course this would only happen if circumstances dictated.

Anyway, do 12trees and burrell have the quality and composure to make it work on their own with JJ out wider?

 

[goodNumber10]

I just don't think SL is going to take Slade. I really think he should for all the reasons you state above and more but it feels like he is definitely taking Goode as fullback cover for Brown with Foden or Pennell getting game time*.

Because Goode is in the squad I think SL believes he has sufficient cover at 10. I am more concerned about 13 & Joseph getting injured as we don't have any specialist cover there.

As mentioned on here before balance is key to our midfield and, if we take Barritt, Burgess & Burrell along with Joseph, I think we lack balance & pace if Joseph can't play.

*anyone tell me what on earth has happened to Foden/Pennell? Seems against SL's mantra to not give whichever one is in the training camp an opportunity. Because of this there seems to be no competition at all for squad places in the back 3.

I think we established Foden and Pennel were not in the actual squad just there as injury cover.

Agree with what you're saying excep for Burrell would be my second choice 13.

 

[Willodell100]

Well to be fair to them they did ok together back in 2013 but a midfield of Barritt & Burell is certainly not going to win us a World Cup!

 

[Willodell100]

I think we established Foden and Pennel were not in the actual squad just there as injury cover.

Agree with what you're saying excep for Burrell would be my second choice 13.

Ah thank you, I must have missed this. That makes sense.

To be honest Watson is more than capable as a third FB and Jonny May & Nowell (in his younger days) can cover there too.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

What's the general consensus on May or Nowell covering 13? Might ease our lack of outside centre problem, though if we're only taking three wingers then it would be impractical.