2014 Six Nations: France vs England (Round 1)

[Big Ewis]

France vs England



Date: 1 February 2014, 18:00 (UTC+1)
Location: Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Paris, France.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)





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Le "crunch" as we call it in France. With no arrogance meant, I think it's safe to call this one the big match of this coming opening weekend. Much to be said, I'll just settle with opening the doors to debate, albeit a bit prematurely but it's just in a week anyways and a lot is happening right now directly linked to this event.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I'd say it's very difficult to predict this match. France have a reputation for being inconsistent but at the same time history shows France tends to win after a Lions tour. England are plagued by a huge number of injuries and a still undecided/uninspiring back line. On the other hand in the last year they have only lost to Wales and the ABs, the first was quite an anomaly in it's nature whilst the second was actually are reasonably close game.

Ultimately on the day it's going to be about which team clicks. I'm going to say that, if England are on form, they should edge it against France but I can't see any win being more than 7 points.

 

[Big Ewis]

well don't forget France have their share of injured players too: Dusautoir, Guitoune, Parra, Lauret, Ouedraogo, Fritz, Lopez - namely.
The only one I'm not too piissed about is Parra, ironically, one of our best players; because I really really wanted Doussain to get some playing time. Hopefully PSA understands his value and starts him ahead of Machenaud, but I've got to say I'd much rather have had Parra starting (in stead of Machenaud) against a team like England...

I reckon our starting centre pair will be Fofana-Bastareaud, which will be a handful for whoever England picks at midfield. One a writhing oiled up eel, the other a little rhino. So in a way, I'm OK with Fritz out...

We get to try out Antoine Burban too, so Ouedra out is..tolerable. A big tackler, dunno about his fetching quite yet.

We'll only play one fly-half the whole tournament. Rémi Talès. Was really, really looking forward to seeing youngster Jules Plisson......

Interestingly, Phillipe Saint-André and co. have chosen to pick an extra forward in the 23 and one less back. Maybe this is in view of this crunch matchup in specific, but it seems that's the group he's picked for the whole tournament apparently.
Just one flyhalf, and an extra 3rd row...

 

[Crapspray]

France have finally got some time together beforehand and were in decent to good form at the end of the year. I don't think the Lions tour will make a big difference though; Saint-Andre pointed out today that the French played as many games last season- albeit domestically. Hopefully he's still planning on playing a fullback at tighthead and a lock as fly-half.

It's being rumoured that France are looking at fourteen forwards and nine backs in the match-day squad. It'll be one hell of a shift for the English pack if that's the case. I just hope Cole can manage 70 minutes with Domingo. The thought of Thomas scrummaging against him terrifies me.

As for predictions, who knows. I think I'll go with ragerancher's. Within seven points, 55:45 in favour of England. I'd put money on whoever wins it winning the tournament.

 

[Big Ewis]

It's being rumoured that France are looking at fourteen forwards and nine backs in the match-day squad. It'll be one hell of a shift for the English pack if that's the case. I just hope Cole can manage 70 minutes with Domingo. The thought of Thomas scrummaging against him terrifies me.

That's right 14 forwards and 9 backs. Basically we'll have an extra no.8 and minus a fly-half. Talès all the way.....poor dude.

And Domingo hasn't impressed me as much as around 2012/early 2013 of late, but maybe that's not anything at all. England did struggle the whole way in the scrum against Domingo and Mas last year:


Lineups in the description.
Boy, what a difference when Ducalcon+Debaty come in !....

 

[Crapspray]

Basically we'll have an extra no.8 and minus a fly-half.

It's not that monster from Toulouse is it? He makes Billy Vunipola look small.

And Domingo hasn't impressed me as much as around 2012/early 2013 of late, but maybe that's not anything at all. England did struggle the whole way in the scrum against Domingo and Mas last year

New laws? Or is it form?

Both Marler and Mako Vunipola have improved a lot in the scrum over the last year which should help. Pitch looked pretty dodgy against the Springboks, so that could help whichever side is on the back foot. Blame it on slipping...

 

[Big Ewis]

It's not that monster from Toulouse is it? He makes Billy Vunipola look small.

I'm guessing you mean Gillian Galan lol ? Noooo...the guy we picked in the absence of Picamoles in November, Damien Chouly from Clermont.
We'll have 5 third rowers on the team: Burban, Le Roux, Nyanga, Picamoles, Chouly.
Seeing how England is probably going to rock a Robshaw-Wood-Vunipola third row, that's quite weighty. I'm guessing against England we should go Burban-Le Roux-Picamoles, that would make us 113kg on avg. per man. Perhaps we need to match England's physicality simply and not look for any poetic, subtle play up front...then again, I think PSA might want a little more fluid, quick movement from at least one guy, and include Nyanga in the starting lineup since Burban and Picamoles are heavyweights.

New laws? Or is it form?

No, no. Form. But we'll see what the little man's got yet in reserve this time around.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Any chance you can sort it so Michalak plays 9 and/or 10 all game?

 

[gaston le gaff]

Any chance you can sort it so Michalak plays 9 and/or 10 all game?

Even PSA has realised that Michalak International career is on the wane, get rid of the rest of the elder statesmen and maybe with a few younsters we can build for the next WC, not putting any money on Frances chances this 6 Nations just hoping and praying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

England have one thing in our favour which is that we know how we want to play, even if it's a limited game-plan.
France might have a less limited game-plan but from the evidence I've seen they don't have it straight how they want to play.

Saying this, I don't really think England can win. We just have to hope Dan Cole can play an 80 minutes. We need Vunipola and Morgan to be at their destructive best because recently each big inroad Billy has made has been worth 3 points. We need our 9, hopefully not youngs, to absolutely boss it and be really precise and spot-on in decision making, not just shovelling **** at Farrell's face. Tuilagi is a huge loss for us, and I don't see our back-line clicking. I believe the wings will be May and Ashton - in which case the responsibility for an england win is now firmly at Johnny May's door, as the only one really capable of changing the game from nowhere.

Contrast that to France's backs..

Wow, that was pessimistic..

 

[Peat]

I'd say this is France's to win and lose. I'd say their biggest potential performance in this game would be bigger than ours and they are more likely to score tries. To me the key questions are

1) Are they cohesive enough to present no soft opportunities and make the most out of their attacking ball?
2) Will they have the patience to not get frustrated by England's defence?
3) Will their pack provide a good stream of attacking ball and disrupt England's supply?

A no to any of those questions could provide us with a win, three yeses and its done. I think there could be yeses there but no way of knowing.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I'd say this is France's to win and lose. I'd say their biggest potential performance in this game would be bigger than ours and they are more likely to score tries. To me the key questions are

1) Are they cohesive enough to present no soft opportunities and make the most out of their attacking ball?
2) Will they have the patience to not get frustrated by England's defence?
3) Will their pack provide a good stream of attacking ball and disrupt England's supply?

A no to any of those questions could provide us with a win, three yeses and its done. I think there could be yeses there but no way of knowing.

This is an area we should be really targetting. France are without Dusatoir, and whilst we don't have an out and out fetcher, we have a load of guys there who love to get their hands on the ball at the breakdown.

 

[Peat]

This is an area we should be really targetting. France are without Dusatoir, and whilst we don't have an out and out fetcher, we have a load of guys there who love to get their hands on the ball at the breakdown.

Yes and no. Dan Cole is a bit out of form, Robshaw and Wood can be a little slow to get there. I think we might disrupt them a bit but also suffer the same fate in return. Who's reffing?

 

[Big Ewis]

I agree with the notion that it's up to France to win or lose this game. The big problem in 2013, the whole way, was the attacking. Hopefully this is at least in part sorted now. Saint-André has said about training camp this year he feels there's a true "club atmosphere" as opposed to the other years where players got there, took a breather from the Top 14 for the first couple of days and then practiced some...

So if France can get that backline to work at least with some remote sense of cohesiveness and chemistry, then the individual components themselves are of a fine enough class that they can take care of their own personal contests and make a difference.

This might be wishful thinking, and I'm very reluctant to say this but someone touched on how this match couldn't possibly be a blowout either way, and no team would win by more than 7. I think if France click on attack, this is one of those matches where they could sort of make up for lost time, and it's a long time coming beating England in the 6N, and it's an opener and tensions and pressure are extremely high, more so for France I believe than England - there's a chance France really take control of this and finally deliver the performance many have been waiting for.
On the other hand, England are our kryptonite, even in Paris, and surely I'd look foolish after having said this if they actually come to town, take a nice win and leave...

I don't think England can blow France out though, while they totally can win it. Because France will be under so much pressure to finally perform and start this year off with a win at home that there's no way they'll let it happen, and England aren't a great enough team that they could still impose their will on the game. If England win, I'd imagine they would by about 2 to 8.

Henry about the third row:
yes unfortunately we don't have a specialist fetcher anymore with Dusau out; W. Lauret was just coming back from injury but PSA and the gang decided to pick elsewhere. But there would be enough mass in the rucks that we shouldn't be too worried either I reckon. I'm very curious to see if PSA will go for a very bulky, tackley Burban-Le Roux-Picamoles or rather a more classic and balanced Burban-Nyanga-Picamoles.

Peat: France have been pretty good with discipline this year, relatively to other years. But England may very well frustrate the French and put them off their game. On the other hand, France have had a fantastic defense throughout 2013, and England will have to be crafty themselves to find a way to score against em.

EDIT:

Who's reffing?

Nigel Owens. It's up there in the original post dude.

 

[Philiproser]

Its about time France beat England again, do England need a different strategy? read this latest article on it http://www.theextralap.co.uk/england-rugby-team-strategy-shake-up/

 

[Big Ewis]

Its about time France beat England again, do England need a different strategy? read this latest article on it http://www.theextralap.co.uk/england-rugby-team-strategy-shake-up/

sure is. It feels like the time is now, but just, who knows. I was really bummed we lost in 2012 and don't think we should've but blew it, and I'd be really bummed if we lost this one, solely because the stakes are high and logically we should nail, would really feel like a big missed opportunity to lose this, but in sports you never know....a bad start, a bad pass leads to a counter-attack try on the other end, things can go all too fast.
Anyways, hoping for a good game at least, not some try-less penalty kicking contest.

Btw, Doussain I'm guessing will be our official kicker. He and Machenaud........experimental stuff without Parra or Michalak, dat boot might prove to be capital.

And very nice article. And I do think England should play a little bit more on the outside, but just a tad. Their gameplan is otherwise simple enough that it's effective and never confusing, and the players grow into it more and more rather than starting anew with each match (like some teams do it seems..... )

You guys have any recommendations for good websites with opinionated articles like this one ? I usually read my English language Rugby news on Planet Rugby...

 

[ZeFrenchy]

I'm not sold on Burban yet. I wouldn't start him, and I don't think PSA will. I even think the group of 23 will change, though I couldn't predict how. Maybe Parra in, though that would mean playing Doussain at 10, or maybe Plisson will come back, his coming back to SF being only some kind of agreement with the club. Still, if goalkicking is not going well, we might see Palis come back.

By the way, the 23 are: Domingo, Forestier, Kayser, Szarzweski, Mas, Slimani, Flanquart, Papé, Maestri, Burban, Le Roux, Nyanga, Chouly, Picamoles, Machenaud, Doussain, Talès, Bastareaud, Fofana, Fickou, Dulin, Médard, Huget.

I'm glad we'll get to see Flanquart play, he's my mancrush at the moment. We're gonna have one heckuva scrum, and a backline like Doussain, Talès, Huget, Fickou, Fofana, Médard, Dulin could be very exciting, if PSA doesn't go PSA-ish in his tactics (6-2 split suggests he will).

 

[Big Ewis]

It's true. He's said recently some of those dropped (or others) might get called right back up. I guess as you said for Plisson it's probably some agreement/sympathy thing with Stade Fransalope.
Doussain has looked fine the last few times I saw him kick. Improving, good signs. Would be such a mess if we called up Palis JUST for kicking in penalties

Yeh I like that I'll finally see Flanquart play it seems this time in Bleu. For Burban, I honestly haven't seen him play much, but his style is clear. A massive tackler with bulk. If he doesn't start, then we'll have Le Roux as a starter...that's taking a bit of a chance. He's bigger, but also a little younger and less experienced. He's only got that one game against the Auckland Blues I believe in bleus, while Burban has none at all of course.
I honestly think we could use Burban's emphatic style against the English. Dusautoir's out, Ouedra too, Lauret isn't coming for the opener...we'll be experimenting either way, with Burban or Le Roux alike. Chouly is a no. 8 and may not be exactly what we need for this match.
I'd say personally Burban-Nyanga-Picamoles, with Le Roux coming in for Burban for some fresh 2m/116kg tackling. The youngster plays hard too, a lot of enthusiasm. And I don't think we can afford to lose Picamoles in-game either. Chouly might serve us a lot more in other contexts with his crafty style. We need boorish tackling and up front confrontation against the English pack.

 

[FrenchFan]

I'd say this is France's to win and lose. I'd say their biggest potential performance in this game would be bigger than ours and they are more likely to score tries. To me the key questions are

1) Are they cohesive enough to present no soft opportunities and make the most out of their attacking ball?
2) Will they have the patience to not get frustrated by England's defence?
3) Will their pack provide a good stream of attacking ball and disrupt England's supply?

A no to any of those questions could provide us with a win, three yeses and its done. I think there could be yeses there but no way of knowing.

not really pressure will be on Eng. Pressure from hosting the WC next year. It is mounting. Fra are starting from a wooden spoon
Eng pack is expected to dominate. If they do, they'll have the ball, question is what do they do with i?

 

[FrenchFan]

Its about time France beat England again, do England need a different strategy? read this latest article on it http://www.theextralap.co.uk/england-rugby-team-strategy-shake-up/

Eng are expected to win it. So pressure is on Eng. Eng do not need a different strategy to beat Fra now. They need one all right to win a WC but not the next game. Last year they needn't do that much to win it.