2014 Six Nations: France vs England (Round 1)

[TRF_Olyy]

Eng are expected to win it.

By who?
Bookies have France by 4+

 

[FrenchFan]

By who?
Bookies have France by 4+

by Eng fans and many here so thats quite a few. Can't face favourite tag agst a Fra team with their head down the toilet???

 

[FrenchFan]

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

took him long enough to see what everyman could see.. Back to square one with a good but slow 29 yo as outhalf. And PSA says he is building for the WC? I'd like to see Doussain as 10 with Parra 9

 

[gaston le gaff]

The biggest problem coaches have today is success or lack of it, England did it a few years ago, brought in a bunch of youngsters to make a decent World Cup Squad, and throwing away the 6 Nations results.
I dont think this is possible anymore, if France were to lose all their 6 Nations games PSA would probably have to go, i'm afraid i have never been a PSA fan he did nothing at Toulon and still is treading water in charge of France, after watching Stade v Castres last night , how can you send a guy like Bonneval back home, he was excellent and just what is needed, give him a chance..... He will probably get one against Italy or when nothing matters hardly the best way to show what an excellent player he is, nobody dare take risks anymore and everything is calculated, when you see talent like this France has no problems with their National team, there are many more like him all PSA has to do is select him, if he under performs send him home but at least give these youngsters a chance. These guys are the National team of tomorrow is there only me who can see this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[FrenchFan]

The biggest problem coaches have today is success or lack of it, England did it a few years ago, brought in a bunch of youngsters to make a decent World Cup Squad, and throwing away the 6 Nations results.
I dont think this is possible anymore, if France were to lose all their 6 Nations games PSA would probably have to go, i'm afraid i have never been a PSA fan he did nothing at Toulon and still is treading water in charge of France, after watching Stade v Castres last night , how can you send a guy like Bonneval back home, he was excellent and just what is needed, give him a chance..... He will probably get one against Italy or when nothing matters hardly the best way to show what an excellent player he is, nobody dare take risks anymore and everything is calculated, when you see talent like this France has no problems with their National team, there are many more like him all PSA has to do is select him, if he under performs send him home but at least give these youngsters a chance. These guys are the National team of tomorrow is there only me who can see this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

well no his job doesn't amount to just selecting. He has to build a squad with a game plan and find the leaders. He has not done that yet. Talent is not enough. still waiting for him to get started... He talks a great game and handles the media well. Thats pretty much all he has done since 2011
PSA problem is that he is a conservative coach. And Lagisquet who is a terrible backs coach is from the same school. I don't see any changes in personnel, backroom staff or mindset...we can win it for sure but we'll need a miracle ))

 

[Peat]

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.

We don't do crafty. We either bumble around with the ball until you concede a penalty/make a mistake, or we kick the ball away and apply as much pressure as possible until you concede a penalty/make a mistake. Incisive attacking rugby just isn't really us - unless we are given gifts for heaven in terms of quick ball. Hence my set of questions. Do France have the composure to deal with the English pressure game and will they keep a lid clamped on the English attacking game? Do these things and they're pretty much there.

 

[Jaguares]

Any chance that George Ford will start the game? I put him in my fantasy team, I very like this player!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Any chance that George Ford will start the game? I put him in my fantasy team, I very like this player!

No.
He'll be on the bench but I'd be amazed if he started.

 

[Big Ewis]

We don't do crafty. We either bumble around with the ball until you concede a penalty/make a mistake, or we kick the ball away and apply as much pressure as possible until you concede a penalty/make a mistake. Incisive attacking rugby just isn't really us - unless we are given gifts for heaven in terms of quick ball. Hence my set of questions. Do France have the composure to deal with the English pressure game and will they keep a lid clamped on the English attacking game? Do these things and they're pretty much there.

yeh yeh I know. Trust me I know, I'm the guy who kept saying that stuff the past two years and was so unjustly labeled an England hater. But the truth is, I'm not sure the injured backs (Yarde, Wade...) would change the outcome a whole lot because England have at least much of what they want up front. That third row is considerable in power. And England is efficient and consistent. I didn't think there was any way they'd beat us in 2012, being at home and quite a better side on paper but England took its chances calculatedly, were opportunistic and actually came in and got the win.
It doesn't take a whole lot for a try to be scored some times and one good counter ball could mean 7 points and the next thing you know France are trailing, make a push but never get back and it's 3 in a row for England over France (or 4 straight, within the 6N). England aren't 'bad' enough that they're absolute underdogs going into this one. Their game plan might be simple, but it's won them all but 2 games last year.

Like, I'd imagine France would win this, but by no means do I *expect* to happen. Quite a few arrows would tend to point in that direction, but in a week you wouldn't see me astonished on my couch after the game has ended with England leaving France with another win. And the Post-Lions Tour thing is ridiculous, if it's some pattern we've recorded historically, so be it, but to think France won those ***les because the British Isles were sleepy-sleepy is just far-fetched.

Anyways, for me, I'd say given the current situations for both sides....mmmm....65-35 France.

 

[Big Ewis]

(not a double post...)

hear ye, hear ye...François Trinh Duc to replace yet another injury for the XV de France in Rémi Talès. Dilemma on Feb. 1st against the poms: who at 10 - TD, the young Plisson, or J.M. Doussain from 9 to 10 ?

 

[French TommyGun]

I don't understand why Tales is injured??! Did he play in the top 14 this weekend or was it in training?? Coz I thought they were supposed to have 2 weeks away from their clubs for this exact reason!?
On the other hand I really would like to see FTD at 10 for France again, I've always liked him and don't really understand why they don't pick him anymore.

 

[Big Ewis]

this is a big blow to France honestly. The whole point of the 15 days was to build a cohesive culture for the players and coaching staff and chemistry on the field as a team. Now 6 days before the match against England we pick a 10 (who might start !) who hasn't played for the national side in two years (barring 15 min against SCO last March). We're back to square one, at least with our 10. He's never played with Doussain or Machenaud at Scrum Half.
It's either him or rookie Plisson (or SH Doussain) ! Against a well established team like England, starting at 10 for his first cap ever ?.....mmmmmm.

And sure Trinh-Duc has flair and is one of those confidence-players who turns on fire and takes control of a match, but he lacks on defense and his game with the foot is either spot-on or out of rhythm completely.
The point with Talès was to have a solid FH we kept for more than 2 matches in a row, very good with tackling and replace precarious flair with consistent classic FH play.

 

[gaston le gaff]

sorry have to disagree FTD has one of the best defensive records for a 10 in France, his kicking has improved dramatically over this season, he is a seasoned international and will not disapoint given the chance, i think he will start, at last PSA has been pushed into a corner through injury and he as been forced to pick FTD. If he starts he will give Farell all sorts of problems just what France needs a reliable 10 with initiative and quality, plus the skills to get a fantastic back line to go forward.

 

[Big Ewis]

sorry have to disagree FTD has one of the best defensive records for a 10 in France, his kicking has improved dramatically over this season, he is a seasoned international and will not disapoint given the chance, i think he will start, at last PSA has been pushed into a corner through injury and he as been forced to pick FTD. If he starts he will give Farell all sorts of problems just what France needs a reliable 10 with initiative and quality, plus the skills to get a fantastic back line to go forward.

encouraging to read...but then again, I should know better....YOU HORRIBLE MONTPELLIER-BIASED BIGOT !!!!! *voice crack*
Nah but you're right actually, and I've noticed he's put on some bulk since, say, 2011 RWC era, but I still don't know about his defense. His kicking sure has improved, but I've seen him just some time ago in the H Cup have one of his bad matches from the foot. It's sort of do or die still it seems with him...but if there's someone to get that backline going (barring a too young Plisson) it's not Michalak anymore or Talès, and with Lopez down too - it's Trinh-Duc, potentially.

I'm not sold yet though, but good things could happen...at least we've got the flair 10 we always like as French fans...

Now I really hope they start Basta, we'll need 'thick' against England. Fickou isn't sound enough defensively.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Not biased at all just ask Will Greenwood, even he cant understand France without FTD, main worry for me is the pack, individually all are good, but can they show that French aggressiveness of old which has been lacking in he near past, and can they go to ground and provide clean ball for the backs, without the stupid last gasp off loads which often finish in the hands of the opposition. The set piece is less of a problem if not a problem at all, and hopefully the line outs should function well, 2 weeks to get everything spot on? should be enough time even for PSA

 

[Kevin Robarts]

A major problem with France, as mentioned above, is their inconsistency.


Making matters worse, they are currently suffering a losing habit having won only 2 of their last 11 tests (Tonga and Scotland).

This is compounded as England have lost only 2 of their last 11 tests (New Zealand, Wales).


If this fixture was to be played in London, for my money, England to win would be a no brainer.

Being in Paris should make the contest interesting however.

 

[Jaguares]

No.
He'll be on the bench but I'd be amazed if he started.

Then I'll have to get him out of my fantasy team. It's a shame, I love that player. For me is the England's fly-half for the next 10 years, this kid has a lot to give.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I think most people outside of France find it hard to understand why FTD isn't a France mainstay.

 

[French TommyGun]

sorry have to disagree FTD has one of the best defensive records for a 10 in France, his kicking has improved dramatically over this season, he is a seasoned international and will not disapoint given the chance, i think he will start, at last PSA has been pushed into a corner through injury and he as been forced to pick FTD. If he starts he will give Farell all sorts of problems just what France needs a reliable 10 with initiative and quality, plus the skills to get a fantastic back line to go forward.

I completely agree. FTD was always a solid 10 for France and I've always been baffled why PSA is so reluctant to select him!?? Guessing it's becoz he's too creative and as we were saying earlier on international coachs are scared on impulsive creativity. This is a blessing in disguise, I remember during the World Cup for some stupid reason Marc Lievrent played Parra at 10 instead of FTD for basically the whole RWC and when Parra went off becoz of injury on the final against NZ Trunh-Duc play out of his skin! It was amazing! I can see the same thing happen for the 6 nations this year, Trunh-Duc will grab this chance with both hands I don't think we'll be disappointed! =]

 

[Big Ewis]

hope you're right guys, hope you're right...and that's the spirit, anyways, even if you were to be wrong. We've got to believe France will play the Rugby we rightfully know they can play in their sleep. Ffs, 4th and then Wooden Spoon ? I know there are very good reasons, but still. Just 2010, we were winning a Grand Slam to start the decade and then 2011 despite the crazy struggles to get out of a fkn Pool or beat a 14-man team, we made it to the Final again. It's been long enough, and I'm tired of telling people about struggles and hearing unknowing outsiders doubt France like we're really actually that bad. People don't care about details, they only recognize wins and ***les, then let's give em a little bit of that.