2014 Six Nations: France vs England (Round 1)

[Patchey]

Got to agree on Marler. While his scrummaging isn't perfect he is consistent average to good and not often turned inside out. Vunnipola is consistently average and gets turned inside out more often, but playing with the Sarries 'Wolf Pack' (god what's wrong with that club..) allows him to get away with it. Of course Mako brings more to the loose so if we were sensible and put Attwood behind him things would be different

Can we not do the 'poms' thing again pleeeease? Last time that got mentioned we ended up debating wether 'England Saxons' was a slightly rascist term rather than just a ridiculous one.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I, also, agree with Marler.
I think mako is the same as he was last year whereas Marler has improved in every aspect
Im not fussed who starts at hooker. Hartley is mr average, doing ok at everything with nothing particularly good. Youngs work in the loose/ruck/workrate is exceptional but can have a wobbler at the lineout.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Marler is doing exactly what I think Wig wants him to, which is (as you say Olyy) improve steadily year on year.
If he can continue to improve at this rate, then he is going to be a really, really good player by the time he is 25.

On the Pom thing... I'm not saying you can't use it Ewis... I just wanted to point out that it's not a "universal" term.
It's pretty specific to the British(English)-Antipodean relationship, in the same way that with "Limey" Americans have ownership of that term.
I don't know whether Ivorians, for example, have a "pet" name for the French, but it would be similar to me using that term.

I don't mind if you use Soutie where applicable though... the reasoning behind that term cracks me up.

 

[Big Ewis]

I'm aware of all that man, it's just the only term I found to use in English...like I said, rosbif is french so I didn't want to just randomly use french words, albeit that they are used to refer to the English. So any time I've been using "pom", the sentiment behind it wasn't one of feeling for the Aussies or NZ'ers or wtvr but rather my own French apprehension of the English through it...just as a medium.
Rosbif it is, then !! Mmmm...got me all hungry now...I'm STARVING for Feb. 1st !!!!!!! We better not lose !!! the anti-climax would be comical, objectively:
"France comin right back, got a full 2 weeks to train this year, gonna go from Spoon to ***le in a year, TD is back !!! A long time coming, gotta break that 2/3 game losing streak against them rosbifs ! In Paris, we got this ! A strong start would mean the wor.......BAM, we lost."

I love how we're calmly debating the terms we'll use to attack each other relentlessly with centuries of cultivated hatred behind it.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Cheese eating surrender monkeys takes some beating.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUjGf2Grrus

 

[Kevin Robarts]

Hey guys,


Sorry to deviate off the subject but could you give me a heads up on these English players regarding whether they are still injured and for how long.

Manu Tuilagi,
Geoff Parling,
Tom Croft,
Christian Wade,
Marland Yarde,
Alex Corbisiero,
David Wilson
Ben Foden

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Tuilagi could be back by as soon as mid-feb,
Parling end of Feb,
Croft out for the rest of the season I think (he was originally, but I'm sure I've read somewhere he might be back before that),
Wade out until April/May
Yarde by the end of the 6N (but I don't expect he'll play a part)
Corbisiero, in theory, by the end of the 6N - don't expect him to play though, and really wouldn't him too. The guy needs a rest,
Wilson, I think, is only missing the first two 6N games,
Foden end of Feb

 

[Kevin Robarts]

Thanks TRF_Olyy.

 

[ratsapprentice]

According to the newspapers this is the probable lineup:

1. Marler
2. Hartley
3. Cole
4. Launchbury
5. Lawes
6. Wood
7. Robshaw
8. B. Vunipola
9. Dickson
10. Farrell
11. May
12. Twelvetrees
13. Burrell
14. Nowell
15. Brown

16. Youngs
17. M. Vunipola
18. Thomas
19. Attwood
20. Morgan
21. Youngs
22. Ford
23. Goode

Intro to the new guys for the Frogs:

Jonny May: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDmHdeYNw5s
Jack Nowell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOgA2CO4u-w
Luther Burrell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbroDQm0K9E

I think a lot of people have doubts about Jonny May and Luther Burrell being able to make the step up to international rugby, but if they do then they could be a handful.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

That's a lineup that is actually exciting, although obviously we need to see if they can perform on the day. Just Goode left to weed out of the side. Also if the game goes well for us, I'd like to see Ford get a bit of game time.

 

[Crapspray]

Slightly surprised Burrell got the nod. Certainly in form, but his defence out of position is a concern.

Then again, Lancaster has always played it safe in the backs. I don't think he'd take too big of a risk. Maybe it's because he doesn't have to rely on Ashton's defence outside?

I just hopes it all clicks. If it does we might be halfway towards a backline to match the pack.

 

[Peat]

As best I can work out, Jonny May is 13 cover - supposed you could push 36 out one and Fazlet to 12 - and Angry Mike is wing cover with Alex Goode praying for backline injuries.

Meanwhile, Elliot Daly will be bumbling around with the Saxons...

Can't really argue with the predicted team but there's quite a few players there that I'm nervous about or don't rate. If I were to make one change... Brad Barritt for Burrell. Harsh and not great for attack but the issues of experience and defence worry me more. Dickson and Farrell is the single least inspiring half-back partnership in existence. That front row bench is asking for a brisk anal pumping.

 

[Patchey]

As best I can work out, Jonny May is 13 cover - supposed you could push 36 out one and Fazlet to 12 - and Angry Mike is wing cover with Alex Goode praying for backline injuries.

Meanwhile, Elliot Daly will be bumbling around with the Saxons...

Can't really argue with the predicted team but there's quite a few players there that I'm nervous about or don't rate. If I were to make one change... Brad Barritt for Burrell. Harsh and not great for attack but the issues of experience and defence worry me more. Dickson and Farrell is the single least inspiring half-back partnership in existence. That front row bench is asking for a brisk anal pumping.

Strongly agree about Daly being wasted down in the Saxons and the front row replacements looking weak.

However, almost tempted to give you negative rep for putting the phrase 'brisk anal pumping' in my head. What a thought...

 

[j'nuh]

According to the newspapers this is the probable lineup:

1. Marler
2. Hartley
3. Cole
4. Launchbury
5. Lawes
6. Wood
7. Robshaw
8. B. Vunipola
9. Dickson
10. Farrell
11. May
12. Twelvetrees
13. Burrell
14. Nowell
15. Brown

16. Youngs
17. M. Vunipola
18. Thomas
19. Attwood
20. Morgan
21. Youngs
22. Ford
23. Goode

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fP2VZ7pOE4#t=1m30s

Best squad that Lancaster has put out regarding what he had available at the time. Add a fit Tuilagi and Corbisiero, and it's only his insistence on Goode that needs to disappear. (I also wanna see Ford swap with Farrell.)

 

[Peat]

Goode may not be there if Foden is fit. Slightly optimistic, but it does offer better back three cover...

 

[Atco]

Please don't let Duck see this... As of he didn't hate the WM enough

Atco, you post like Greenwood speaks!

Sadly, never played like Greenwood played.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I also would rather see Barritt in outside centre than Burrell who I think, on debut, should play inside centre or nowhere at all.

As a Daly groupie what frustrates is that he has been standing out at premiership level for at least a year longer than Watson has, and longer too than Nowell. And Daly would make more sense to have on the bench than Watson, Goode or Foden, imo. Christ, the guy's even put in a decent cameo at 9.

As I said before, with a team like that our best bet is to go for France at the breakdown and just generally ***** them off. our ball retention is generally pretty decent, and if we can turnover enough and bash away at the gain-line for long enough, we may be able to accumulate a number of multiples of 3. My fear with the newcomers isn't about them making mistakes, but that if they don't get the ball and the chance to have a good run early on, the tension and occasion might tighten them into the England gameplan and make them play more conservatively. Whereas I always feel that get the ball in their hands for an early attack could set the tone for them and give them the confidence to play as they would for their clubs.

 

[Big Ewis]

Interesting to see quite a few personalities of French Rugby react in view of this coming Crunch in Paris:

- former Bleus selector/coach Berbizier has called out Saint-André about the identity of his game and his formatting of the 9's and 10's and how little consistency we've had at the fly-half core. He's even said, amid a handful of criticism, it's no mystery we're the only "big nation" without a World Cup trophy.

- Abdel-Atif Benazzi has also called the current French coach out and said this coming Crunch, but more largely tournament were to be opportunity we should finally truly judge Saint-André and his staff. Which I totally agree with, 2 years into his mandate. He wishes France will play a less "restrictive" game, less "random" in his own words. He says with good preparation time, how well the staff and players will know each other: now's the time to judge the man.

This very match will be huge, huge, huge for France. Not that it's the end of the world if we lose, or that all is forgiven and absolved if we win - but mouths will be open and tempers will heat up pretty hard in the aftermath.
This certainly means a lot more to the French than it does to the English. Could be fascinating to watch, and I don't think the French will completely fart this one. I think the focus will be very high even if the pressure will be too.
But failure could spark or rather confirm the coming of a revolution for French Rugby in its current state.

 

[brumtom]

According to my iPhone. It looks like it's going to be a rainy day in Paris.

 

[Cheeky Bean]

FRANCE ENGLAND SIX NATIONS TICKETS for sale

Hello,
I have 2 France England tickets available (Sat 2/1/2014) as my friends have pulled out.
Block A6 Row 19 Seats 22 and 23

Face value 45 Euros each (approximately £37)

Will sell them for face value.

I can arrange a RDV in Paris on Friday evening or Saturday some time before kick off.

Thanks,
Andrew