[2015 RWC] Warm Up Match: England vs France (15/08/2015)

[ncurd]

I think LCD deserves a second crack but it's do or die for him. If he doesn't play next week George would have to play monumentally bad.

Overall good game for the backs less so for the forwards.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Woodward, Greenwood and Johnny picking their first XV to play France next week. the usual suspects, but Haskell at 6? Would have thought Wood at 6 after what happened in the 6Ns and Lancaster saying how important having a 3rd main line out option at 6.

 

[stus768]

I would have thought they would save the first XV for the Ireland game.

I would play Barritt and Joseph together tho.

 

[kesh]

3rd/4th's did better then the 1st's against the AB's so expecting a bit of 'rust' shaken off and a tighter game in Paris.

 

[goodNumber10]

Looked like a broken wrist - massively swollen.

they've already confirmed it's non-serious, just a knock on the arm.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Steffens Armitage is indulging a circle jerk on his Twitter.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Cipriani over Farrell every Saturday of the month

 

[goodNumber10]

Cipriani over Farrell every Saturday of the month

Lol! in the bar maybe.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Steffens Armitage is indulging a circle jerk on his Twitter.

**** him.

 

[ncurd]

Yup Steffons had his chance to move back to the UK. If he wanted to play for England and Toulon he's literally had years to kick up a stink!

 

[ratsapprentice]

**** him.

+1

 

[yaboyjj]

When was the last time the England pack got bullied like that? looked like Cardiff 2013 all over again.

First things first, both Wood and Clark were absolutely anonymous (infact, they were a bit of a joke tbh- wtf was Wood thinking going to corner 5 up!), badly exposed for the flat track bullies they have become at Northampton (there was an uncanny resemblance with the Euro performances V Clermont/Racing, where they were blown away by the big boys), Clark to be cut asap, but Wood will unfortunately make the cut- can't help feeling Ewers/Kvesic/Itoje would have given a better account of themselves than these two. Pathetic.

Second row was pretty pish too (surprisingly), Parling looked waaay off the pace (age/injuries catching up or lack of matches?), Kruis was average- some good, some bad- he looked to be taking a lot of lineout ball? (was swamped a bit at times tbf- wouldn't write him off).
As expected with the front row- under pressure at scrum (dirty french antics there though...and an underpowered second row I suspect), but Mako was good around the field- Webber actually not too bad- Brookes is not a starter though (good impact sub at best right now).

Half backs were pretty solid imo- Wiggle does what Wiggle does best and organised/kicked/passed pretty well, Farrell pretty solid too.
Burgess looked far improved and more at home in the England set-up as opposed to in the Bath midfield set-up, should go over Burrell.
Slade looked hella classy out there with some really nice touches- he made Farrell and Burgess work with his efforts at 12 in attack- surely he has done enough to go? probably quite telling that the England bench gave him an ovation when he came off.

I will eat my words with both May and Watson- both looked far improved from previous games (Watson looked to have bulked out a bit?), very clinical- Nowell may have to put a marker down now. Unusual for England that the wingers score all 3 tries... coincidence (Slade had a lot to do with this imo). Oh, and kick chase game comes on leaps an bounds with May on the field.

It's hard to tell exactly, but Wilson seemed to stabalise the scrum well and Corbs actually had Uni in trouble once he scrummaged straight and legally.
Hask was excellent- the difference in physicality between him and Wood/Clark was very very obvious- must start at 6.
Care..... bring in Simpson asap.
36- he's a gonner
none of the locks put their hand up at all for the 3rd/4th spot- can't help feeling Slater might have been a better option now... no need for overreactions at this stage though.
The gulf between starting and second pack looking bigger than fist imagined (blurred lines albeit), Cole, Launch, Lawes, Marler, Robshaw, Hask looking indispensable now. pls don't get injured.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

Guscott's commentray on the Beeb highlights show is hilarious(ly ****). Sounds like he's chatting to his mates at the pub.

 

[TobesHodges]

Great result for England, called it with May in another thread
It was great to see the depth of English rugby playing such a top French team, I think a couple more starters will be in next week, maybe launchbury, youngs, barritt and brown..
The experience in the final quarter for France was kind of inevitable..
All in all not a bad start

 

[NickBD]

I wouldn't worry most of the top 8 I'd argue most were 4th/5th choices. 1st and 2nd choice packs can challenge on a world level - Marler, Youngs, Cole, Launch, Lawes and then 2nd Maku, George, Wilson, Attwood, Parling. Back row however I'd agree right now if any off Robshaw, Haskel, Wood, get injured Clarke is then the back up which isn't ideal.

Do think some ex pros are being harsh on Burgess. Heard Matt Dawson on radio earlier saying based on that game he wouldn't take him. I must have been watching a different game I thought he was good. I don't think Slade is his competition I think it's Burrell. I know I'm in the minority but I'd take Sam over Burrell. As much people won't like it I think Cips in Slade's rival as back up 10. I do think Slade will get the pick.

 

[TobesHodges]

Guscott's commentray on the Beeb highlights show is hilarious(ly ****). Sounds like he's chatting to his mates at the pub.

:lol: Your right! Though he was right about Burgess and Slade they need another run out..

 

[Tony Manx]

Guscott's commentray on the Beeb highlights show is hilarious(ly ****). Sounds like he's chatting to his mates at the pub.

Probably is!!

 

[Peat]

I will eat my words with both May and Watson- both looked far improved from previous games (Watson looked to have bulked out a bit?), very clinical- Nowell may have to put a marker down now. Unusual for England that the wingers score all 3 tries... coincidence (Slade had a lot to do with this imo). Oh, and kick chase game comes on leaps an bounds with May on the field.

Can only applaud what they did with quality ball but felt they will come under greater pressure from the opposition on other days and would like to see how they react to that before considering Nowell particularly at risk. But definitely the best part of our performance.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Firstly the better team won, England looked sharper and more aggressive all round, although France did have their moments mostly upfront than in the backs and thankyou PSA for picking a fullback at wing and a winger just back from injury. MIND BLOWING!!!!! as England have 2 excellent wingers maybe select someone who can deal with those sorts of situation, but no pick out of position and create advantages for the opposition!!!! good thinking Batman!!!
This was not Frances first choice but not that far away so if England pick a first choice next Sat, France could be in trouble even in Paris. the only good thing to come out of all this is that the TOP 14 starts next Sat for Montpellier with a home game v Oyonnax so i have much more serious things to think about, cos France aint going to win the WC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[arry nordy key]

I think it is worth noting that that was probably the best French performance for a while. They looked very sharp, physical and keen to use the offloading game. The overall intensity and quality of rugby far outstripped the recent Irish warm ups, so in one respect, SL will be glad of a proper hit out as opposed to the farce at Mil Stad last week.