[2017 RBS Six Nations] Round 1: England vs. France (04/02/2017)

[brokenoses]

I think you're under rating May, I used to have the same opinion as you but I think he's grown into a really quality player. Lancaster said that in the RWC Camp he was one of the hardest workers and I think it shows. His defence has come a long way and I also think he's very good under the high ball (that paired with his pace make him a real weapon on the kick chase).

If I was to have Watson, Nowell and Daly in a back three then it'd be Daly 15, Watson 11. But, simply fit the fact that Daly is neither a wing nor fullback, my ideal back there would be 11. May 14. Nowell 15. Watson 23. Daly. As long as he's playing 13 in the Prem, that's where he should be played in the England team, and if he's not as good as JJ, then he'll be a bench option.

That looks good to be fair, although if there is no 2nd 5 type at 12 (Farrell or Slade) then I would argue putting Daly at 15 for his boot. Perhaps I'm being unfair about May, I haven't seen a lot of him this year so maybe I'm just going from longstanding criticisms (perpetuated by yesterday). I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt so hopefully he will prove me wrong in the next few weeks. As it stands though, if Brown isn't going anywhere then I still think it should be 11. Daly 14. Nowell but we will see.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

I think May struggled because everyone struggled, when players inside you are falling off tackles that are pretty easy and you'd fully expect them to make, that can throw you off balance. England, for god knows what reason, are still trying to tackle by hugging our opposition rather than hitting them hard low down and ensuring they are brought to ground. It isn't working and why we persist with this technique is weird. I know it is supposedly to prevent the offload but it fails to do that, fails to stop the player and fails to bring them to ground. Also did we ever compete in the ruck? It felt like the bad old days under Lancaster where teams had free rein on their own ball because we never even slowed it down, never mind competing. I understand keeping as many player in the defensive line as possible but for **** sake everyone can see how much pressure England put themselves under by letting out opposition dictate the pace, it doesn't work!

This is exactly how I felt; I tried to work out why I was clenching my teeth/arse at every ruck for half an hour before realising that our breakdown had basically regressed to 2014. France had sooo much quick ball as a result.

 

[FrenchFan]

England were for the taking but we didn't take them.

France can only blame themselves. Not the opposition the Twickenham crowd the weather or the ref. The ref didn't decide the outcome of the game. The yellow against May is not a yellow. Just another pathetic example of IRB's PC reffing BS at its worst. We've seen plenty of similar ridiculous card flashing in CCup which is slowly ruining the competition and the game.

France dominated England upfront. But dominating isn't winning. We did it without Ben Arous and Poirot who are technically better scrummager and more mobile props. Atonio is a liability and has to be dropped next game. Happy for our young prop Cyril Baille only 23 who started and did a fine job for his 2nd cap.

Our club rugby has always been forward oriented with an emphasis on set pieces. The Top 14 has not changed that. The scrum is still an important part of our club game and at least our refs can still ref it properly. As a Toulousain fan of nearly 20 years I've watched Noves won the majority of his many ***les with Toulouse with a dominant pack, a solid scrum and a kicking 10. As for the return of the 'French flair' I've no idea what that means. Just media talk about French rugby.

Picamoles was excellent. Back to his Toulouse best Serin is a talent. Lopez is settling in and I can't see FTD taking the 10 shirt back from him. Fickou quiet needs take more initiatives of his own.

I can see the Scotland that beat Ireland winning in Paris next weekend. If Noves comes under pressure from Laporte after the championship, he will resign.

 

[Peat]

Thought Farrell made the pass to Daly for his not quite try.

Yup. Ford broke then passed to Farrell, Farrell put in the pass... I see a lot of people going "Pfft any proper wing would have got that" and I'm not so sure myself, maybe they'd have dived early and kept their feet up, but that was an outstanding tackle from a very strong man and I'm not sure how many would have.


As for Brown - what people have said about reliability at the back. I'd also add that for such a reputedly selfish player, he features in the build up of a lot of our tries.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Yup. Ford broke then passed to Farrell, Farrell put in the pass... I see a lot of people going "Pfft any proper wing would have got that" and I'm not so sure myself, maybe they'd have dived early and kept their feet up, but that was an outstanding tackle from a very strong man and I'm not sure how many would have.


As for Brown - what people have said about reliability at the back. I'd also add that for such a reputedly selfish player, he features in the build up of a lot of our tries.

I don't think there's many saying "pfft", It was a fair effort, and I'm a massive Daly fan but I'm pretty sure Watson(injured I know) and May would have finished it. Christian Wade would have scored that without doubt (don't get me wrong I'm not saying Wade should be picked right now, he definitely shouldn't, but I do believe players with the true pace of a winger and maybe more experience in that situation might have got it down. Great defensive work though as you say.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

I can see the Scotland that beat Ireland winning in Paris next weekend. If Noves comes under pressure from Laporte after the championship, he will resign.

I'd doubt Noves is coming under any pressure if he continues to get the performances he has had in Argentina and England and in the autumn tests. France are playing like a top 6 side and I'd fancy them against Scotland next week.

 

[FrenchFan]

I'd doubt Noves is coming under any pressure if he continues to get the performances he has had in Argentina and England and in the autumn tests.

He will come under pressure from the union (Laporte and Simon) if he doesn't get results. I would personally cut him a lot of slack. He has inherited a poisoned chalice from the previous era and his group needs more trimming (in more ways than one! cf Atonio and Chiocci). His selections are good.

France are playing like a top 6 side and I'd fancy them against Scotland next week.

Don't Top 6 teams score when they're on the front foot and make far less many mistakes though? Creating is good, scoring better.

Pressure on France next week at home not on Scotland.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Don't Top 6 teams score when they're on the front foot and make far less many mistakes though? Creating is good, scoring better.

Well, Wales and South Africa are top 6 sides and don't really do those things. So it wasn't much of a compliment!

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

While I'm very England centric, I'm also pleased that France are heading back in the right direction again. Its been horrible watching them these last few years.

 

[Which Tyler]

I think you're under rating May, I used to have the same opinion as you but I think he's grown into a really quality player. Lancaster said that in the RWC Camp he was one of the hardest workers and I think it shows. His defence has come a long way and I also think he's very good under the high ball (that paired with his pace make him a real weapon on the kick chase).

If I was to have Watson, Nowell and Daly in a back three then it'd be Daly 15, Watson 11. But, simply fit the fact that Daly is neither a wing nor fullback, my ideal back there would be 11. May 14. Nowell 15. Watson 23. Daly. As long as he's playing 13 in the Prem, that's where he should be played in the England team, and if he's not as good as JJ, then he'll be a bench option.

I agree with everything in this post.
May as a poor defending headless chicken is a good 12-18 months out of date.
Daly as anything other than OC needs Daly getting 1000 minutes under his belt at other than OC (same going for Itoje/Lawes/Launch as not-a-lock)

I'd far rather play 2 wingers and a FB in the back 3. Daly is a great player, but he's also a specialist OC currently, and need to be happy with the 23 shirt whilst waiting for injury or a collapse of form for JJ

 

[ratsapprentice]

Yup. Ford broke then passed to Farrell, Farrell put in the pass... I see a lot of people going "Pfft any proper wing would have got that" and I'm not so sure myself, maybe they'd have dived early and kept their feet up, but that was an outstanding tackle from a very strong man and I'm not sure how many would have.

I think most NRL wingers would have scored that.

It's noticeable to me, that union wingers haven't really taken on the whole diving out of touch in order to score technique from RL.

 

[Car]

France can only blame themselves. Not the opposition the Twickenham crowd the weather or the ref. The ref didn't decide the outcome of the game. The yellow against May is not a yellow. Just another pathetic example of IRB's PC reffing BS at its worst. We've seen plenty of similar ridiculous card flashing in CCup which is slowly ruining the competition and the game.

I couldn't agree more (also with the rest). I don't get where all that talk about the ref is coming from when France played a rather weak England side that certainly could have been beaten by not making certain mistakes.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

http://www.rugbyworld.com/news/talking-points-from-england-v-france-76554

Whose head is that?

...You know which head I mean.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

http://www.rugbyworld.com/news/talking-points-from-england-v-france-76554

Whose head is that?

...You know which head I mean.

Marler

 

[Lé Ddanno]

Ahh of course.
Nowell's rat tail has gone. Seems it's time to rail against the roadkill fox on the nape of JMs neck.

 

[Maverick1987]

Looks like Mako is gonna be available for this weekends game ..... if he's genuinely fit then that's a massive plus for us ....

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38876085

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Looks like Mako is gonna be available for this weekends game ..... if he's genuinely fit then that's a massive plus for us ....

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38876085

"It is hoped the Saracens man, 26, who is recovering from a knee problem, will be fit to play some part in the latter stages of the championship."

Nope not available, although that is poor writing as both Vunipola and Kruis are 26 year old Saracen forwards with knee injuries...

 

[Maverick1987]

"It is hoped the Saracens man, 26, who is recovering from a knee problem, will be fit to play some part in the latter stages of the championship."

Nope not available, although that is poor writing as both Vunipola and Kruis are 26 year old Saracen forwards with knee injuries...

Ah bugger didn't read the article properly ... my bad

 

[NickBD]

It's a plus he's training, I heard on 5live he won't be available for Wales, I doubt Italy but England shouldn't need him for that, so I'd assume Scotland in a month.

 

[anderton46]

I thought England were somewhat poor in this game. Which worries me massively that they can still beat France who appeared to look reasonable.

If England play with any sort of continuity then I expect us to lose by more than 7.

I was impressed with your number 8 who I thought put in a good shift in the absence of Billy. We (Wales) haven't a single large 8 to rely on.