[2021 Six Nations] France vs Wales (20/03/2021)

[MikeTheNative]

Wales have kicked long and in play most of the tournament, I'm not sure they will change for France, I think they will try back their defence.

 

[Welsh Exile]

France have some pretty big units in the pack so I understand why Beard is in, but we'll miss hill in the lineout me thinks, Botham instead of Wainright not sure, Navidi can play 7, unless hes going to swap him (Botham for Tipric) good move if he does.
How do you beat France? Frustrate them if you can, stop kicking long would help too, stop them having the ball, we should also welcome their 9 as he could be the difference. Will be tough I think, but France are not unbeatable, just crowd them don't give them time, our defence must be good too need to form our line far quicker.

I think the line out is probably the main reason Beard is in. Both from a calling them point of view and defensively. He's been pretty reliable at taking them this 6N as well if I recall correctly. Hill is a better impact player than Beard too.

 

[ncurd]

I think they will try back their defence.

 

[Jakedood]

I'd also say, Edwards Blitz defense is pretty notorious, and geting the ball wide, fast, or using cheeky chips etc to slow it down, but even then need to be on the money. Would you back Biggar to succeed with it? I think until Sheedy comes on, they may be quite nullified in defense, and need that extra variety, pace, and attacking threat he poses as a runner, to develop plays off 10 successfully and get some genuine go forward

 

[Dai Yorkshire]

Wales have kicked long and in play most of the tournament, I'm not sure they will change for France, I think they will try back their defence.

Yeah I know but does it make sense to do it against a team like France, I thin Pivac needs to be a bit more pragmatic why give France umpteen opportunities to attack you, will be hard enough stopping their forwards why have their backs causing havoc too.

 

[MikeTheNative]

Yeah I know but does it make sense to do it against a team like France, I thin Pivac needs to be a bit more pragmatic why give France umpteen opportunities to attack you, will be hard enough stopping their forwards why have their backs causing havoc too.

I agree that Wales should either to really compete or just kick it off the park but I have the suspicion that they won't. Never know though.

 

[Dai Yorkshire]

I'd also say, Edwards Blitz defense is pretty notorious, and geting the ball wide, fast, or using cheeky chips etc to slow it down, but even then need to be on the money. Would you back Biggar to succeed with it? I think until Sheedy comes on, they may be quite nullified in defense, and need that extra variety, pace, and attacking threat he poses as a runner, to develop plays off 10 successfully and get some genuine go forward

We need to compete with their pack first, if we do that the rest will follow, as you say Defence to will be a must, I differ from you as I think Bigger must be there first to hold things together, then let loose Sheedy. Kicking to will have to be far smarter.

 

[Jakedood]

We need to compete with their pack first, if we do that the rest will follow, as you say Defence to will be a must, I differ from you as I think Bigger must be there first to hold things together, then let loose Sheedy. Kicking to will have to be far smarter.

Holding with this French team will be tough though... I guess JD and North arent exactly likely to help distribute the ball around the blitz quickly, though Welsh fans will hope they hold them from getting up and then drifting out

 

[Dai Yorkshire]

I agree that Wales should either to really compete or just kick it off the park but I have the suspicion that they won't. Never know though.

Our defence needs to be far better than it has been, too many times teams in this 6N have broken through, we must also be far quicker to form our defensive line if we do this we will frustrate the French and then who knows.

 

[MikeTheNative]

Holding with this French team will be tough though... I guess JD and North arent exactly likely to help distribute the ball around the blitz quickly, though Welsh fans will hope they hold them from getting up and then drifting out

This is why I think it's a mistake not to start Halaholo, he might not be the best passer of the ball but his footwork is so good that the defence has to keep an eye on him. JD had a few nice touches with the ball against Italy but he now seems to offer no line threat at all which isn't great when he's not the best passer either.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Our defence needs to be far better than it has been, too many times teams in this 6N have broken through, we must also be far quicker to form our defensive line if we do this we will frustrate the French and then who knows.

It's funny how we all can see things differently as I think our defence had generally been very good. Gethin Jenkins deserves a lot of credit as it's improved a lot since the autumn under Hayward but we couldn't get any worse to be fair.

 

[MikeTheNative]

The problem with defence, it can look fine up until that one game and the other team works it out. France will be a real test, not only powerful runners up front but their backs are full of dangerous runners.

 

[Welsh Exile]

The problem with defence, it can look fine up until that one game and the other team works it out. France will be a real test, not only powerful runners up front but their backs are full of dangerous runners.

Yeah France will be a massive test but generally we've been good in my opinion. Not perfect, mind, and it'll need to go up a level Saturday along with most other areas of our game.

 

[ncurd]

The problem is with this French team relying on your defense even if its pretty solid is shaky ground. England in general are fairly solid (barring Daly) it our attack that's looked shaky. Then you look at the two try's France scored against us and theres no glaring mistakes England made in either of those. The point being is just being defensively sound is probably not enough they have ability to carve opponents apart anyway it why they are so much fun to watch currently.

 

[TheSaffycen]

You have to be on point for 80 minutes, can Wales manage that? Possibly but it's a tough ask.

Ntmack on the bench is a big boost for Wales, especially with how they used the bench v England. I'm still sticking for Wales by 8 but I wouldn't be shocked if France blow them out the water. Hopefully it will be a good game

 

[MikeTheNative]

The problem is with this French team relying on your defense even if its pretty solid is shaky ground. England in general are fairly solid (barring Daly) it our attack that's looked shaky. Then you look at the two try's France scored against us and theres no glaring mistakes England made in either of those. The point being is just being defensively sound is probably not enough they have ability to carve opponents apart anyway it why they are so much fun to watch currently.

That set piece try was amazing. I don't think any try is undefendable but that comes pretty close

 

[FrenchFan]

Just heard Luke Pearce the ref was born in Pontypool (other side of the Pyrenees). Interesting choice...

 

[Dai Yorkshire]

Holding with this French team will be tough though... I guess JD and North arent exactly likely to help distribute the ball around the blitz quickly, though Welsh fans will hope they hold them from getting up and then drifting out

Ahah yeah, cant pass and wont pass, north has come out of the line to early on times. But they will tackle so I'm hoping the French run straight at them and try to go through them as they wont, they are both playing out of position and have probably needed time to bond with each other.

 

[Dai Yorkshire]

The problem is with this French team relying on your defense even if its pretty solid is shaky ground. England in general are fairly solid (barring Daly) it our attack that's looked shaky. Then you look at the two try's France scored against us and theres no glaring mistakes England made in either of those. The point being is just being defensively sound is probably not enough they have ability to carve opponents apart anyway it why they are so much fun to watch currently.

No I'm not saying to play a defensive game just that our defence needs to be better, most team have cut our defensive line, but if we can be strong there we have a couple of backs that will threaten any team. But it's going to be tough I have no illusions, I just know that any team can be beaten on the day.

 

[Grizou]

Just following up on my previous post about home-field advantage in the 6N Slam decider: France have been on for the Slam 3 times and each time have been at home (3 wins), while Ireland have been on for the Slam twice and both times have been away from home (2 wins). So overall, that's 16 times a team has gone into the final game with the Slam on the line (not including this year's decider), 7 times at home (7 wins (4 Wales, 3 France)) and 9 times away (4 wins (2 England, 2 Ireland) 5 losses (all England). Home advantage is huge!

So Wales always seal the deal when the Slam is on and so do France. And they both always had home advantage. And France are at home this time. Make of that what you will.

without fans in the stadium I do not believe much in the advantage of playing at home