[2022 Six Nations] France vs England (19/03/22)

[Jakedood]

28 retained including Underhill, Heyes, Barbeary and Lynagh. No Willis.

RFU

www.englandrugby.com

Also no Max Malins replaced by Louis Lynagh
And Blamire out, Dolly in

 

[Which Tyler]

Just as a testament to the dumbassery of Ewels, literally 5 seconds before he tackled James Ryan, he put in an almost identical tackle on Peter O'Mahony, fully upright and in danger of head contact. What total stupidity, you cant even suggest its a one off after seeing that

No-one's claimed that though.
On the other hand, pretty much every tall player puts in a similar tackle, pretty much every game. Whilst they rarely result in a hea on head that is seen and dealt with; the reward is worth the risk of sanction.

 

[Jashay]

Looking at the squad, my prediction is a 6:2 bench with Daly on the wing, and Chessum sitting on the bench unused for the whole game.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

And Blamire out, Dolly in

Blamire must have royally screwed up each and every one of the 60 seconds he played v Ire then.

Actually, looking back his one line out was woeful…..

 

[Bristolbet]

France with a big win on sat… ireland were bad and made England look half decent with 14 men, lots of handling errors and awful scrum. France will turn up and win by 12+

 

[Enough]

Malins has to be binned off, really doesn't offer anything, same with Daly.

I'd rather we didn't continue with the Slade at 1st receiver nonsense or in fact remove Slade entirely (keep Marchant at 13) but there isn't anyone in the squad to replace him.

When we are happy with one part of the team Jones screws with another.

Another wasted 6 nations under Jones.

The last line pretty much says it all.

 

[Wasps92]

Expect us to lose but a loss with another absolutely pathetic display in attack should surely lead to the RFU looking at getting rid of Jones? I'm fed up to the back teeth of England at the minute, it's been two years of crap.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I'm going to watch Coventry RFC on that Saturday and not sure I'll be able to come home after a few pints and watch shoddy England play some tactically stupid rugby while almost certainly having 1 player out of position and a few players that shouldn't be there.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I'm going to watch Coventry RFC on that Saturday and not sure I'll be able to come home after a few pints and watch shoddy England play some tactically stupid rugby while almost certainly having 1 player out of position and a few players that shouldn't be there.

Stay out, drink more pints and then you won't remember the game and have something good to watch hungover if you pull off the upset.

This has been how I supported Ireland from about 2019 to last summer. What happened in that QF v NZ? No idea I was drunk, and that was at 10.30am.

 

[Jakedood]

The last line pretty much says it all.

Is it wasted?
I can see a few positives, namely valuable experience for Marcus Smith and Harry Randall, especially in trying to manage a game against a top class team with 14 men. Englands control of territory was immense, and hard to judge an attack when instead of creating a 2 on 1, it becomes a 1 v 1, and with the quality of drifitng and blitz defenses these days, England basically would have needed a vast offloading game based around a tackle breaking player to create line breaks
You also have experience for Dombrandt and Simmonds at this level, at least one of whom is likely to start in 18 months time, and Freddie Steward, who with every game he plays will hopefully improve with ball in hand
Genge looks to have come of age big time in this six nations
Marchant has looked really strong for me
Itoje has looked back to his best and supreme
Certainly wouldn't call this a waste, with lots of promising players learning a ton about international rugby

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Jones is in a difficult position here in terms of how to set up the team. We'd all like to see some more creative stuff yet there's also a game to try to win against the best team in the tournament on their own patch.

Realistically we're not going to outmuscle, out think or out pace them. Unlike French teams of old they're fit, intense in defence with good discipline. They have more players who can pull a rabbit out of a hat than us.

Our main hope is probably to be in contention going into the last quarter and hope that the pressure of a GS gets to Fra. To do that will require last week's intensity again and possibly a spoiling game plan.

While France are developing well, a couple of weaknesses have become apparent. Jaminet is not the best under the high ball and their line out was shaky v Wales. Might not be glamorous stuff but definitely 2 areas to attack.

 

[LIONSxv]

Injuries aside the squad balence is better than it has been for some time. Aside from the 3/4 which is missing pace and actual wingers. The problem for me is not talent but over coaching and a constant changes in selection.
Going back to Injuries yet again we are in six Nations with a dozen players out injured. You can't build a successful side with so many players constantly out. It has been this way with England for a decade. The RFU need to a root and branch review of how players train, recover with club and country. Then compare with nations such as the Irish and French who have very settled starting XVs

 

[LIONSxv]

Jones is in a difficult position here in terms of how to set up the team. We'd all like to see some more creative stuff yet there's also a game to try to win against the best team in the tournament on their own patch.

Realistically we're not going to outmuscle, out think or out pace them. Unlike French teams of old they're fit, intense in defence with good discipline. They have more players who can pull a rabbit out of a hat than us.

Our main hope is probably to be in contention going into the last quarter and hope that the pressure of a GS gets to Fra. To do that will require last week's intensity again and possibly a spoiling game plan.

While France are developing well, a couple of weaknesses have become apparent. Jaminet is not the best under the high ball and their line out was shaky v Wales. Might not be glamorous stuff but definitely 2 areas to attack.

The Way to target the French is how Wales did it, make it a dog fight make their big forwards ruck, then make them kick.Wales monstered them at the breakdown in Paris last year , which nearly won them a game they had no right to be that close. Their forward back is very big, however they lack a proper 7 a better team will exploit that.

 

[Jakedood]

Jones is in a difficult position here in terms of how to set up the team. We'd all like to see some more creative stuff yet there's also a game to try to win against the best team in the tournament on their own patch.

Realistically we're not going to outmuscle, out think or out pace them. Unlike French teams of old they're fit, intense in defence with good discipline. They have more players who can pull a rabbit out of a hat than us.

Our main hope is probably to be in contention going into the last quarter and hope that the pressure of a GS gets to Fra. To do that will require last week's intensity again and possibly a spoiling game plan.

While France are developing well, a couple of weaknesses have become apparent. Jaminet is not the best under the high ball and their line out was shaky v Wales. Might not be glamorous stuff but definitely 2 areas to attack.

SO a big thing regarding french lineout (and I havent seen stats but from watching) is to be able to jump with Cameron Woki, who's lightning fast but does call a lot of lineouts to himself. Whether it's Itoje or Lawes, being able to stay with Woki, especially if you are trying to pressure them in the French 22 is going to be key

Jaminet isnt magnificent under the high ball, but one of the takeaways so far is how France kick long a lot of the time, often finding turf and getting the ball deep in the 22, down the middle of the pitch. This isnt an ideal place for either a kick to touch, or an up and under, and I wonder if England may even look to drop Smith back in order to assist with this. I wouldnt back Jaminet v Steward though if England do stick up some high balls, as well as neither of the wingers being overly tall (despite good leaps)

The real keys for England will be, as you said, that intensity in defense, can they get up off the line hard, and stop the likes of Atonio, Alldritt, Jelonch and Willemse from getting over the gain line, while also keeping the rugby intelligence to deal with Dupont close to the fringes, the subtle hands of Baille. Everything France do comes from Dupont, not Ntamack, who almost plays like a 3rd centre, so commanding that space between the ruck and first/second receiver is pivotal

After that, the only concern I'd have is the monstrous weight of the French pack, and the toll that takes on you in the scrum and in general play, it saps your energy, and England can't afford to slip back and give away cheap penalties in the scrum, they need parity, or with the French kicking game and style of attack, I'd say territory for England could be very limited

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Is it wasted?
I can see a few positives, namely valuable experience for Marcus Smith and Harry Randall, especially in trying to manage a game against a top class team with 14 men. Englands control of territory was immense, and hard to judge an attack when instead of creating a 2 on 1, it becomes a 1 v 1, and with the quality of drifitng and blitz defenses these days, England basically would have needed a vast offloading game based around a tackle breaking player to create line breaks
You also have experience for Dombrandt and Simmonds at this level, at least one of whom is likely to start in 18 months time, and Freddie Steward, who with every game he plays will hopefully improve with ball in hand
Genge looks to have come of age big time in this six nations
Marchant has looked really strong for me
Itoje has looked back to his best and supreme
Certainly wouldn't call this a waste, with lots of promising players learning a ton about international rugby

Fair enough. Individual players going well and getting experience is clearly good. But those then have to be melded into a team.

Bar a brave, but always futile, effort v Ire there's not been a single team performance that we could label good, unless we count niling Italy. We have had injuries, but they're a fact of life. What I can't see is a clear plan and if the likes of Dombrandt, Smith etc are going to be mainstays come the RWC their blooding should have started earlier.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I don't think Blamire should be our 3rd choice hooker. But Jones did, gave him literally a minute against Ire, not a very distinguished one granted, and then cans him.

I haven't seen anything to suggest injury and nor is Dolly an obvious upgrade. On the face of it this is exactly the kind of illogical decision that annoys us and probably doesn't do a great deal for the players concerned.

Isiekwe's another, bouncing between starting, bench and not involved. Ewels wasn't an obvious upgrade although went OK v Wal, and while peak Launchbury might be, I don't think current Launch necessarily is either.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

SO a big thing regarding french lineout (and I havent seen stats but from watching) is to be able to jump with Cameron Woki, who's lightning fast but does call a lot of lineouts to himself. Whether it's Itoje or Lawes, being able to stay with Woki, especially if you are trying to pressure them in the French 22 is going to be key

Jaminet isnt magnificent under the high ball, but one of the takeaways so far is how France kick long a lot of the time, often finding turf and getting the ball deep in the 22, down the middle of the pitch. This isnt an ideal place for either a kick to touch, or an up and under, and I wonder if England may even look to drop Smith back in order to assist with this. I wouldnt back Jaminet v Steward though if England do stick up some high balls, as well as neither of the wingers being overly tall (despite good leaps)

The real keys for England will be, as you said, that intensity in defense, can they get up off the line hard, and stop the likes of Atonio, Alldritt, Jelonch and Willemse from getting over the gain line, while also keeping the rugby intelligence to deal with Dupont close to the fringes, the subtle hands of Baille. Everything France do comes from Dupont, not Ntamack, who almost plays like a 3rd centre, so commanding that space between the ruck and first/second receiver is pivotal

After that, the only concern I'd have is the monstrous weight of the French pack, and the toll that takes on you in the scrum and in general play, it saps your energy, and England can't afford to slip back and give away cheap penalties in the scrum, they need parity, or with the French kicking game and style of attack, I'd say territory for England could be very limited

England not give away penalties? When did you develop this taste for luxury?

 

[Makeshift10]

Just as a testament to the dumbassery of Ewels, literally 5 seconds before he tackled James Ryan, he put in an almost identical tackle on Peter O'Mahony, fully upright and in danger of head contact. What total stupidity, you cant even suggest its a one off after seeing that

Sadly you're right, it's far from a one off. That's how he tackles. Repeat offender for Bath with multiple cards to show for it. Bizarrely for such a bright bloke he seems totally incapable of learning from it, no matter how much it costs his teams and likely his personal success.

 

[Mr Burns]

Some rumours of Furbank starting at 15 and Steward shifting to 14 with Nowell completing the back three

 

[TRF_Olyy]

That would be a very Eddie selection, tbf