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

[Vieux Talonneur]

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

Someone somewhere had better be pulling someone's chain.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Oh God, I've just read that in the Times which also says that Youngs is line for a recall.

I think the team isn't being announced until quite late so I have all day to get wound up.

 

[wsurfa]

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

 

[Wasps92]

 

[TRF_Olyy]

So is the team announcement today, not tomorrow?

I'd presumed tomorrow because the Saturday sides in the Prem are announced on Friday, but thinking about it internationals might have an extra day between team and game

 

[Jashay]

Man, I can barely remember Furbank outside of his nightmare debut against France and that hurricane-swept game in Scotland. How's he getting on at Saints these days?

I'm not against a backup fullback getting a look in, but I'm amazed our priority isn't getting the first-choice fullback more than 5 caps in the position.

EDIT: Doesn't he have an absolute cannon of a boot? Is this Eddie trying to counter France's kicking game?

 

[HamJan]

So is the team announcement today, not tomorrow?

I'd presumed tomorrow because the Saturday sides in the Prem are announced on Friday, but thinking about it internationals might have an extra day between team and game

Team announcement at 1700 this evening.

 

[HamJan]

Man, I can barely remember Furbank outside of his nightmare debut against France and that hurricane-swept game in Scotland. How's he getting on at Saints these days?

I'm not against a backup fullback getting a look in, but I'm amazed our priority isn't getting the first-choice fullback more than 5 caps in the position.

EDIT: Doesn't he have an absolute cannon of a boot? Is this Eddie trying to counter France's kicking game?

I don't think he's set the world alight at Saints, but he's a better player than his England debut suggested.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Man, I can barely remember Furbank outside of his nightmare debut against France and that hurricane-swept game in Scotland. How's he getting on at Saints these days?

I'm not against a backup fullback getting a look in, but I'm amazed our priority isn't getting the first-choice fullback more than 5 caps in the position.

EDIT: Doesn't he have an absolute cannon of a boot? Is this Eddie trying to counter France's kicking game?

No cannon of a boot I'm afraid. Good running FB but as a saints fan I wouldn't say he's always looked like an top class player. He can be a very good running FB though and is a very good play maker.

Would be co fused by our solid but uninspiring FB moved to the wing. Why? Just why.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, Furbank is a good player at Saints,

But "good club level player" isn't exactly "international starter"

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

No cannon of a boot I'm afraid. Good running FB but as a saints fan I wouldn't say he's always looked like an top class player. He can be a very good running FB though and is a very good play maker.

Would be co fused by our solid but uninspiring FB moved to the wing. Why? Just why.

If it happens I guess it's signalling a kicking game where we use our best man in the air to contest attacking kicks well into Fra territory - the French back 3 aren't the most dominant in the air.

But that then means we have 2 wings who are never going to win a foot race and a FB who's not the most secure. Or maybe if it does happen there will be a fair bit of chopping and changing between positions depending on situation.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Yeah, Furbank is a good player at Saints,

But "good club level player" isn't exactly "international starter"

Those are players Eddie loves though although Furbank does have some genius play making in him although does have some howlers as well.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Eddie loves the rugby philosophy of "we will concede a lot, but we will score more than a lot to win", he just hasn't figured out the 2nd bit yet.

 

[Which Tyler]

Would be co fused by our solid but uninspiring FB moved to the wing. Why? Just why.

6:2 bench, I guess; which means Furbank ahead of Slade as back-up FH.
Both of those things make me sad

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

"Yeah, I was really proud of the boys, we turned a corner today mate"

Four days later....

Massive selection shake up

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

"Yeah, I was really proud of the boys, we turned a corner today mate"

Four days later....

Massive selection shake up

We've not actually seen the team yet, in fairness.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

England have been seriously Dunkirking our loss to Ireland. Lots of positive spin but let's be honest, in the end we were well beaten and it was our recurring problem of awful discipline that put us in that situation. Other teams have put up as much if not more of a fight against T1 opposition when a man down and it was really Irish sloppiness and favourable scrum calls that kept us in the game at all.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

We've not actually seen the team yet, in fairness.

Need to get the joke in, don't I!

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Need to get the joke in, don't I!

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

6:2 bench, I guess;

Fra have only gone 5:3 v Italy so it would seem to make sense this time. If we can't hang in up front here the rest is moot.