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

[Becca]

At first I thought it was baffling but now I just accept it's peak Eddie Jones

 

[Jashay]

Looks alright to me. Stuart is in because Sinckler has been managing both concussion protocols and a small back injury. I thought Launchbury might start with Isiekwe benching, but Jones has always been oddly cool on Launchbury. Not got any complaints about Isiekwe getting more time in general, but I'd have preferred to see Joe.

Furbank-Steward is odd, though. Not really got an explanation for that one. Just have to see how it plays, but I'm imagining Steward is going to spend a lot of time dropping back to cover anyway.

Just have to see how it plays, but I don't think it's going to be the massive doom and gloom blowout that some are predicting.

 

[Reiser99]

It's my new default 'not expecting anything competitive' scoreline. 3 fixtures with the home team being stronger isnt a good recipe for a riveting day of rugby. Instead, I'll be dusting off the sun lounger out and a new book and soaking up the rays as the mercury hits 13 degrees this Saturday. Welcome to Scottish Summertime.

 

[Scotty]

6N championships with EJ incharge.
2016 1st
2017 1st
2018 5th
2019 2nd
2020 1st
2021 5th
2022 5th...probably

Pretty much a rollercoaster.
Either we are in a good place or he uses the 6N to test new things as it doesnt matter to him, only the WC does.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Pack is pretty pleasing for me

But why is he so bad at Backs selection

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

6N championships with EJ incharge.
2016 1st
2017 1st
2018 5th
2019 2nd
2020 1st
2021 5th
2022 5th...probably

Pretty much a rollercoaster.
Either we are in a good place or he uses the 6N to test new things as it doesnt matter to him, only the WC does.

Talk about blowing hot and cold... I think people forget just how poor we looked in the 2019 WC. We looked very good in one game, (possibly 2 if you count the one against the Aussies) and then comprehensively defeated in the final. Updating the graph from last year with this year to date. Now for some charts, because who doesn't love a good chart? All 6N results for England since Jones' first year with a 4 year running average trend line (fainter line). Strongly suspect that on both these charts the difference line will be dropping for 2022 after the game against France. 2019 was a huge blip so either Jones is an absolute genius for peaking at the world cup or he was insanely lucky. The general trends are downwards.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I mean we didn't come close to losing until that final in the 2019 RWC so not sure what you are on in that regards.

We beat Australia by 40-16 why wouldn't you count that lol.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

 

[MikeTheNative]

Don't matter if your carrying fewer metres if there in the right places.
France I believe have kicked more ball than any other team and it's been a good kicking game as well.

 

[Wichita]

I really would like to see the same stats with carrying meters in the opponent's half or even the opponents 22, it might well tell a very different story.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I'm pleased with Isiekwe's selection. Launch presumably joins Manu and others in the "called up before they were ready" bin.

However….

I'm as annoyed / baffled by the Steward thing as everyone else.

France have gone for le bombe squad. Monstrous pack with 6 more on the bench. We've got 2 smallish back rowers one of of whom Jones openly says isn't fully fit. We've gone 5:3 - with a clearly not right Sinckler and Dolly and Chessum who have something like 35 minutes international experience between them. Randall, Ford and Daly aren't really going to scare the French or massively up the pace either.

Can't see this ending well.

 

[Protalus rampart]

EJ taking revenge on Ireland by guaranteeing a French Grand Slam…

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

you're playing a child against this French team.

These lineups have me so excited

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

you're playing a child against this French team.

These lineups have me so excited

Sorry what? Who is the child?

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

Okay.

Apparently Furbank is 25. I swear to god last time I saw him play he looked 12.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Okay.

Apparently Furbank is 25. I swear to god last time I saw him play he looked 12.

Hahaha fair enough

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Can't understand dropping Malins. Was your best back after Steward. Cracking player.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Although we've got a number of newish players we actually have a much more experienced squad overall

Something like 10 caps per man in starting XV - 547 v 401

Even more marked on the bench - 280 v 124

Our starters are obviously distorted by Youngs and Lawes, but overall only Fickou with 70 has more than 50 caps in the French squad (Antonio next on 43) while George, Itoje, Lawes, Youngs, Marler, Sinckler, Ford and Daly all have more than 50 for us with Slade closing in fast.

That experience ought to be made to count. Work in progress / injury based excuses would sound pretty lame in that context.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Le Crunch used to be one of my favourite fixtures, when England were beating the French like 7/8 times in a row and Moore was winding up the French front row. Can this team get at France and make them combust?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/60781547

 

[Reiser99]

Although we've got a number of newish players we actually have a much more experienced squad overall

Something like 10 caps per man in starting XV - 547 v 401

Even more marked on the bench - 280 v 124

Our starters are obviously distorted by Youngs and Lawes, but overall only Fickou with 70 has more than 50 caps in the French squad (Antonio next on 43) while George, Itoje, Lawes, Youngs, Marler, Sinckler, Ford and Daly all have more than 50 for us with Slade closing in fast.

That experience ought to be made to count. Work in progress / injury based excuses would sound pretty lame in that context.

Issue is how much does experience counteract less ability/form or tactics/selections?

Dupont has 39 caps to Youngs' 115. Does 79 caps worth of experience outweigh the fact that Dupont is the better player? No for me. For me the experience situation is worse because we have loads of caps thrown around with no clear plan or idea of what the team should be. France with less caps have a settled side that is on an upwards progression. We just have chaos.

I still think EJ had his 2023 team in mind after 2019 regardless of form/injuries/age etc... He's tried very hard to replace players that still keep with that initial blueprint, rather than adapting his tactics and selections to suit the players available and in form. It's why his selections always look like he picks the names and then decides where to position them. I said it before, he's like a 13 year old on Fifa picking the players with the best rating/stat or who he likes and then forcing them into a team. Overall it weakens the team.

P.S I'm sure you weren't saying that our experience should win us the game, but I thought I'd use the opportunity to have a rant about Jones and his shitty selections.