[2023 Six Nations] England v France 11 March 2023. Kickoff 16:45

[BrokenWing]

I only noticed that now you've pointed it out

Maybe giving Smith game time, giving Ford time with the squad as he's been out for a fair while and realising he's not quite up to speed just yet.

 

[Scotty]

Also weird to drop Smith, bring in Ford and then do the reverse for the 27 man squad. What was the point of doing that?

Allow smith to play Harlequins big game, which maybe he requested, get Ford up to date in the process.

Im happy with the predicted squad tbh just hope Smith and Arundell are trusted

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Seems a bit pointless having Manu in there.

27 man squad rather than 26 so he's just there to hold tackle bags cause he's banned

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Lawes must be injured?

Think it's pretty easy to guess the side:

Genge, George, Sinckler
Itoje, Chessum,
Ludlam, Willis, Dombrandt,
JvP, Farrell,
Watson, Lawrence, Slade, Malins
Steward

Walker, Mako, Cole, Isiekwe, Earl, Mitchell, Smith, Arundell

Only real question mark is Ribbans vs Isiekwe for the bench spot

Little less sure on that.

I know the French are a couple of forwards down but they'll still put out a pretty big and physical pack. Plus haven't they run le bombe squad throughout this championship?

France haven't been great so far but it's never a brainwave to let them stuff you up front and we're not the kind of team to win games from the back foot. So I wouldn't be wholly surprised if Borthwick stuck a lock type in at 6 and / or goes 6-2.

 

[Amiga500]

Wonder how big a loss the 2 tightheads will be for France.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Telegraph reporting Smith starting over Farrell.

Praying he doesn't get hung out to dry. This is the big shot

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Lawes shoulder injury will keep him out of the final 2 games. Did he damage it:

a) In a heroic try line defensive hit against Wales

b) When levelled by George Ford in an Eng contact session

c) In the gym

Clue: It's not a) or b).

Bad luck for Lawes and you have to wonder if that's him done internationally. But honestly how many injuries do we pick up in camp?? Don't know if it is more than others but definitely feels that way.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Telegraph reporting Smith starting over Farrell.

Praying he doesn't get hung out to dry. This is the big shot

I've read the article but will believe it when I see it.

Would be a 3rd midfield combination in 4 games which is ludicrous really when not injury enforced. Faz feels like a starter or nothing - picking up the pace is touted as the way to get to this French team and Faz won't do that from the bench.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Bad luck for Lawes and you have to wonder if that's him done internationally. But honestly how many injuries do we pick up in camp?? Don't know if it is more than others but definitely feels that way.

If he's even 50% fit he goes to the world cup, I think
Ribbans/Isiekwe don't seem to be trusted

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

If he's even 50% fit he goes to the world cup, I think
Ribbans/Isiekwe don't seem to be trusted

Yes I'm sure you're right. But whether as the automatic first choice he has been might be another matter.

Recent injury record is awful.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Telegraph reporting Smith starting over Farrell.

Praying he doesn't get hung out to dry. This is the big shot

Times not going quite that far. Suggesting he might start.

But maybe Sinfield's trailing something with "Whether Owen is in the side or not he'll continue to be a great leader for us".

If Smith does start, Borthwick has to be given credit for changing horses when the evidence is there, but it's a pretty big volte face from a few short weeks ago when Borthwick was praising Faz to the skies as leader, 12 etc. Would be interesting to know if this change would have been on the cards without the plummeting goal kicking, which I'm in no doubt Farrell will fix.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Seems a bit pointless having Manu in there.

Apparently Danty might be back for France so Manu's been pretending to be him in training.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

But whether as the automatic first choice he has been might be another matter.

Yeah that's fair - Ludlam has made that 6 shirt his own, Lawes might be better off moving back to #4 and and challenging Itoje

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Bad luck for Lawes and you have to wonder if that's him done internationally. But honestly how many injuries do we pick up in camp?? Don't know if it is more than others but definitely feels that way.

Honestly I'm not really prepared to blame the camp for Lawes getting injured. Seems like he could get injured by a light breeze nowadays.

 

[BPM]

Times not going quite that far. Suggesting he might start.

But maybe Sinfield's trailing something with "Whether Owen is in the side or not he'll continue to be a great leader for us".

If Smith does start, Borthwick has to be given credit for changing horses when the evidence is there, but it's a pretty big volte face from a few short weeks ago when Borthwick was praising Faz to the skies as leader, 12 etc. Would be interesting to know if this change would have been on the cards without the plummeting goal kicking, which I'm in no doubt Farrell will fix.

I'll believe it when I see it, but I would be impressed if Borthwick has the balls to bench Farrell.

There is a bit of an element of having 'nothing to lose'. France might not have sparkled yet in the 6N (which is a bit ominous in itself), but they're still comfortably in the top 2 in the world. I think most would acknowledge that we're capable of a win, but they are very clear favourites.

Win, lose or draw, my hope is that Smith takes the chance and has his best performance yet for England. Being picked to start instead of Farrell is very different to playing alongside him or starting because he's unavailable. Marcus usually responds well to that kind of thing, so fingers crossed.

Would be a 3rd midfield combination in 4 games which is ludicrous really when not injury enforced. Faz feels like a starter or nothing - picking up the pace is touted as the way to get to this French team and Faz won't do that from the bench.

True, but as you said changing it because it's the right thing to do, would improve on my first impressions.

 

[BPM]

Wonder how big a loss the 2 tightheads will be for France.

Yep. Jelonch will be a loss too, although they have some quality back row options to call-upon.

 

[BrokenWing]

Apparently Danty might be back for France so Manu's been pretending to be him in training.

Wonder how he's getting on with the accent.

 

[BrokenWing]

I'll believe it when I see it, but I would be impressed if Borthwick has the balls to bench Farrell.

I think he's got the balls to drop Farrell, but that would be a step away from a risk averse game plan which I'm not sure he has got the balls for.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Win, lose or draw, my hope is that Smith takes the chance and has his best performance yet for England. Being picked to start instead of Farrell is very different to playing alongside him or starting because he's unavailable. Marcus usually responds well to that kind of thing, so fingers crossed.

Totally although my one fear is that he tries to force it a bit too much to make his point.

Much of the game will be nuts and bolts game management - choosing when to kick and executing well, nailing goal kicks etc. He doesn't have to magic up attacking opportunities - they arise in literally every game - having the vision / skills to see and make the most of them is what can really mark him out. But if he can pull the odd rabbit out of a hat so much the better.

But like you I'll believe the selection when I see it.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Owen Farrell calls on Jonny Wilkinson to solve goalkicking troubles

Owen Farrell has enlisted the help of Jonny Wilkinson to solve his goalkicking troubles before the crunch Six Nations match with France on Saturday

www.theguardian.com