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

[Reiser99]

And how crap is England's player development that a player with 19 caps is considered unproven??

Was it Dunn who was close to having more caps than minutes at one point?

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

What time is the team announcement?

1:30pm today

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Nothing wrong with hating Quins for no apparent reason.

Real Gs have a reason.

 

[BPM]

Yes its very puzzling.

If you want to know if a player can handle it or not....surely you play them and test them. Theres been ideal times this 6n to put him out. But they havent.

Interesting they leave it for two of the toughest games around at the moment...

I think he'll show up well. Lawrence at 12 is a BIG help this time. Gives him a "similar" style to Esterhuizen beside him...rather than farrell or Slade.

It is. The only way it makes sense is if Borthwick was unimpressed by Farrell but needed enough ammo to actually drop him.

Right now, most people will be pretty happy to see Smith picked in his place. A month ago, there would have been a lot more fall out/controversy if Farrell had been 'dropped'.

 

[BrokenWing]

I reckon it's just one of Borthers' legendary pranks.

He's not called Bonkers Borthers for nothing.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

It is. The only way it makes sense is if Borthwick was unimpressed by Farrell but needed enough ammo to actually drop him.

It was obvious by half time that Farrell wasn't going well and by 60 mins even a mole with macular degeneration would have seen the need for change.

How much more ammo does he want? (there are several games worth…). Half the point of subs is to change things up when things aren't going so well.

That Borthwick didn't adapt to the circumstances and haul him off smacks of the English disease of preplanning and not playing what's in front of you followed by a complete volte face.

Unless of course tackles and turnovers are valued more in a FH than game management and vision.

 

[BPM]

I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm just saying that it's the only reason that makes any sense.

 

[BrokenWing]

You say English disease, but there was an Australian not too long ago that seemed to do the same...

 

[Geordie]

France side

1. Baille,
2. Marchand,
3. Aldegheri,
4. Flament,
5. Willemse,
6. Cros,
7. Ollivon,
8. Alldritt

9. Dupont,
10. Ntamack,
11. Dumortier,
12. Danty,
13. Fickou,
14. Penaud,
15. Ramos

Bench - Mauvaka, Wardi, Falatea, Toafifenua, Macalou, Lucu, Moefana, Jaminet

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Danty is going to fix a lot of the issues France/N'tamack have been facing. Good luck.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Back to 5-3 then.

Bizarre fact that I was blissfully unaware of until 3 minutes ago….the 25 year old Falatea is uncle to the 22 year old Moefana. A 3 year uncle / nephew age gap is unusual enough, but to both be sitting on the same international bench has to be pretty rare.

 

[Geordie]

Danty is going to fix a lot of the issues France/N'tamack have been facing. Good luck.

He'll be too busy trying to cope with Ollie Lawrence...

 

[Grizwald]

It will be a big call to drop Farrell. Borthwick made a rod for his own back making Faz captain but could have despite what he said had his hand forced through injury. A nailed on starter who's fit and a forward is best imo so Genge and Itoje and possibly George from who was available.

I've heard on a couple podcasts etc that on a second viewing of the Wales game England and Farrell weren't too bad-I really couldn't bring myself to watch it again. Ever. So will have to take their word for it.

Faz probably deserves to be dropped for his form from the tee alone, you can't leave that many points out there in international rugby.

Smith deserves his chance at 10 with a backline which suits his strengths. I'm not sure if his style will get the returns at international but if he gets a shot at least we won't die wondering....

 

[Lé Ddanno]

1:30pm today

Back to 1.40pm

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Team that excites me

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Surely now people can start to perk up about Borthwick a bit.

 

[Grizwald]

Surely now people can start to perk up about Borthwick a bit.

Sends a message for sure. No one is undroppable.

 

[Teddington Logic]

All emergency services have been urgently called to Stephen Jones's office

 

[Lé Ddanno]

15. Freddie Steward
14. Max Malins
13. Henry Slade
12. Ollie Lawrence
11. Anthony Watson
10. Marcus Smith
9. Jack van Poortvliet
1. Ellis Genge (C)
2. Jamie George
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. Maro Itoje
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Lewis Ludlam
7. Jack Willis
8. Alex Dombrandt

Replacements

16. Jack Walker
17. Mako Vunipola
18. Dan Cole
19. David Ribbans
20. Ben Curry
21. Alex Mitchell
22. Owen Farrell
23. Henry Arundell

Nice to see Ribbans over the so far underwhelming Isiekwe as well

 

[BPM]

Yeah. Swap Mako out (preferably for VRR or Obano if he can stay fit) and Cole for Stuart and I'm happy with that 23.