[2025 Six Nations] England vs France - 08/02/25

[Vieux Talonneur]

And they've not even picked Serge, though you may hear him mentioned.

"Strong Serge for the line"

"Mighty Serge in the scrum"

"Irresistible Serge drives the mall over."

Not sure what position he plays, but he's always there, doing the grunt work. Has a great game every week. Listen for him in commentary.

No idea either. I'm drawing a complete blanco on that.

 

[TommiG88]

Burry to the bench, Willis at 8, Earl moved to 7. Turry keeps his place.

Mith to 15, Fith at 10.
Sleightholme to wing

 

[spartan32]

Team out

England: M Smith; Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Itoje (c), Martin, T Curry, Earl, Willis

Replacements: George, Baxter, Heyes, Chessum, Cunningham-South, B Curry, Randall, Daly

I did wonder whether Daly would bench for this one if they went for the Smith/Smith approach. Glad Sleightholme is getting a run out. Back row solid, bench decent. Still not convinced this is the way to go but I guess time will tell.

 

[BPM]

Bad. Marcus moved to 15. Good. Willis in, Steward not on the wing.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

If you want me I'm behind the sofa.

 

[Reiser99]

Not sure what Earl has on Borthwick, but it must be good. Maybe he'll have more impact if he's not the primary carrier.

Daly's selection just shows how badly Borthwick has messed up the back selection. He's purely there as cover for an experiment and is unlikely to have much impact from the bench when it's been clear we need impact.

Maybe it'll be a stroke of genius, but I don't see it.

 

[Scotty]

So we waited until 2 on Thursday when rumours were right on Tuesday.

Don't hate Smith at 15 it's just hell of a risk

Like the team.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Earl at 7 for this game isn't a bad shout
It's hard to play the jackel game v France

But you need size at 6 v the fence to win

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Earl getting another start over BC is lame, BC's form is so much better and his stats last week didn't scream "Drop me" - I'd take Chessum or CCS over him too

Daly on the bench is pretty lame too, but whatever

Earl at 7 for this game isn't a bad shout
It's hard to play the jackel game v France

I can't justify it tbh - if Earl was in top form then sure, but last time we saw that was a year ago

 

[Which Tyler]

Yup.
I get dropping Ben, but to allow Chessum alongside the two Tommies.
CCS - I'm not yet convinced by him as a starter. Great impact sub though. I just feel he needs another pre-season to tailor his fitness between impact and durability - though it may be a coaching and "what he's being asked to do" thing.

Daly makes sense as utility to cover a 6:2 bench - but... yeah... utterly uninspiring. Of course, the solution is to select a 5:3 bench - and find some impact players to fill it...

 

[Wasps92]

I'm happy with the XV although it's harsh on Ben Curry to be dropped and I'm not enamoured with M. Smith at 15.

I think it's clear though that Freddie Steward isn't Test quality. We need to find someone long term who can backup Furbank.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

I think it's clear though that Freddie Steward isn't Test quality. We need to find someone long term who can backup Furbank.

Quite amusing what someone a few years ago would have made of this, when everyone was swapping those names around

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Earl at 7 for this game isn't a bad shout
It's hard to play the jackel game v France

Personally I like giving Earl a run at 7. He's had to do a lot of midfield, close quarters carrying recently which isn't really his natural game. Willis can take up that role now and free up Earl to carry on the edges which he's a lot more suited to. I think we'll see him have his most impactful game in a while.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

I'm happy with the XV although it's harsh on Ben Curry to be dropped and I'm not enamoured with M. Smith at 15.

I think it's clear though that Freddie Steward isn't Test quality. We need to find someone long term who can backup Furbank.

I suspect it might well end up being a postion with no backup. So if Furbank is out like he is now it's an open position where players get shifted to like M Smith has been.


Through with Borthwick probably going to always not far from the sack the next coach might have different views on who he wants

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

England by 4

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

I suspect it might well end up being a postion with no backup. So if Furbank is out like he is now it's an open position where players get shifted to like M Smith has been.

Surely Joe Carpenter

 

[Grizwald]

England don't really have much of a chance do they? France are just man for man the better side.

I think Steward out is pretty harsh for the lad, he's gone from being the first name on the team sheet to coming back in when required and dropped out the 23 on more than one ocassion I can think of now. Ben Curry to the bench is also a bit of a snub, Ben Earl's form has dropped a bit. Very happy to see Willis at 8.

If you're dropping Steward completely be that rationale I'd drop CCS from the bench and take a look at Ted Hill, I hope he gets a game this tournament.

All the commentary is France don't kick to compete so you can get away with M Smith at FB, but also that France/French teams just aren't great under the highball so you're loosing putting up more contestable kicks without Steward or the likes of Roebuck on the wing.

 

[Grizwald]

Surely Joe Carpenter

Carpenter is underrated IMO. He's not as tall as Steward but very good under the highball, quicker, better defensively and offers more going forward too.

 

[OllyM97]

England by 4

Irish fans win whatever happens in this game because if we beat France it means you are probably odds-on for 3 in a row and if we get absolutely humped then you can laugh at how poor we are.

 

[Wasps92]

England don't really have much of a chance do they? France are just man for man the better side.

I think Steward out is pretty harsh for the lad, he's gone from being the first name on the team sheet to coming back in when required and dropped out the 23 on more than one ocassion I can think of now. Ben Curry to the bench is also a bit of a snub, Ben Earl's form has dropped a bit. Very happy to see Willis at 8.

If you're dropping Steward completely be that rationale I'd drop CCS from the bench and take a look at Ted Hill, I hope he gets a game this tournament.

All the commentary is France don't kick to compete so you can get away with M Smith at FB, but also that France/French teams just aren't great under the highball so you're loosing putting up more contestable kicks without Steward or the likes of Roebuck on the wing.

Steward gets exposed far too easily when he has to make a one on one tackle. He was like a turnstile for Gibson-Park last week.

He ain't quick or agile enough and we've seen it time and time again at Test level.