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

[Duck a l'Orange]

Oh ******* get a grip man. Honestly some people are never happy. Must be a miserable ******* existence.

Cheer up pal

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

We played the game and won, I had a feeling we had it in us. Good defence on the most part in the middle and really fronted up against the bigger pack.


Mitchell and F Smith looked really good together but then they should. Thought Marcus looked nervous and pressured. Still need a proper 12 though.

 

[Crash Hamster]

Can you not enjoy the moment?

LOL no.

I think I posted quite a balanced view. Good result, several players were good or better, overall performance would result in another plucky defeat against a side without a terrible case of the drops.

 

[Geordie]

One question of concern.

Did anyone else notice Tom curry wince alot with that Hip?

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

F Smith was great but Tom was my mom. I forget sometimes how good he is. Imagine having undersmash back.

 

[Becca]

One question of concern.

Did anyone else notice Tom curry wince alot with that Hip?

He was wincing worse last week. He looked in severe pain then.
I just worry he's doing himself more damage

 

[Reiser99]

Btw, if anyone was missing him.

 

[TW27BA]

Really enjoyed that game. France botched at least a couple of tries but I'm not complaining. It's time we got a win against a decent side.
Impressed with that starting back row. It looked well balanced and Tom Curry had a stormer. Good work also from Tom Willis and Earl.
Marcus getting a lot of flak but he played his part. Shame his kicking from the tee was off today.
Fin Smith was excellent. Made the 10 shirt his with his contribution.
The subs worked this week. George improved the lineout, Baxter carried on Genges good work and his try was a bonus.
Hoping for a Scotland win tomorrow if only to make the Ireland/France game that more tense.
Got to beat Scotland at home in two weeks though or its all for nothing.

 

[OllyM97]

Do you know what, I'm normally naturally negative about England, but, honestly, just absolutely f*** it tonight. What a fantastic result from the boys. What i was really pleased about was that when we had to be clinical in that last attack, we were. The last 20 minutes was also the best quarter of the game by us in my opinion - our attacking shape actually looked good. I'm not stupid enough to think we were perfect - and France were very profligate. But, we actually punished an opponent for not taking their chances for once. I think that result is an absolutely massive step forward for this team, finding a way to win at the end of the game is hugely positive going forward. I'm just pleased that we've finally got a big win under our belts because all those close defeats were killing our confidence levels. I'd like to think we can win the next 3 matches after that win tonight. We need to back it up in two weeks time against Scotland - but a lot more optimistic about that game now than I was before this one.

 

[McTallshort]

F Smith was great but Tom was my mom. I forget sometimes how good he is. Imagine having undersmash back.

Thought the whole back row plus their replacements played very well tonight

 

[Scotty]

Scotland will beat us

Honestly I wonder if this game shows how to beat us, that first 20 showed how susceptible we are out wide, we want teams to come at us direct or kick. But keeping possession and attacking wide finds space.

They don't have LBB or Penaud, but they do have Graham and DVDM with Finn Russell to pull the strings.

Don't get me wrong with this comment I'm happy with the win and I think it's deserved and thing we will get the favourites tag vs Scotland but it could go either way.

 

[BPM]

Tom Curry has been immense the past couple of games but I feel like a lot of people had forgotten how good he is. Ben also made an excellent impact off the bench.

 

[BPM]

Honestly I wonder if this game shows how to beat us, that first 20 showed how susceptible we are out wide, we want teams to come at us direct or kick. But keeping possession and attacking wide finds space.

They don't have LBB or Penaud, but they do have Graham and DVDM with Finn Russell to pull the strings.

Don't get me wrong with this comment I'm happy with the win and I think it's deserved and thing we will get the favourites tag vs Scotland but it could go either way.

I don't think we'll be 'favourites'. They've beaten us in the last 5 (I think). However, as @OllyM97 said, tonight's game loses significance if we can't back it up.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Just watched this.

Well done England. We found a way to get over the line. It's a last minute one point win at home, but still ought to be huge for confidence.

I think Fra will be very disappointed with themselves though. They played some dumb stuff and were so inaccurate as to be almost untrue at times. They could / should have been out of sight well before half time and for the first hour at least they looked like they could carve us open at will.

Surprised M Smith wasn't put under more direct pressure, especially given the conditions. Still not totally sold on the idea, but let's see how it plays out over time. F Smith laid down a pretty big marker for the 10 shirt.

Tonight we celebrate. But meaningless unless backed up against the Scots.

(And will SB be moaning tonight that our players aren't fit enough? ).

T Curry was excellent but did look in injury trouble by the end.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Honestly I wonder if this game shows how to beat us

This line is hilarious.

 

[j-dawg]

Great game to be at, Twickenham was buzzing at the end. Everyone was waiting for France to stop spilling it and start walking through but it never happened. Hopefully this can be a massive psychological foundation for this team to move on from.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Tom Curry has been immense the past couple of games but I feel like a lot of people had forgotten how good he is. Ben also made an excellent impact off the bench.

Your Sale shirt is in the post

 

[Scotty]

This line is hilarious.

I know but come on if a pass or 2 had gone to hand SB's head would be called for.

We played very well is the second half but vs your lot we held out well and we're physical in defence but today just seemed to be caught out wide by a more attacking team.

We seemed to be less intense with the blitz leading to more energy late on and having the chance to win.




But I worry Scotland will go all out coast to coast and catch us out early. Putting us chasing the game.


God you'd think I'm negative after today...im really not I loved that game and great effort to come back I'm just under no illusion.


Last thing I'll say I the reason I've been so annoyed with the losses from this team is because I actually like the team, squad and even the way we play so it gets frustrating to lose, almost unfortunate that Ireland, France and SA are so good at once with NZ and Scotland having good form and Argentina/Italy no longer being a joke.

So so many narrow losses are not embarrassing just annoying.

 

[Geordie]

He was wincing worse last week. He looked in severe pain then.
I just worry he's doing himself more damage

Yes it's a big concern. And yet he still put in a performance like that today...

 

[Geordie]

F Smith was great but Tom was my mom. I forget sometimes how good he is. Imagine having undersmash back.

Yes Tom Willis was very impressive...he being there allowed the two flankers to thrive.

16 tackles from Willis and big carries...thats what you want from a 6'4 , 19st number 8! Curry very impressive but Earl was excellent and has a ridiculous engine...