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

[Toulousain ex French fan]

I wonder if Toulouse are better than France

I don't.

 

[Jimbo]

Thing is it wasn't this game that showed how to beat us. Ireland did it too, it's been apparent for a while. Either get England to bite in and then go out wide or wait for a missed tackle, which is going to come eventually. Slade missed 3, Mitchell missed 5, Itoje missed 3, Curry missed 3. Earl missed 5. Mitchell was the worst, 5/7 missed.

Edit: Apologies to Smith, he didn't miss any. Also updated a few others.

I know you didn't start the sentiment on showing how to beat England (cba to find it) clearly lost a hell of a lot more recently than winning, not sure why this game should be any more of a blue print to beating England than any of the losses, it's not currently one of life's great mysteries.

 

[LIONSxv]

Very happy with the result, however if France had a functioning back row that game would of been done inside the first half. It was England's ability to slow down ruck and turn them over that you could make an argument made Fra feel rushed and less clinical.

Been saying for an age now Fra desperately need a proper open side mongrel. And a better replacement for Antonio who is fading. Colombe makes Mako look like Tony Woodcock!

 

[Grizwald]

Just enjoy the win fellow England fans.

There will be time to be critical of individual performances and systems but for now just enjoy it. Fallow week, time for sore bodies to recover and review game footage.

Beyond that it's time England got back hold of the Calcutta Cup. Noting else will do.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

Shout out to Sleightholme today. The addition of raw pace got us out of a few sticky situations today. Good job Lombroso's theory of crime was disproven for his sake.

I saw a huge step up in physicality this game by England. We'll be vulnerable out wide against "Scottish" flyers/big boys but we'll be going straight through them with Fin leading the way.

All the best tomorrow, mind.

Yes there was one moment where Bielle-Barrey broke down the left and looked certain to score but then Sleightholme remarkably had the pace to cut him off.

 

[Amiga500]

Ah. Talk about letting the result define the performance.

England were not so bad last week - but could have got beat by 20.

They were not so great this week - and also could have got beat by 20.

There is a long ways to go, but definitely easier to justify the current trajectory is upwards off a W rather than a L.

 

[LIONSxv]

Yes there was one moment where Bielle-Barrey broke down the left and looked certain to score but then Sleightholme remarkably had the pace to cut him off.

I guess what we learnt from that is LBB isn't as quick as suggested and OS pace is underplayed as LBB has at least a 10 m start and was running in a straight line

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Just watching it now, Benjamin Kayser is the GOAT commentator

20mins in and France have left three tries out there through (mostly) unforced handling errors

 

[Jimbo]

I guess what we learnt from that is LBB isn't as quick as suggested and OS pace is underplayed as LBB has at least a 10 m start and was running in a straight line

Possibly, didn't LBB have ball in hand, that would make a pretty significant difference, you simply can't run as optionally that way, the difference probably isn't what it's made out to be though.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Half time

Lawrence has had a very good half (even if you were to ignore his try) - allowing him to play his game rather than try and replicate Tuilagi took far too long to click in the coaches minds, but thank God it did

He's also like having an extra flanker at the rucks as well, he's really not afraid to get stuck in

LCD's darts have been poor, we really need to bring through Langdon asap

 

[Jimbo]

Half time

Lawrence has had a very good half (even if you were to ignore his try) - allowing him to play his game rather than try and replicate Tuilagi took far too long to click in the coaches minds, but thank God it did

He's also like having an extra flanker at the rucks as well, he's really not afraid to get stuck in

LCD's darts have been poor, we really need to bring through Langdon asap

Problem is the premature issuing of TDs central contract complicates things somewhat…

Also we are not ignoring his try, sitting down Ramos like that cannot be ignored!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Also we are not ignoring his try, sitting down Ramos like that cannot be ignored!

Haha yeah that was class, I'm a certified Ramos Hater so it was beautiful to see
I just meant that the try was the cherry on top and he was class in general

I guess what we learnt from that is LBB isn't as quick as suggested and OS pace is underplayed as LBB has at least a 10 m start and was running in a straight line

Sleightholme is very quick tbf, but as mentioned above: running with the ball vs not does have an effect, in literally the next phase of play DuPont is running faster than Sleightholme as he breaks down the wing, but OS is definitely the faster of those two in general

 

[TRF_Olyy]

A lot to like in that performance

Backrow went really well, Willis looked at home at the highest level - Earl still a way off his best but much improved. If Chessum were to come in for someone it'd be him, for me, however until another lock puts his hand up Chessum is in the 2nd row for my money

Thought Mitchell was very very good - nothing overtly flashy in attack but did everything well and his kicking was the best I've seen it. Credit to the coaches for leaving him out for the 80 too - not a sleight on Randall but too often coaches have their subs pre-planned and will just get rid of a form player who has gas left in the tank for no reason

Fin Smith really good on his first start, wouldn't say he's MOTM, think he was always gonna be if we won though. Probably keep him in the 10 shirt the rest of the tournament now.

Marcus not as bad at 15 as some of the press pieces are claiming but went about as well as I'd expected - individual skills good but he's not a 15. We should be rotating the Smiths at 10, not forcing one out of position

Scrum surprisingly good, especially the subs

Wings good - few positional issues but (as mentioned somewhere above) it looks system related rather than individual errors. Freeman was getting treatment a number of times during the game, hopefully nothing bad

Lineout woes - very glad to see JG back because LCD and TD both been poor there



Not anticipating (m)any changes next game. Personally I'd start JG, Langdon on the bench, M.Smith to the bench and Steward to start - I reckon SB will go unchanged though (maybe swap LCD and JG around)

 

[Which Tyler]

Minute by minute - in progress

England vs France - minute-by-minute - RugbyRebels

 

[Scotty]

It's odd in the autumn CCS was used alot and looked good and doesnt seem to be in SB's plans now but still has alot to offer.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

It's odd in the autumn CCS was used alot and looked good and doesnt seem to be in SB's plans now but still has alot to offer.

He's still raw. If Chessum was fit I suspect CCS would have been on the bench in the AIs. I think leaving him there yesterday was the right call with the game swinging around wildly and the backrow being the standouts in the side

 

[Horacito]

Fabien Galthie needs to go, what an awful display
yersterday, France actually got me to root for the pommies

need some good ol french rebelion, like 2011 level
how can you lack any sort of structure going to twickers? people talk about these guys like they're ABs in 2013, , it actually made me upset seeing them; no set pieces, zero organization, zero drive. I hope the english beat them again in SdF (impossible tho)
congratulations ireland I guess

well done England, you were our team yesterday

 

[Geordie]

He's still raw. If Chessum was fit I suspect CCS would have been on the bench in the AIs. I think leaving him there yesterday was the right call with the game swinging around wildly and the backrow being the standouts in the side

Yes CCS is only 21...he wouldn't have been starting had everyone been fit. But he's a powerful kid...and will develop his decision making etc...

Is this the first game where SB finally realised, make the subs work for you. Ie only bring a sub on if a player isn't performing or looking knackered...but if players are doing well ..don't change them!

 

[The Seeker]

I thought France would win. Congratulations to England.

 

[Toulousain ex French fan]

Heard this one : « FG keeps SB in the job. »