England v France,23/02/13

[ratsapprentice]

I also get the feeling Lawes might be the better scrummager of the two? They are both good at six though.

Could we see both Vunipolas start against Italy?

 

[Patchey]

Hope so. I think we could be a bit experimental in that game without taking a win for granted. Mako Vunnipola for sure, maybe even Fraiser benching and Billy starting?

Anyway the France game is first and on that, why is Nyanga in the French team and why are people so crazy for Picamole? Anyone?

 

[ratsapprentice]

Picamoles is a handful, he will tire out the opposition, it's just down to the rest of the French team to take advantage of that.

 

[nickdnz]

Hope so. I think we could be a bit experimental in that game without taking a win for granted. Mako Vunnipola for sure, maybe even Fraiser benching and Billy starting?

Anyway the France game is first and on that, why is Nyanga in the French team and why are people so crazy for Picamole? Anyone?

Probably because Nyanga was the most impressive player in the French team in his last few games, tackling and carrying like a beast. They drop him out of nowhere and France starts losing.

 

[mstar]

Picamoles is a handful, he will tire out the opposition, it's just down to the rest of the French team to take advantage of that.

Well Picomoles as stated by others here isn't a full 80mins player. Not sure if its the effort he puts in or fitness or he just LOOKs tired.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I'd disagree, I think he can play a full 80, but not if the rest of his team aren't.
Individuals can't shine unless their team performs reasonably well as a whole, and France (as a team) have played poorly.

 

[mstar]

Shaun edwards commented in his article he noticed france slow down in the last 10mins. Not sure where he got that from and i am sure its been said that french players do play a lot of rugby.

 

[Patchey]

I've just never been convinced by him, he's massive of course but so is Pierre Speis, being big isn't the be all and end all of being an 8. Parisse outclassed him in Rome (although to be fair Parisse outclasses all other 8s) and he isn't the French forward I'm worried about this weekend. Presuming Lawes starts as a flanker as has been suggested I'm confident he can stop Picamole. Come to think of it that may be the reason Lawes starts over Haskell.

 

[mstar]

To be fair i think Lawes is one of our world class players (when on form) he should be playing as lock. But never seen him play as a flanker. Lancaster is in love with JL at the moment, to be fair JL has played well, but Lawes give us that little bit extra.

 

[j'nuh]

Not another positional experiment. <_< We have three fantastic locks and no particularly stand-out players after them. They are all better locks than flankers. We are also blessed for flankers. Let's not let short-term thinking ruin the bigger picture. Lawes/Launchbury as an impact sub is fine, we need that kind of calibre of bench player to be aiming for being the best in the world.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Lawes has played more than enough at 6 for it not to be considered experimentation, imo.
Still, I much prefer him at lock than backrow.

 

[Atco]

The adjustments to the pack are clearly tailored to deal with the particular make up of the French pack. I think they're reasonable. We'll see won't we.
I would be amazed if Barritt doesn't start. Presumably the strategy is to hold or a bit better than that until the last quarter and then roll over them as they gasp and wheeze their way around the field.

 

[McTallshort]

There must be a reason for JL or Lawes moving to the back row. If it been a move by the previous 3 regimes then I would cry out in horror but I have a bit more faith in Mr Lancaster.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Lawes has played more than enough at 6 for it not to be considered experimentation, imo.
Still, I much prefer him at lock than backrow.

^Exactly, he plays at 6 for NH all the time (this season at least) it's not really an experiment.
And Haskell hasn't been training because he had Flu.

 

[smb64]

I've just never been convinced by him, he's massive of course but so is Pierre Speis, being big isn't the be all and end all of being an 8. Parisse outclassed him in Rome (although to be fair Parisse outclasses all other 8s) and he isn't the French forward I'm worried about this weekend. Presuming Lawes starts as a flanker as has been suggested I'm confident he can stop Picamole. Come to think of it that may be the reason Lawes starts over Haskell.

In the 'daily mail' article, where this proposed team sheet came from, they hinted that Haskell has come down with a cold/minor illness and that's primarily why Lawes is in I guess. I don't reckon SL would have made the change otherwise, looks like they're benching him as a precaution. I'm happy that Lawes is in nonetheless.

 

[Patchey]

Fair enough. Although I personally would rather see Lawes in defense against those huge French forwards than Haskell, despite having consumed more protein shakes than the Rock I think he sufferes a bit from being half flanker and half number eight and therefore not as good at either as he could be. Lawes may be a second row more commonly but he's more dynamic (and still big enough to take on Picamole et al).

You would expect Barritt to start purely on the assumption that Basteraux will start and therefore needs an immovable object to run into...

 

[TommyV]

Would probably have started Billy Vunipola if he wasn't injured and sent back, shame. Haven't seen Lawes play at 6 but the thought makes me a bit anxious. Not sure if it does more or less so than the prospect of Haskell giving away a kajillion penalties and getting binned though.

Don't think Marler has done anything to be dropped so I'd stick with him and have Mako V on the bench, probably to come on for the last 20 and see what sort of impact he can make and whether he does enough to potential earn a start against Italy.

As for the backline, I'm a fan of Twelvetrees and he hasn't really done anything to be dropped either, but Barritt is in very good form and will tackle all day, Manu's presence and ball-carrying will be a greater threat than 36 too, so I'd probably bench him. Could always come on late and make an impact, I'd just be concerned about a French backlash and the need for a strong midfield defensively. Not that Twelvetrees is bad, I would just feel safer with Barritt in there.

 

[Big Ewis]

I'd disagree, I think he can play a full 80, but not if the rest of his team aren't.
Individuals can't shine unless their team performs reasonably well as a whole, and France (as a team) have played poorly.

whaaaaaaaaaat ?!!! nooooooooooooooooooooooooo............

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Bemused by some of the talk here guys... Firstly, yes Lawes is a big hitter and good defender. But if we're talking of stopping the fatties on the gain-line Haskell is your man. Regardless what you think of him as a player and irrespective of the sin-binning, I'd still have him over Lawes at 6 10 times out of 10. I can't see why you wouldn't go for a blindside at blindside, and instead choose a lock(versatile? Meh..) at blindside.

Regarding Vunipola, I think his presence in the squad might be giving a misleading impression about how close he is to breaking into a match 23. I would have said he's there to learn and pick up experience. I still don't think he's there yet. I still remember seasons stats for both Waldrom and Vunipola whch were compared at the Leicester Wasps game.

#1 Vunipola: wins on Metres, offloads, defenders beaten
#2 Waldrom: win on Turnovers won, Missed tackles(as in, the least), penalties conceded

It seems to me that the coaching team we have would select Option #2 10 times out of 10.

 

[Crapspray]

I'd like to see Mako Vunipola get a start; my personal highlight of the Calcutta Cup was when he side-stepped Richie Gray and then ran straight over Ryan Grant. That being said, I don't blame Lancaster for not changing things too much going against France. Marler certainly hasn't done anything wrong.

As others have said, I hope the weather doesn't ruin proceedings. Though a minor, non-fatal, lightning strike to a certain W. Fofana would make me a little more confident about England's chances.