England v France,23/02/13

[ratsapprentice]

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.

I'm not saying that I would have picked Lawes over Haskell, I don't think it's a big deal though. As has already been said, Haskell is on the bench due to fitness questions (after being ill).

And it's the Daily Mail saying that Vunipola would have been playing bar injury, not us drawing that from his involvement in the team.
The DM is a pretty accurate source of inside info isn't it?

 

[ZeFrenchy]

The matchday squad for France includes five changes from the 23 that lost to Wales. The squad is:
LH props: Thomas Domingo and Vincent Debaty;
Hookers: Dimitri Szarswewski and Benjamin Kayser;
TH props: Nicolas Mas and Luc Ducalcon;
Locks: Jocelino Suta, Yoann Maestri and Christophe Samson;
Backrowers: Therry Dusautoir, Yannick Nyanga, Louis Picamoles and Antonie Claassen;
Scrum-halves: Maxime Machenaud and Morgan Parra;
Fly-halves: Frédéric Michalak and François Trinh-Duc;
Centres: Wesley Fofana, Florian Fritz and Mathieu Bastareaud;
Outside backs: Vincent Clerc, Benjamin Fall and Yoann Huget.

Not a lot of mistery on the starting XV, though. The only question would be the centre pairing, and this could have an effect on the back three if Fofana is played on the wing. I would drop Szarsweski, but that would be kind of a big deal, so as there has been nothing in the press, it won't happen. Same thing for the halfback pairing.

Domingo - Szarsweski - Mas (Debaty - Kayser - Ducalcon)
Mestri - Suta (Samson)
Nyanga - Picamoles - Dusautoir (Claassen)
Machenaud - Michalak (Parra - Trinh-Duc)
Fall - Fofana - Fritz - Clerc (Bastareaud)
Huget

So apparently I got it all wrong. From Midi Olympique, the likely starting team includes Parra and Trinh-Duc at 9 and 10 and Bastareaud instead of Fritz.

 

[Peat]

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.

This. Sorta makes sense given the circs, and I can live with it. Should be good for one our lineout.

 

[Big Ewis]

So apparently I got it all wrong. From Midi Olympique, the likely starting team includes Parra and Trinh-Duc at 9 and 10 and Bastareaud instead of Fritz.

I somehow like TrinhDuc in stead of Michalak. Fred needs to clear his head right now, he's like that: way up, way down. Way up was November, now it's over.
TD can bring immense creativity and accuracy to the match, hope this is a graceful return for him to the starting lineup...and at least he won't be attempting these crazy passes like Michalak lately...he'll bring stability I think in the passing lanes.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

It makes me laugh on here that people think Haskell is a better tackler and Lawes isn't a good 6!

Lawes is one the the hardest hitters in the NH, as stated by coaches and oposition, i think it makes sense as Haskell hasn't been well.

Although Haskell got a yellow for england, Hartley and Lawes both got carded at the weekend! I wonder if Jim M is coaching his players to give a way penaltys these days!

 

[mstar]

that is the big worry about Hartley he does concede penalties and does test the referee's patience.

I agree with Lawes his ferocity in the tackle is unparelled by any other lock in the premiership.



(living sacrifice...i think it was Martin Johnson who said when lawes hit others in England training sessions everyone gasped and Rowntree had to have a word with lawes with his ferocity of tackling as he winded Cueto and injured flood.) he was held back from full contact in training , MJ loved him to death)

 

[McTallshort]

that is the big worry about Hartley he does concede penalties and does test the referee's patience.

I agree with Lawes his ferocity in the tackle is unparelled by any other lock in the premiership.



(living sacrifice...i think it was Martin Johnson who said when lawes hit others in England training sessions everyone gasped and Rowntree had to have a word with lawes with his ferocity of tackling as he winded Cueto and injured flood.) he was held back from full contact in training , MJ loved him to death)

Just needs to remember to put his head in the right place.....

 

[French TommyGun]

Huget - Clerc, Bastareaud, Fofana, Fall - Trinh-Duc (o), Parra (m) - Dusautoir, Picamoles, Nyanga - Maestri, Samson - Mas, Kayser, Domingo.


Remplaçants: Szarzewski, Debaty, Ducalcon, Claassen, Michalak, Fritz, Suta, Machenaud.

Thank F**ck for that! That wasn't so hard was it PSA!?? In the 1st 2 games the team didn't inspire any confidence in me at all!!! But this team..... Do you know what?.... I think we might just pull this off!!

 

[mstar]

true!!

Its a constant flaw in Lawes game Stuart Barnes always picks up on it, when he is carrying the ball he is too upright. And the defenders can easily pinch the ball from him as its so exposed as his body position is to open when going into contact. It cost England the game against Wales last year.

I hope he has learnt as he been doing that same thing for a few years now. JL is technically better in this aspect.

 

[mstar]

I don't follow french rugby but....

where is Imanol Harinordoquy, and Maxime Médard these days??? have they been frozen out of the French team by PSA?

 

[smb64]

That team worries me a lot more now. Especially the improvements in the back line with Fofana centre paring with bast and Clerc, Parra, Trinh-duc back in. Hm I have no idea how this ones gonna go :lol:

 

[Big Ewis]

Huget - Clerc, Bastareaud, Fofana, Fall - Trinh-Duc (o), Parra (m) - Dusautoir, Picamoles, Nyanga - Maestri, Samson - Mas, Kayser, Domingo.


Remplaçants: Szarzewski, Debaty, Ducalcon, Claassen, Michalak, Fritz, Suta, Machenaud.

Thank F**ck for that! That wasn't so hard was it PSA!?? In the 1st 2 games the team didn't inspire any confidence in me at all!!! But this team..... Do you know what?.... I think we might just pull this off!!

Now THAT.......does look damn, motherfkng good on paper...

I'll say this, because it seems imperative someone does about the France squad(s). If we had a standard level - just standard level - selection (i.e.: those who naturally belong to the starting XV, and then good choices for the bench), a regular season (with as many games as everyone, as much time together as everyone) and a coach who does a little less experimenting, and a little more like I said "STANDARD" selecting...I'd have ZERO excuse (not that I ever opt for one) and France could go on a 15-game losing streak, I wouldn't care because at least then, we could say it's the true French squad, with everything in order, we lost fair and square...
I'd love this so much...the "what if/what could have been" factor is the most horrible thing in life.

P.S.: "I think we might just pull this off!!"
It's funny how this provokes two of the most opposed notions in my mind. On one hand, I smile because I'm thinking "hey, we're definitely good enough, we've got the forwards AND the backs, and we should be big at the breakdown, we have kickers, we have it all...OF COURSE we can 'pull this off', !! I mean just look at both teams on paper for a second here, this should be 50/50 !"

And then, I'm thinking: welllll....with all the upheaval and chaos at the start of this 2013 int'l season, we may very well lose this by 20, despite how RIDICULOUS that sounds.............

 

[smb64]

Pretty much what we all expected I think.

England Team to face France


15. Alex Goode (Saracens, 8 caps)
14. Chris Ashton (Saracens, 31 caps)
13. Brad Barritt (Saracens, 13 caps)
12. Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 18 caps)
11. Mike Brown (Harlequins, 13 caps)
10. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 14 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 30 caps)

1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 7 caps)
2. Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints, 44 caps)
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 37 caps)
4. Joe Launchbury (London Wasps, 6 caps)
5. Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers, 14 caps)
6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 17 caps)
7. Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt, 14 caps)
8. Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 11 caps)

Replacements
16. Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 6 caps)
17. David Wilson (Bath Rugby, 24 caps)
18. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 6 caps)
19. James Haskell (London Wasps, 47 caps)
20. Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
21. Danny Care (Harlequins, 38 caps)
22. Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers, 54 caps)
23. Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby, 2 caps)

I can't wait to see the Mid field battle between Barrit-Manu vs Fofana-Bastareaud.

 

[Tony Manx]

I don't follow french rugby but....

where is Imanol Harinordoquy, and Maxime Médard these days??? have they been frozen out of the French team by PSA?

Imanol was 33 yesterday and had an operation in the summer so his start to the season was delayed. Since returning, his form has been pretty patchy and his breaks for "treatment", always a regular feature, have been often! I do not think he is at present, despite his fantastic service to the club, worthy of a starting position for his club and not sure he should play 80 minutes any more so a French call up is pretty doubtful.

Medard is just coming back from severe injury but had a really good game last week and could come into the reckoning next week?

The French team now has a more normal look to it and think that the English team will do well to forget the past two losses and be more wary......I am going to stick my head up and be different (AGAIN!) and go for the French to come very close if not quite get the win!!

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Our team actually looks weirder than France's now...

I'm rather hoping it'll be a bit like 2010 but the other way around - a resurgent France put up a better performance but isn't quite enough in England Rugbys backyard... worried, though.

I'll be watching this one in Budapest, which will be tres interessant. C'est un petit oiseau dans la derriere, peut-etre...

 

[Big Ewis]

Our team actually looks weirder than France's now...

I'm rather hoping it'll be a bit like 2010 but the other way around - a resurgent France put up a better performance but isn't quite enough in England Rugbys backyard... worried, though.

I'll be watching this one in Budapest, which will be tres interessant. C'est un petit oiseau dans la derriere, peut-etre...

I'm sorry....I'm sorry but I find that particular sentence incredibly unsettling...disturbing in fact. Please do take it back.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I'm sorry....I'm sorry but I find that particular sentence incredibly unsettling...disturbing in fact. Please do take it back.

...And England are off to a flying start, gifted an easy 3 points right in front of the posts by the careless French, who apppear taken aback by England's curious use of the French language....

 

[mstar]

Imanol was 33 yesterday and had an operation in the summer so his start to the season was delayed. Since returning, his form has been pretty patchy and his breaks for "treatment", always a regular feature, have been often! I do not think he is at present, despite his fantastic service to the club, worthy of a starting position for his club and not sure he should play 80 minutes any more so a French call up is pretty doubtful.

Medard is just coming back from severe injury but had a really good game last week and could come into the reckoning next week?

As much i want the french to lose, some of the England fans in the twikenham stands (over the years) actually quite Imanol, we respect him as he always plays well against England. Imanol actually has fans here in the UK
Medard is liked cuz we love his choppers it reminds us of our old grandpa's choppers back in the day...:lol:


Don't believe everything you read from the british press^_^

 

[Teh Mite]

Young officially dropped back to the bench. Thank christ for that.

 

[Peat]

It makes me laugh on here that people think Haskell is a better tackler and Lawes isn't a good 6!

Lawes is one the the hardest hitters in the NH, as stated by coaches and oposition, i think it makes sense as Haskell hasn't been well.

Although Haskell got a yellow for england, Hartley and Lawes both got carded at the weekend! I wonder if Jim M is coaching his players to give a way penaltys these days!

There's a great deal more to being a 6 than homicidal hitting power - and to being a reliable 'every time' tackler too, not that I'm saying Lawes isn't. You're also frequently expected to play in different areas of the pitch which can be unsettling. edit: In terms of your instincts, what you're using to doing and so on.

Also, having seen the two teams and given it a little thought, I'm mildly perturbed.