England v France,23/02/13

[Teh Mite]

Lawes occasionally plays at 6 for the club, some people think that's his best position.

Personally I still believe he's best as an enforcer with 4 on his back.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

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.

This, pretty much. And like Peat, I don't think Lawes makes a BAD 6, but there's more to it than hits. Especially if you take Lawes' tendency to charge up out of a line to make a hit. That's all well and good for a lock because you might not expect most locks to be making 10+ tackles anyway, but your 6 needs to respect the teams defensive arrangement system more. That comes naturally to a habitual blindside, perhaps less so to a lock. I'm sure Lawes will do fine... (this isn't sarcasm)

 

[mstar]

Lawes occasionally plays at 6 for the club, some people think that's his best position.

Personally I still believe he's best as an enforcer with 4 on his back.

Whats his performance like as a 6? who said its his best position anyway?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Should've have brought Fearns in at 6....


I hope Tuilagi and Bastareaud don't run at each other at full speed - HQ will be decimated!

 

[Teh Mite]

Whats his performance like as a 6? who said its his best position anyway?

I personally think he looks like an enforcer lock with 6 written on his back when at blindside. there's been a debate on the terrace whether he's a lock or flanker since he was in the academy.

 

[Teh Mite]

I hope Tuilagi and Bastareaud don't run at each other at full speed - HQ will be decimated!

 

[Big Ewis]

...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....

no, no....too realistic. This frightens me...!

 

[ZeFrenchy]

i don't like the French selection. Bastareaud doesn't have 80minutes of international rugby, and his defence is suspect at best. the only thing about this team that looks more normal than before is fofana's position change.
I'm not against the hooker change and i guess changing both halfbacks at the same time makes sense. but it's not a big deal really; I'd still like to see a parra trinh-duc pairing.

 

[User1245]

Bit of a side question, how's Michalak been playing since returning from SA? Go France!

 

[Draggs]

Bit of a side question, how's Michalak been playing since returning from SA? Go France!

November: Excellent
February: Poor

 

[Big Ewis]

i don't like the French selection. Bastareaud doesn't have 80minutes of international rugby, and his defence is suspect at best. the only thing about this team that looks more normal than before is fofana's position change.
I'm not against the hooker change and i guess changing both halfbacks at the same time makes sense. but it's not a big deal really; I'd still like to see a parra trinh-duc pairing.

Did you close your eyes throughout the last match ? Like no offense meant; but he was making all the big tackles the entire game ! And he doesn't have 80min ?? Where d'you get that from ?!

And what more do you want ? Clerc's back with his 34 tries under his belt, Fofana at center; Domingo as it should have been all the way, the all Toulouse backrow (Nyanga in, Ouedraogo out, as it always should've been); Michalak sitting it out with Machenaud as punishment for the first 2....etc....
everything in order, or almost. We're like 90% the team we should be.

November: Excellent
February: Poor

you're so gentle with words...so gentle.

 

[Draggs]

I do have a soft spot for Freddie. A dedicated Shark, loved by many (some non-Shark fans, depending on the match).

 

[Big Ewis]

oh and btw, just for the extra hype...
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3820_8514280,00.html

I can see the English bragging for days and days if they win, saying "so the French play better when their backs are to the wall, ay ??? ho ho ho....hu hu....".
Well we do !!! But not every single time !!!!...

No, but I'm sure they'll at least play a nice game, and that's all I can hope for. If England are better, they're better. Fair enough. But at least France will REALLY play this time, two big-ass wake-up calls to start this 6N off...(to the Welsh on here: nooooooooo I'm not saying France didn't really compete last match, of course we did, but you geeeeeeet thaaaaa poiiiiiiiiiiiiiiint !)

 

[Teh Mite]

Getting the excuses in first?

 

[Big Ewis]

Getting the excuses in first?

dude, I'm saying France have no excuse this time ! Hopefully they're prepared....I don't know how much they've trained with this new lineup...but surely we're more prepared than that game against Italy for e.g.

And there are excuses and then just simple facts. An excuse is a fabrication, a fact is...well, a fact ! And facts need to be mentioned for a better understanding of the problem, not just to make one's conscience feel better !...
Our changes and unfreshness ARE the problem some times...not this time though, but again, not sure how much we've had the time to trained this time around...not sure what England does during the 2 week break and what France does...
but come on man, it's not like that...France lose fair and square, they lose fair and square. No problem.

 

[Dougydeluxe]

I hope 12trees gets more than 30 mins this game. Want to see what him and Tulagi can do. That being said, France are going to lose. England have proven they have the ability to change their game plan based on the enemy and conditions. They are playing as one unit really well.

France still have an amazing team and could beat anyone on any given day. But this is the 6 Nations at the HQ, so I dont thing France are going to start here. Last two games should be when they bring it.... other than when they lose by a single point to SCOTLAND.

 

[Big Ewis]

For french speakers, very insightful...

[video=dailymotion;xxo0oz]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxo0oz_angleterre-france-l-annonce-de-la-composition_sport?search_algo=2#.USapixnXrEU[/video]

 

[eot345]

dude, I'm saying France have no excuse this time ! Hopefully they're prepared....I don't know how much they've trained with this new lineup...but surely we're more prepared than that game against Italy for e.g.

And there are excuses and then just simple facts. An excuse is a fabrication, a fact is...well, a fact ! And facts need to be mentioned for a better understanding of the problem, not just to make one's conscience feel better !...
Our changes and unfreshness ARE the problem some times...not this time though, but again, not sure how much we've had the time to trained this time around...not sure what England does during the 2 week break and what France does...
but come on man, it's not like that...France lose fair and square, they lose fair and square. No problem.

An excuse is not a fabrication e.g Some AB supporters claimed that the AB were at a disadvantage when playing England since they had food poisoning. This is potentially a correct and valid reason but still an excuse for the AB's defeat at the hands of England. Although some excuses are fabrications, this does not mean all excuses are. Just so you know England will win by 10 points or more this Saturday.

 

[Zed]

I think if England get on top and get ahead by 10/12 points the floodgates will open. This is a good French side, with decent players, but they're mentally fragile.

 

[Teh Mite]

Who the **** still uses the word "dude"? Is it 1997 again?