England v France

[TRF_Olyy]

Chabal is best used to break players, but when you look at a few of the England players:
Tindall - Brick sh!!house
Moody - Pain fetish - being hit by Chabal will make him play better
Ashton/Foden/Youngs - good luck catching them
Hape - Spent most of his career taking shoulder bargers from bigger men than Chabal
Sheridan poos bigger than Chabal
Cueto is hard as old boots (took a fullspeed Tuilagi tackle, playing against leicester, and Tuilagi came off second best)

Chabal is also half the player he was in 2007/when he was at his best

As I said before, Chabal playing might work out to our advantage as he has a tendency to knock on in contact or try and force it (see the end of the Ireland match)

 

[gingergenius]

Ok... Harinordoquy + Chabal + Jauzion + Rougerie. They want to match English beef in the back row & centres. I don't see them having much luck running down Flood's channel though, largely because Flood's defence is solid.

Otherwise, I think we've got the 2 best front rows in the tournament, and I expect the French to edge it here, assuming it's refereed properly. However they've got no Bonnaire, so their lineout will be weaker - think we might edge it here. As soft centres said, I think our front row will be better around the park, but despite Palmer being in the form of his life we still have Deacon France win this contest.

Back row will be fascinating. On paper, you go with France; on form you go with England. It'll depend how well we contain Chabal, and that'll be up to Wood and Haskell.

Halfbacks we win hands down. Youngs and Flood are the best in Europe at the moment, although FTD is a class act he's not hitting the form of last year. The halfback battle will pobably depend on who wins upfront.

Centres will be physical. And France are better here, but it depends what kind of ball they get.

Back 3. England take it, but we can't forget how dangerous France are.

Form guide says England to win, and I think we will if we focus on playing our game. But this French side will be very physical, and I think Lievremont's picked Yachvili because of what he did to us the last time they won at Twickers - if we get involved in an arm wrestle, we'll probs lose and concede lots of pens which Yach will kick.

 

[elgringoborracho]

Lievremont has chosen a win-ugly team. We will want to provoke penalties and kick them, the same way we won against Ireland. Players other than 1 to 5 are there to defend, that's why Chabal is in (he made some good tackes against Ireland), and that's why Huget stays (I personnally dont see it but he's supposed to be a solid defender). That is also why Poitrenaud is out.

I absolutely don't believe in France winning but I admit it would be quite some fun to go win with a bazillion penalties (oh and drop goals too!) in Twickenham, in order to prove we are definitely 8 years late on our game plan, against the guys who inspired it to us.

EDIT. And after the RWC, bring on Galthié, Saint-André, Novès, Berbizier, Lagisquet, or Sella and start playing real French rugby.

 

[elgringoborracho]

A little guilty pleasure

 

[gingergenius]

love that try, certainly in the top 5 i've ever seen.

 

[lucky number 7]

Ditto that one of the best.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

One of the best to be scored at Twickenham ever!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Superb! (or at least would be if it were the other way round )

 

[Teh Mite]

The sad part is there are people out there who like it just because it's against England....





























Only Kidding!*

* © Lièvremont 2011

 

[LittleGuy]

I just don't feel comfortable with the French lineup changes, I assume many here are correct in saying that France are going to try to win ugly if these aren't tacticle changes then I am even more perplexed because games against Wales and especially Italy would be better for getting some squad members game time. This would also be bad for the entertainment value as last years match between France and England was a snoozer especially after the first fifteen minutes.

Although the game was close against Ireland, the French were ultimately victorious and I don't like to break up any winning side unless aboslutely obvious changes are neccessary. I also think Ireland had something to prove after a disspointing fall and first game against Italy and played their hearts out. The replacement of Parra is one change I really don't get, its not to say that Yachvilli is bad but I'm thinking that Lievremont is going off Dmitiri's past history of playing well against England.

I also think Chabal is better as an impact substitution who can come on in the last 20-30 minutes and wear down the tired opposition and deliver some bruising tackles to already sore bodies. Besides the fact that England has some ironsides in their lineup who won't be intimidated or be reluctant to go into contact.

 

[Daylightfire]

Looks like Moody is out,, could be a blessing in disguise,

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Where did you hear that?
I've not heard it, but I wouldn't be devastated if true...

I see Robshaw has been released to his club yet again,
Why do they bother calling up 30 odd players when they pick 22 in the first week then not change them ever?

 

[DorceOutSide]

tight game but england will probaly edge out on top if i was an englishman i would want haskell to start ahead of moody you cant rush a player who has been out for the whole 6 nations so far right into england hardest match of the tournament.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Where did you hear that?
I've not heard it, but I wouldn't be devastated if true...

Found it now:
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12504_6773874,00.html

Will be the same side as last match then, with Moody fit again for Scotland (apparently)
I really really think Robshaw deserves the bench spot more than Fourie, it's madness he's not there

 

[Peat]

Where did you hear that?
I've not heard it, but I wouldn't be devastated if true...

I see Robshaw has been released to his club yet again,
Why do they bother calling up 30 odd players when they pick 22 in the first week then not change them ever?

Someone has to hold the tackle bags.

 

[TRF_RC]

Goodness me.
France don't travel well.
England are TOUGH to beat at Twickers.
France don't look like the moved out of 3rd gear for either of their last 2 matches.
England are quickly moving up the gears gaining speed.
France's tries have come from a lot of opponent errors.
England have created tries and picked up on opponent weaknesses.

It all leads to one overwhelming conclusion...So why can't i decide who's going to win?

 

[conker]

France can easily get crushed in this game, especially if they are trailing early in the game. Watch out for their powerful scrum and foremost their counter attacks. Médard FTW ^_^

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Is anyone else slightly worried that the height mismatch in the front rows will be a problem for England? Need to drive lower and risk collapsing in order to avoid popping up?

N.B I know very little about scrum time!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

England's team announcement has been pushed back to 1pm due to late changes
How long does it take to cross out "Lewis Moody" and write "Hendre Fourie"?

 

[No Soft Centres]

People on the '606' Seem to think there will be some sort of change, between tindall, cueto, and banahan. Perhaps banahan to 13. I hope not. I say keep it the same, and definatly do not get rid of cueto. other than that, hendre fourie has to be on the bench, with moody sitting in the stand.