England v France

[dullonien]

This, and it genuinely is part of a system. In attack, England's centres solely to straighten ball and crash it up. Hape does that better than Flutey and gets the nod. The back three are there to attack space and pass the ball.

The fact that England aren't short of centres who can do that and add extra, many of whom have more solid defence, doesn't really interest them. They'd rather get that extra ounce of grunt.

That may be true, but I think it could bite them on the ass if/when they come up against a team who perform. Hell it could have cost them against Wales if Wales actually strung some stuff together. If France play anywhere neer their potential, then this game will be very close, and the lack of creativity in the centre for England could proove costly. At the end of the day, France can easily hold their own up front, and when they're in the mood they can score tries for fun.

Should be a great match. I think England will win considering recent form, but it still all depends on what French team turns up.

 

[Peat]

That may be true, but I think it could bite them on the ass if/when they come up against a team who perform. Hell it could have cost them against Wales if Wales actually strung some stuff together. If France play anywhere neer their potential, then this game will be very close, and the lack of creativity in the centre for England could proove costly. At the end of the day, France can easily hold their own up front, and when they're in the mood they can score tries for fun.

Should be a great match. I think England will win considering recent form, but it still all depends on what French team turns up.

Don't get me wrong, I don't agree with it. I think Hape and Tindall are substandard and should be replaced and could list ten or so EQP centres I'd rather see. I think you're right about their lack of creativity costing us, did against New Zealand. As their defence did there.

But that is the system and that is the logic - or at least as far as I can tell. And it does make a logic of its sort.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Very nervous about this game.

That said, re-watching the France Ireland match the french seem to be playing from so deep, relying on really speedy backs to get the ball wide as quick as possible, going almost from one touchline to the other. And I think our slide defence out wide with cueto ashton and foden has been pretty good so far, so I think we can cope with that. I'd be more worried about gaps in the midfield because we don't have so much agility there.

Anyone know if Sheridan will be back for France? Corbisero was great but I'm worried about holding our own in the scrum. Will MJ consider putting Shaw in for Deacon? Probably not. And to be fair, Deacon is hardly a push-over. If Moody comes back in, does wood stay where he is or haskell go to 6? MEGA QUESTIONNNSSS

 

[WetAndCold]

Do England have no centers who can smash the gain line, are solid in defence AND can create a bit of magic? Hape and Tindall can do the first two, but surely there is a young english player who can do all three?

 

[Teh Mite]

You're looking at 2/3 for everyone as it stands. Tuilagi and 36 may fit the bill one day, if Leicester can fix Taits issues he could be another option, but the boat has sailed for Allen, Clarke and Hipkiss by the looks of things.

Lowe at Quins?

 

[Peat]

Do England have no centers who can smash the gain line, are solid in defence AND can create a bit of magic? Hape and Tindall can do the first two, but surely there is a young english player who can do all three?

First off, I don't think Hape and Tindall's defence is that solid... but really, it comes down to Brad Barritt and maybe Jon Clarke at the present. Anthony Allen carries well in traffic but I'd worry about his bosh this level just because of his size. Would still like to see him tried. Manu Tuilagi and Billy Twelvetrees are the big hopes for this for the future, but still have a little to learn.

 

[gingergenius]

England's centres for next year's 6N should be some combination of:

12. Barritt/ Allen/ Waldouck
13. Tuilagi/ Waldouck/ Tait (if he goes well at Leicester)

with Lowe to be around too.

As it is, I'm predicting 12. Hape, 13. Banahan.

As a future England backline, I'd love to see:

9. Youngs
10. Flood
11. Ojo
12. Waldouck
13. Tuilagi
14. Ashton
15. Foden

... I don' think we've had a backline that exciting since the 90s.

 

[Teh Mite]

Dunno,

9. Dawson
10. Wilko (when he did more then just kick)
11. JSD
13. Greenwood
12. Lewsey
14. Cohen
15. Robinson

Was none too shabby.

 

[Sixesandsevens]

9.Dawson
10.Wilkinson
11.Healey
13.Greenwood
12.Tindall
14. Balshaw/Cohen
15. Robinson

Was pretty darn exciting too. In fact I think england played their best rugby that championship

 

[nickdnz]

England's centres for next year's 6N should be some combination of:

12. Barritt/ Allen/ Waldouck
13. Tuilagi/ Waldouck/ Tait (if he goes well at Leicester)

with Lowe to be around too.

As it is, I'm predicting 12. Hape, 13. Banahan.

As a future England backline, I'd love to see:

9. Youngs
10. Flood
11. Ojo
12. Waldouck
13. Tuilagi
14. Ashton
15. Foden

... I don' think we've had a backline that exciting since the 90s.

I'd love to see England have a backline like that, however there is no hope in hell of Ojo, Walduck and Tuilagi all being in the same team so long as Martin Johnson is coach.

Out of curiousity, looking like Ojo has any shot of making the England RWC team? He's still fairly young (25), but I think he's more or less in his prime now, it'd be a shame to see him miss out.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Nope,
He hasn't had a look in since that "scandal" when England toured NZ

Ahead of him for wing:
Ashton,
Cueto,
Banahan,
Strettle,
Simpson-Daniel,
Monye,
Abendanon


It's a shame, because he's a good player
If Barkley performed in an England shirt, I think Barkley #21 (fly-half/centre cover) and Ojo (Wing/fullback) would be a great bench to have

 

[gingergenius]

Nope,
He hasn't had a look in since that "scandal" when England toured NZ

Ahead of him for wing:
Ashton,
Cueto,
Banahan,
Strettle,
Simpson-Daniel,
Monye,
Abendanon


It's a shame, because he's a good player
If Barkley performed in an England shirt, I think Barkley #21 (fly-half/centre cover) and Ojo (Wing/fullback) would be a great bench to have

Ojo's a massive shame. He's quick, his defence is good, he's got good feet, runs some good angles... maybe not as quick as Monye but you don't have to be; not as big as Banahan but you don't have to be; not as creative as Strettle but he doesn't have **** defence either.

In other words, barring JSD (who's also not looking like playing for England anytime soon), he's the best winger not currently starting.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Like South Africa in the autumn, this game is there for England to win it. Hopefully we step up to the mark this time.

As long as the Bokke have a good few Afrikaners and are decent it is going to be difficult for England to beat us as we always lift our game facing the English, about 10 times more than for the Kiwi's.

That said I do believe the English are in this match to win it. One never knows what the French will through at you though and they are capable of beating anyone on the day despite their last game.

 

[gingergenius]

Didn't know being an Afrikaner made you better at rugby...

 

[eot345]

Didn't know being an Afrikaner made you better at rugby...

Tests have been run and it has been proven that the only nationality that makes you better at rugby is being a kiwi.

id love to see bannahan in at 13 over tindall (prefer bannahan at centre to wing)
since he has equal defence better offloads aswell as more pace and more power.

bannahan would work best with a creative quick centre that could use bannhans off loads ideally allen but i guess fluety would do (how quick is he?)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Waldouck and Barritt would be better shouts than Allen
Though Banahan is a poor shout either way, if any of Allen, Barritt or Waldouck are available

 

[lucky number 7]

Banahan is the Devin Toner of the English as Feic so brilliantly put it " looks like a horse standing on its back legs".

 

[eot345]

i know that many peoplethink is overrated but bannahan does score trys

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Didn't know being an Afrikaner made you better at rugby...

It does when facing the English; the whole Anglo Boer war thing is still remembered and passed on generation to generation.

 

[Teh Mite]

What's that got to do with rugby?