France vs England

[Olyy]

Team announcements:
France is unchanged, apart from Bastareaud is starting instead of on the bench:

Clement Poitrenaud, Marc Andreu, Mathieu Bastareaud, Yannick Jauzion, Alexis Palisson, Francois Trinh-Duc, Morgan Parra; Imanol Harinordoquy, Julien Bonnaire, Thierry Dusautoir, Julien Pierre, Lionel Nallet, Nicolas Mas, William Servat, Thomas Domingo

Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski, Jean-Baptiste Poux, Sebastien Chabal, Alexandre Lapandry, Dimitri Yachvili, David Marty, Julien Malzieu




England team being announced this afternoonish (as far as i'm aware, anyhow)

 

[Olyy]

Ah, England team announced tomorrow midday, not today.
Hopefully Johnson follows Gatlands lead and drops some deadwood...won't happen though

 

[Bullitt]

I can imagine it now:

Martin Johnson has thrown caution to the wind for Saturdays crucial fixture with France, naming a changed squad from that which started the 15-all draw at Murrayfield.

Commenting on his selection, Johnson said "There were plenty of positives to take away from Murrayfield and we've watched the tape and found the best way forward.

"We've been very pleased with the game-plan and we're clearly progressing in a direction which is best for England rugby.

"We had a couple of injuries and fitness problems which were worrying, but so long as these guys pass the late tests they should all be ready. The guys we have brought in look right for England and we feel this is the way forward.

England XV vs France:

1. Tim Payne
2. Steve Thompson
3. <strike>Andy</strike> Dan Cole
4. Steve Borthwick
5. Ben Kay
6. Neil Back
7. Richard Hill
8. Lawrence Dallaglio
9. Matt Dawson
10. Rob Andrew
11. Tony Underwood
12. Jerry Guscott
13. <strike>Will Carling</strike> Mike Tindall
14. Alexander Obolensky
15. Jason Robinson

16. George Chuter
17. Jullian White
18. Martin Johnson
19. Louis Deacon
20. Andy Gommersall
21. Jonny Wilkinson
22. Tim Stimpson


Ben Foden was unavailable for comment.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bullitt @ Mar 16 2010, 01:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I can imagine it now:

"Martin Johnson has thrown caution to the win for Sundays crucial fixture with France on Saturday, naming a changed squad from that which started the 15-all draw at Murrayfield.

Commenting on his selection, Johnson said "There were plenty of positives to take away from Murrayfield and we've watched the tape and found the best way forward.

"We've been very pleased with the game-plan and we're clearly progressing in a direction which is best for England rugby.

"We had a couple of injuries and fitness problems which were worrying, but so long as these guys pass the late tests they should all be ready. The guys we have brought in look right for England and we feel this is the way forward.

England XV vs France:

1. Tim Payne
2. Steve Thompson
3. <strike>Andy</strike> Dan Cole
4. Steve Borthwick
5. Ben Kay
6. Neil Back
7. Richard Hill
8. Lawrence Dallaglio
9. Matt Dawson
10. Rob Andrew
11. Tony Underwood
12. Jerry Guscott
13. <strike>Will Carling</strike> Mike Tindall
14. Alexander Obolensky
15. Jason Robinson

16. George Chuter
17. Jullian White
18. Martin Johnson
19. Louis Deacon
20. Andy Gommersall
21. Jonny Wilkinson
22. Tim Stimpson


Ben Foden was unavailable for comment.[/b]

Good team

 

[Gavin]

If Johnson has any balls he'll choose a starting XV which include Cole, Lawes, Flood and Foden.

 

[cyRil]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (King D'arcy @ Mar 16 2010, 01:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bullitt @ Mar 16 2010, 01:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can imagine it now:

"Martin Johnson has thrown caution to the win for Sundays crucial fixture with France on Saturday, naming a changed squad from that which started the 15-all draw at Murrayfield.

Commenting on his selection, Johnson said "There were plenty of positives to take away from Murrayfield and we've watched the tape and found the best way forward.

"We've been very pleased with the game-plan and we're clearly progressing in a direction which is best for England rugby.

"We had a couple of injuries and fitness problems which were worrying, but so long as these guys pass the late tests they should all be ready. The guys we have brought in look right for England and we feel this is the way forward.

England XV vs France:

1. Tim Payne
2. Steve Thompson
3. <strike>Andy</strike> Dan Cole
4. Steve Borthwick
5. Ben Kay
6. Neil Back
7. Richard Hill
8. Lawrence Dallaglio
9. Matt Dawson
10. Rob Andrew
11. Tony Underwood
12. Jerry Guscott
13. <strike>Will Carling</strike> Mike Tindall
14. Alexander Obolensky
15. Jason Robinson

16. George Chuter
17. Jullian White
18. Martin Johnson
19. Louis Deacon
20. Andy Gommersall
21. Jonny Wilkinson
22. Tim Stimpson


Ben Foden was unavailable for comment.[/b]

Good team
[/b][/quote]
No room for Andy Goode?!

 

[King_D'Arcy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cyRil of Ospreylia @ Mar 16 2010, 01:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (King D'arcy @ Mar 16 2010, 01:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bullitt @ Mar 16 2010, 01:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can imagine it now:

"Martin Johnson has thrown caution to the win for Sundays crucial fixture with France on Saturday, naming a changed squad from that which started the 15-all draw at Murrayfield.

Commenting on his selection, Johnson said "There were plenty of positives to take away from Murrayfield and we've watched the tape and found the best way forward.

"We've been very pleased with the game-plan and we're clearly progressing in a direction which is best for England rugby.

"We had a couple of injuries and fitness problems which were worrying, but so long as these guys pass the late tests they should all be ready. The guys we have brought in look right for England and we feel this is the way forward.

England XV vs France:

1. Tim Payne
2. Steve Thompson
3. <strike>Andy</strike> Dan Cole
4. Steve Borthwick
5. Ben Kay
6. Neil Back
7. Richard Hill
8. Lawrence Dallaglio
9. Matt Dawson
10. Rob Andrew
11. Tony Underwood
12. Jerry Guscott
13. <strike>Will Carling</strike> Mike Tindall
14. Alexander Obolensky
15. Jason Robinson

16. George Chuter
17. Jullian White
18. Martin Johnson
19. Louis Deacon
20. Andy Gommersall
21. Jonny Wilkinson
22. Tim Stimpson


Ben Foden was unavailable for comment.[/b]

Good team
[/b][/quote]
No room for Andy Goode?!
[/b][/quote]

Why is Wilkinson on the bench? After all he is the best outhalf the world has ever seen and ever will see ever

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

GOT MY TICKETS :bana: :bana: :bana:

 

[mohamed_ali12]

Is it bad to hope Wilkinson, Monye and Borthwick end up injured? And Payne, Thompson, Deacon, Worsley, Care and Armitage pulled from the squad as a precaution?

Something like THIS would then be in store:

Mullan
Hartley
Cole
Shaw
Lawes
Haskell
Moody ©
Easter

Hodgson
Flood
Cueto
Flutey
Tait
Ashton
Foden

Mears
Wilson
Kennedy (promoted from Saxons)
Armitage
Youngs
Hodgson (eek...)
Banahan

Someone tell me THAT is not a better team?

...Although it would be fun for Paul and Charlie Hodgson to start, See how idiot Butler copes.

 

[Olyy]

Geraghty on the bench instead of Hodgson (can cover centre and FH) and chuck away Banahan and that's pretty much the team i wanted at the start of the 6N

 

[Bullitt]

Geraghty can not, I repeat NOT cover centre. This was very clearly confirmed during the Autumn when he was shoehorned in.

Play him at 10 and let him play his way or don't bother at all. It's a waste trying to make him something he's not.

 

[Fa'atau82]

Post-2003 England are on a tangent equivalent to Wales in the late 80's, which is just sad.

 

[Bullitt]

http://twitter.com/ben_foden

Delon Armitage dropped for France Ben Foden set to start. Mike Tindall and Chris Ashton both in the 22 and pushing for starts

 

[Bullitt]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8564550.stm

England have released Delon Armitage, Ugo Monye and Courtney Lawes from the squad for Saturday's final RBS Six Nations game against France in Paris.

The absence of the out-of-form Armitage looks set to give Ben Foden his first start at full-back, while Monye's exit could see a reshuffle in the backs.

Mike Tindall could come into the starting XV at centre, with winger Chris Ashton tipped to make his debut.

Captain Steve Borthwick will have his knee injury assessed on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old left England's base at Pennyhill Park after a light training session on Tuesday to seek specialist treatment on the problem.

England manager Martin Johnson, who will name his side at 1300 GMT on Wednesday, said: "Steve has gone for treatment for a long-term wear-and-tear issue.

"Hopefully it is just precautionary and he will be fine."

Armitage and Monye have started all of England's games so far in the Six Nations, while Lawes came off the bench against Scotland to win his second cap.

The trio were among 11 players released from the squad on Tuesday, with Steffon Armitage, Jordan Crane, Shontayne Hape, Charlie Hodgson, Paul Hodgson, Lee Mears, Matthew Mullan and Dan Ward-Smith the others to be deemed surplus to requirements.

More to follow.

 

[elgringoborracho]

Bad news for us that Foden is starting. I rate him very highly. An interesting confrontation against Poitrenaud to come

 

[gingergenius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bullitt @ Mar 16 2010, 09:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8564550.stm[/b]

You're not allowed in the squad anymore if you're black.

 

[Olyy]

If Borthwick is a maybe why release Lawes?

Also TINDALL? F**KING TINDALL? If Johnson pust him at 13 with Tait on the wing i'll kick off.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Tait on the bench with tindall/ashton on the pitch, as Johnson loves the idea of Tait playing wing, despite not playing it since 2007, him on the bench to cover those two spots.

 

[mohamed_ali12]

Expecting more of the same from f***ing Louis Deacon then.
This just shows the direction of the England team, according to Johnno -

Thompson>Mears
Worsley (aged 32)>Armitage(24)
Payne (30)>Mullan(23)
Deacon(29)>Lawes(20)

How about you give players who aren't f***ing has beens a go?

 

[Olyy]

Thinking about it, i want Johnson to completely drop Tait.
And Cueto for that matter.

Big game on Friday for Sale, we need all the players we can get (similarly, Gatland should recall richie rees and drop Peel )

 

[elgringoborracho]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Olyy @ Mar 16 2010, 11:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

If Borthwick is a maybe why release Lawes?

Also TINDALL? F**KING TINDALL? If Johnson pust him at 13 with Tait on the wing i'll kick off.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Tait on the bench with tindall/ashton on the pitch, as Johnson loves the idea of Tait playing wing, despite not playing it since 2007, him on the bench to cover those two spots.[/b]

Tindall is the player I hate the most in the English team. He has beaten France so many times in big games yet he's just a fat pig... There again I don't like the idea of him starting. All those old hasbeens are the reason France have consistently underperformed against england in the last decade