France v England

[FKAS]

Midi Olympique are forecasting, unsurprisingly, no changes in the French 23. Sheep Botherer must pick a pack to counter the heavyweight frogs, and if he does then there’s a chance of an upset.

Who would you drop after last week’s performance. I’d argue it’s best to let them worry about us rather than us worrying about them.

Last weekend's starting pack is probably the best we've got for taking on the starting French offering. As Puja suggested earlier you could switch in Marler for better scrum work but that would drastically reduce the carrying ability up front. We had a nice balance last weekend and retaining it makes sense.

I'm glad George Martin is bringing his club form to international level. It's fun watching him cut people in half.

The bench will need a bit of adjustment with no CCS. Not sure about Dombrant Vs France either. Roots would be a solid physical option.

[francoisfou]

Midi Olympique are forecasting, unsurprisingly, no changes in the French 23. Sheep Botherer must pick a pack to counter the heavyweight frogs, and if he does then there’s a chance of an upset.

Who would you drop after last week’s performance. I’d argue it’s best to let them worry about us rather than us worrying about them.

Who would I drop from the French team? Ramos for me, but he's their almost metronomic goalkicker but Galthié wouldn't dare drop him, and after having been stuffed by the Irish and seen England beat them, Galthié'll be bricking it!

[Mellsblue]

Midi Olympique are forecasting, unsurprisingly, no changes in the French 23. Sheep Botherer must pick a pack to counter the heavyweight frogs, and if he does then there’s a chance of an upset.

Who would you drop after last week’s performance. I’d argue it’s best to let them worry about us rather than us worrying about them.

Who would I drop from the French team? Ramos for me, but he's their almost metronomic goalkicker but Galthié wouldn't dare drop him, and after having been stuffed by the Irish and seen England beat them, Galthié'll be bricking it!

From the England 23? ‘Sheep Botherer must pick a pack to counter the heavyweight frogs’.

[francoisfou]

Who would you drop after last week’s performance. I’d argue it’s best to let them worry about us rather than us worrying about them.

Who would I drop from the French team? Ramos for me, but he's their almost metronomic goalkicker but Galthié wouldn't dare drop him, and after having been stuffed by the Irish and seen England beat them, Galthié'll be bricking it!

From the England 23? ‘Sheep Botherer must pick a pack to counter the heavyweight frogs’.

Maybe Marler into the starting XV and Genge on the bench. Also, I'd drop George and start with LCD, but that's not going to happen.

[Cameo]

Nothing particularly interesting to say, but this is shaping up to be a fascinating game. England are likely to be a bit hit and miss for a while with their new defence while France's backline could run riot or could collapse under the physical pressure.

Plus, there is a title potentially on the line.

I don't think it's been the highest quality tournament but last week has meant this final weekend could be one of the best for a while.

[Galfon]

Agree, the extra time in camp after Match 3 week has allowed Fra and Eng to reach decent levels of performance after scratchy starts to the 6N, and Ita continuing to improve points to 3 intriguing contests.
Eng could easily grab a 5 point win (even if it's close) but can't see Ire ending the Sco match without even a losing BP, so the title appears to be out of reach.
Good that Ches fit, but real shame IFW not out there with his Sir Billy of Whizzington type of impact on a game.
Expect Striding Backpacker will go with Ford to start who despite last week's off day wi'boot has a good head for these occasions.
Experienced ref. A. Gardner, which is apt with so much happening 'on the grass', and we have the steady Georgian chap again, as one of the AR's along with Ben W. the TMO.

[Oakboy]

DT suggesting Daly for IFW as the only change, possibly with Tuilagi replacing him on the bench.

[p/d]

DT suggesting Daly for IFW as the only change, possibly with Tuilagi replacing him on the bench.

Change for CCS is the interesting one

[Banquo]

DT suggesting Daly for IFW as the only change, possibly with Tuilagi replacing him on the bench.

i guess, though can't see the value in Tuilagi, even in an important match. a- fairly likely to break if he has to appear early, b- not match fit if he appears early c- he won't play another game for us as he's off abroad d- much impact unlikely given his lay off. Maybe its sentiment, last hurrah etc.

[Which Tyler]

DT suggesting Daly for IFW as the only change, possibly with Tuilagi replacing him on the bench.

Change for CCS is the interesting one

It won't be interesting, it'll be Roots

[Oakboy]

DT suggesting Daly for IFW as the only change, possibly with Tuilagi replacing him on the bench.

Change for CCS is the interesting one

It won't be interesting, it'll be Roots

Probably, though that could mean Dombrandt still on the bench when logic suggests a lock.

[Puja]

Change for CCS is the interesting one

It won't be interesting, it'll be Roots

Probably, though that could mean Dombrandt still on the bench when logic suggests a lock.

I think it might be Coles, with Roots replacing Dombrandt. Showing Brightspots will be cognisant of the French bench and I think he'll want more direct carrying and tackling than Dombrandt's loose stuff.

Although, knowing him, he'll probably pick someone left-field like Pepper.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Change for CCS is the interesting one

It won't be interesting, it'll be Roots

Probably, though that could mean Dombrandt still on the bench when logic suggests a lock.

What logic? Coles and Roots and no number 8 cover?

[Which Tyler]

It won't be interesting, it'll be Roots

Probably, though that could mean Dombrandt still on the bench when logic suggests a lock.

What logic? Coles and Roots and no number 8 cover?

if three locks are good, four locks must be better. QED

[Puja]

It won't be interesting, it'll be Roots

Probably, though that could mean Dombrandt still on the bench when logic suggests a lock.

What logic? Coles and Roots and no number 8 cover?

...fair point. Have been so used to Earl being indestructible and there being CCS as the backup that I hadn't considered the lack of 8 cover. We do always have Itoje, I suppose .

Puja

[Puja]

Probably, though that could mean Dombrandt still on the bench when logic suggests a lock.

What logic? Coles and Roots and no number 8 cover?

if three locks are good, four locks must be better. QED

Dombrandt used to be a lock. Let's go 6:2 split so we can have 5 locks.

Puja

[Banquo]

What logic? Coles and Roots and no number 8 cover?

if three locks are good, four locks must be better. QED

Dombrandt used to be a lock. Let's go 6:2 split so we can have 5 locks.

Puja

Steward is tall, that'll do.

[Puja]

if three locks are good, four locks must be better. QED

Dombrandt used to be a lock. Let's go 6:2 split so we can have 5 locks.

Puja

Steward is tall, that'll do.

Don't be silly; Steward's playing 13! I know we said 12 earlier, but we don't want to move Lawrence from his natural position and both centre roles are basically the same anyway so we can just move him across to 13.

Puja

[Banquo]

Dombrandt used to be a lock. Let's go 6:2 split so we can have 5 locks.

Puja

Steward is tall, that'll do.

Don't be silly; Steward's playing 13! I know we said 12 earlier, but we don't want to move Lawrence from his natural position and both centre roles are basically the same anyway so we can just move him across to 13.

Puja

These are all excellent points.

(btw, last Saturday was the first time I've seen Freeman play left wing....)

[Mikey Brown]

Steward is tall, that'll do.

Don't be silly; Steward's playing 13! I know we said 12 earlier, but we don't want to move Lawrence from his natural position and both centre roles are basically the same anyway so we can just move him across to 13.

Puja

These are all excellent points.

(btw, last Saturday was the first time I've seen Freeman play left wing....)

No it wasn’t.

[Banquo]

Don't be silly; Steward's playing 13! I know we said 12 earlier, but we don't want to move Lawrence from his natural position and both centre roles are basically the same anyway so we can just move him across to 13.

Puja

These are all excellent points.

(btw, last Saturday was the first time I've seen Freeman play left wing....)

No it wasn’t.

You telling me what I'VE seen . He may well have played there before, but I don't remember it

[Mikey Brown]

Affirmative on both of those points.

[Banquo]

Affirmative on both of those points.

eh? I remember him playing a lot on the right for Saints, and earlier this season for England. Was he on the left in Oz, in which case its a long time ago for an old chap. (to be clear, I wasn't claiming he'd never played on the left, but he's been on the right when I'vee seen him on the wing recently. It does make a difference).

[Puja]

Affirmative on both of those points.

eh? I remember him playing a lot on the right for Saints, and earlier this season for England. Was he on the left in Oz, in which case its a long time ago for an old chap. (to be clear, I wasn't claiming he'd never played on the left).

I believe he was indeed on the left on the Australia tour.

Puja

[Banquo]

Affirmative on both of those points.

eh? I remember him playing a lot on the right for Saints, and earlier this season for England. Was he on the left in Oz, in which case its a long time ago for an old chap. (to be clear, I wasn't claiming he'd never played on the left).

I believe he was indeed on the left on the Australia tour.

Puja

memory fail then. I'll revise my point- iirc (which has to now be questioned) he's played nearly all his wing rugby on the right, esp since then.