France v England

[Timbo]

There was one time where I thought Ford was a bit too conservative, we’d just taken the lead and he called for a mark when it looked very on to counter attack. Other than that I think he judged things perfectly. You can’t just be going through phases deep in your own half, especially when your team is at a pretty big power disadvantage.

[Banquo]

There was one time where I thought Ford was a bit too conservative, we’d just taken the lead and he called for a mark when it looked very on to counter attack. Other than that I think he judged things perfectly. You can’t just be going through phases deep in your own half, especially when your team is at a pretty big power disadvantage.

Yes, I remember that, we had numbers on the left. I also remember he looked a bit shagged out when he marked it, so maybe he figured everyone else was.

[FKAS]

That is a wild take. I can absolutely understand preferring Smith to Ford on general principles, but what about Ford's performance today did you think cost us the game?!?

Puja

Just the time after time when he kicked possession away. Yes, he has wondertul hands and showed that on several occasions so why does he not stick to doing that? I think we left points on the pitch because of his choices in what was a winnable game. That was not a fantastic French team.

We had absolutely eff all ball second half, and most of it was in our third of the pitch; frankly, it was some good kicking and back field coverage that kept us in the game, slowing it down. Playing a looser game from the back would have seen us shredded. esp given our defensive approach when the game gets stretched (we may want to revisit that a bit when structure breaks down).

Agreed. You don't want to be running out of your own half into that massive French pack.

I thought Ford was outstanding and should have silenced those calling for him to retire after last weekend.

Marcus Smith played with more intensity than I can remember seeing from him previously, impressed by him.

We played very well and three wins from five was the target at the start of the competition. Just to many errors last night cost us that game. France got a bit lucky with the bounce of the ball for the try from the overthrown lineout (the bounce of the ball really did hate us). We just needed to be a bit smarter, a couple of unnecessary penalties really hurt us. The improvement from the squad as a whole has been very good, the attacking structure has actually come out and looked good. Set piece solid and defence is a weapon.

[Mikey Brown]

So have Care and Tuilagi retired? The commentators kept saying it but I hadn’t seen any indication it was true? I thought Care had specifically said he’ll take every chance he gets.

Not that I think we should be persisting with them either way.

[16th man]

So have Care and Tuilagi retired? The commentators kept saying it but I hadn’t seen any indication it was true? I thought Care had specifically said he’ll take every chance he gets.

Not that I think we should be persisting with them either way.

I think it's the assumption that Care won't make it to being picked in the Autumn, and the strong rumours Manu is off to France, meaning that they wouldn't play at Twickenham again.

[Stom]

BTW, how refreshing is it that we lost a game in the last few minutes, and the overall opinion is positive?

Like, we're telling the truth when we say we want performance first and result second at the start of a new regime.

[Puja]

BTW, how refreshing is it that we lost a game in the last few minutes, and the overall opinion is positive?

Like, we're telling the truth when we say we want performance first and result second at the start of a new regime.

Christ, we've got faith in the coaches **and** we've got faith in the fans? How on earth are we meant to cope with that???

Puja

[Banquo]

BTW, how refreshing is it that we lost a game in the last few minutes, and the overall opinion is positive?

Like, we're telling the truth when we say we want performance first and result second at the start of a new regime.

Not me, still possible to be both positive and disappointed by the result. It’s not the start of a new regime either tbf, but a new start to an existing one.

[FKAS]

BTW, how refreshing is it that we lost a game in the last few minutes, and the overall opinion is positive?

Like, we're telling the truth when we say we want performance first and result second at the start of a new regime.

Not me, still possible to be both positive and disappointed by the result. It’s not the start of a new regime either tbf, but a new start to an existing one.

The Borthwick era reboot.

[Banquo]

BTW, how refreshing is it that we lost a game in the last few minutes, and the overall opinion is positive?

Like, we're telling the truth when we say we want performance first and result second at the start of a new regime.

Not me, still possible to be both positive and disappointed by the result. It’s not the start of a new regime either tbf, but a new start to an existing one.

The Borthwick era reboot.

2.01

[Banquo]

Not me, still possible to be both positive and disappointed by the result. It’s not the start of a new regime either tbf, but a new start to an existing one.

The Borthwick era reboot.

2.01

Just to double down on this, the (very good) results in the RWC bought Silver Bollox the space to do what he has done in the 6N I'd think.

[Epaminondas Pules]

BTW, how refreshing is it that we lost a game in the last few minutes, and the overall opinion is positive?

Like, we're telling the truth when we say we want performance first and result second at the start of a new regime.

Not me, still possible to be both positive and disappointed by the result. It’s not the start of a new regime either tbf, but a new start to an existing one.

And to be fair there was a lot wrong yesterday. Probably more so than against Ireland. Lots of basic skills errors and penalties under pressure reared its head again.

That said lots of positives and it was actually enjoyable to watch England two games in a row which has been unheard of for almost 5 years!

[Stom]

BTW, how refreshing is it that we lost a game in the last few minutes, and the overall opinion is positive?

Like, we're telling the truth when we say we want performance first and result second at the start of a new regime.

Not me, still possible to be both positive and disappointed by the result. It’s not the start of a new regime either tbf, but a new start to an existing one.

And to be fair there was a lot wrong yesterday. Probably more so than against Ireland. Lots of basic skills errors and penalties under pressure reared its head again.

That said lots of positives and it was actually enjoyable to watch England two games in a row which has been unheard of for almost 5 years!

Oh yeah, but I'd rather have those handling errors and moments of stupidity rather than see nothing at all from the team.

[Banquo]

BTW, how refreshing is it that we lost a game in the last few minutes, and the overall opinion is positive?

Like, we're telling the truth when we say we want performance first and result second at the start of a new regime.

Not me, still possible to be both positive and disappointed by the result. It’s not the start of a new regime either tbf, but a new start to an existing one.

And to be fair there was a lot wrong yesterday. Probably more so than against Ireland. Lots of basic skills errors and penalties under pressure reared its head again.

That said lots of positives and it was actually enjoyable to watch England two games in a row which has been unheard of for almost 5 years!

yerp

[Banquo]

Not me, still possible to be both positive and disappointed by the result. It’s not the start of a new regime either tbf, but a new start to an existing one.

And to be fair there was a lot wrong yesterday. Probably more so than against Ireland. Lots of basic skills errors and penalties under pressure reared its head again.

That said lots of positives and it was actually enjoyable to watch England two games in a row which has been unheard of for almost 5 years!

Oh yeah, but I'd rather have those handling errors and moments of stupidity

I'd rather not, and win . Shouldn't really be a choice, innit

[FKAS]

And to be fair there was a lot wrong yesterday. Probably more so than against Ireland. Lots of basic skills errors and penalties under pressure reared its head again.

That said lots of positives and it was actually enjoyable to watch England two games in a row which has been unheard of for almost 5 years!

Oh yeah, but I'd rather have those handling errors and moments of stupidity

I'd rather not, and win .

This time next year (Rodney)...

[Stom]

And to be fair there was a lot wrong yesterday. Probably more so than against Ireland. Lots of basic skills errors and penalties under pressure reared its head again.

That said lots of positives and it was actually enjoyable to watch England two games in a row which has been unheard of for almost 5 years!

Oh yeah, but I'd rather have those handling errors and moments of stupidity

I'd rather not, and win . Shouldn't really be a choice, innit

Considering the dross of Eddie's last few years, I'm happy with looking good in between the feck ups. But yeah, ideal world and all.

[p/d]

Hard to be too disappointed, but feck we should have won that.

[Mikey Brown]

Hard to be too disappointed, but feck we should have won that.

Yeah the pen against Earl was harsh but I don’t care much about the result all that much to be honest. Both this and the Ireland game could easily have tipped either way, and I’d rather have beaten the Irish. It was just great to feel the drive and intention from England again.

A considerable part of me was quite happy for the French. Odd really as they’ve had 3 jammy wins this tournament against Scotland, Italy and England, but they seemed so mentally devastated by the early World Cup exit.

[francoisfou]

A considerable part of me was quite happy for the French. Odd really as they’ve had 3 jammy wins this tournament against Scotland, Italy and England, but they seemed so mentally devastated by the early World Cup exit.

Many supporters, and me included, unwisely thought that the World Cup was destined to be ours, and when the bubble eventually burst the disappointment was so intense, and those feelings hadn't been appeased with "the 3 jammy wins", and now the win on Saturday night has gone part of the way in repairing that disappointment.

[Mikey Brown]

I think a lot of people shared that feeling to a degree. I didn't put you ahead of Ireland as a team but thought playing in France might prove to be the difference. Obviously losing both halfbacks put a big dent in that.

I know it seems silly to say a RWC quarter lacks in occasion, but if it had been the final (or even semi) getting knocked out by Ire/SA that wouldn't have seemed so bad I don't think. England did far better in theory but it still only amounts to the same 1 point loss to SA.

It looked like France were completely crumbling on the back of that failure, so it was great to see that crowd/atmosphere behind the team in Lyon. I wasn't meaning to be snide about the "jammy" wins, but you had the sense France still knew they got very lucky and weren't performing.

[francoisfou]

The win at Murrayfield was indeed jammy, thanks to an extremely dubious decision not to allow a Scottish try and then squeezed out a jammy draw against Italy.

There's a two Test tour to Argentina in early July when Galthié will take players not involved in the Top14 final on the 29th, so there'll be opportunities for new players before the All Blacks on November 16th followed by Tests against Japan and Argentina.

[Puja]

The win at Murrayfield was indeed jammy, thanks to an extremely dubious decision not to allow a Scottish try and then squeezed out a jammy draw against Italy.

There's a two Test tour to Argentina in early July when Galthié will take players not involved in the Top14 final on the 29th, so there'll be opportunities for new players before the All Blacks on November 16th followed by Tests against Japan and Argentina.

Yeah, cause what your lot need is to build *more* strength in depth

I am terrified by your resources and the fact that every U20s cadre comes with a few new superstars. Just terrified.

Puja

[francoisfou]

The win at Murrayfield was indeed jammy, thanks to an extremely dubious decision not to allow a Scottish try and then squeezed out a jammy draw against Italy.

There's a two Test tour to Argentina in early July when Galthié will take players not involved in the Top14 final on the 29th, so there'll be opportunities for new players before the All Blacks on November 16th followed by Tests against Japan and Argentina.

Yeah, cause what your lot need is to build *more* strength in depth

I am terrified by your resources and the fact that every U20s cadre comes with a few new superstars. Just terrified.

Puja

The England U20s look promising too, and Galthié was terrified of losing on Saturday night, and if they had, the fickle French fans in Lyon would've given him hell in true frog fashion!

[Oakboy]

Hard to be too disappointed, but feck we should have won that.

This!!!