France v England

[Danno]

Maybe the real team will be a pleasant surprise now. Anyone actually know when it's announced?

[Mikey Brown]

Thanks.

[Doofus]

Maybe the real team will be a pleasant surprise now. Anyone actually know when it's announced?

Its at 2pm - Ah the irony that after all the tinkering and getting to a decent side, finally producing a convincing performance, its all to the wall (in the back line at least) through injuries! Fingers crossed for team momentum/tactics to carry us through to compete with the French!

[Banquo]

as expected....manu on bench has to be sentiment

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... ce-in-lyon

[Banquo]

Starting

15. George Furbank

14. Tommy Freeman

13. Henry Slade

12. Ollie Lawrence

11. Elliot Daly

10. George Ford - vice captain

9. Alex Mitchell

1. Ellis Genge - vice captain

2. Jamie George - captain

3. Dan Cole

4. Maro Itoje - vice captain

5. George Martin

6. Ollie Chessum

7. Sam Underhill

8. Ben Earl

Replacements

16. Theo Dan

17. Joe Marler

18. Will Stuart

19. Ethan Roots

20. Alex Dombrandt

21. Danny Care

22. Marcus Smith

23. Manu Tuilagi

[Mikey Brown]

I think I'm fine with Tuilagi getting one last trundle. He's been pretty solid at 12 last few times out.

Someone should edit that scene from American Psycho with the English players faces and they've all got business cards that say vice captain.

[Oakboy]

Strange how it seems uninspiring without IFW.

[Oakboy]

. . Tuilagi getting one last trundle. He's been pretty solid at 12 last few times out.

As a reason to pick him, on the back of the team rising to the occasion v Ireland, that is underwhelming.

[Puja]

Good to have continuity - can't really argue too much with that XV. Manu on the bench does feel strange (and gods help us if we get an early injury to Freeman), but I can see the logic - he does add a lot more game-changing impact than anyone else in the squad and, for a one-off game, he's a useful option to have. I am quite interested in seeing him go in the FJones defensive system; that feels like it could be very fun indeed.

Shame about Coles not getting another shot, but I see the logic in having two back rows, considering the flankers have been the ones told to empty the tank this 6N.

Looking forward to the game, which wasn't necessarily the case a week ago.

Puja

[Banquo]

I think I'm fine with Tuilagi getting one last trundle. He's been pretty solid at 12 last few times out.

Someone should edit that scene from American Psycho with the English players faces and they've all got business cards that say vice captain.

Obviously its a big game and not necessarily a time to chuck someone new in, but equally no time for sentiment. He's not played in ages, and you'd have to worry if Slade went off early say.

Also as Puja says, zero wing cover.

[p/d]

. . Tuilagi getting one last trundle. He's been pretty solid at 12 last few times out.

As a reason to pick him, on the back of the team rising to the occasion v Ireland, that is underwhelming.

Might as well have gone 6:2 and given Pepper a go

[Banquo]

. . Tuilagi getting one last trundle. He's been pretty solid at 12 last few times out.

As a reason to pick him, on the back of the team rising to the occasion v Ireland, that is underwhelming.

Might as well have gone 6:2 and given Pepper a go

not to be sneezed at!

[p/d]

As a reason to pick him, on the back of the team rising to the occasion v Ireland, that is underwhelming.

Might as well have gone 6:2 and given Pepper a go

not to be sneezed at!

Puja would say he is too green

[Puja]

Might as well have gone 6:2 and given Pepper a go

not to be sneezed at!

Puja would say he is too green

We don't want him ground down under the pressure.

Puja

[p/d]

not to be sneezed at!

Puja would say he is too green

We don't want him ground down under the pressure.

Puja

Put through the mill, if you will

[Banquo]

Might as well have gone 6:2 and given Pepper a go

not to be sneezed at!

Puja would say he is too green

hope its not chilli in France

[Banquo]

(cue Mikey meltdown)

[Mikey Brown]

On the plus side he's been playing a blitz defence for years now, regardless of what coach or team mates are doing.

[p/d]

(cue Mikey meltdown)

I think he has already cracked

[Mellsblue]

On the plus side he's been playing a blitz defence for years now, regardless of what coach or team mates are doing.

This made me lol

[francoisfou]

Anything you can say about Barre? I missed the Wales game and don't think I've ever seen him play.

Is Depoortere not an out and out 13? I'd assumed they would have moved Fickou in one, but maybe it's not worth messing with his defensive role.

I’ve seen Barré’s impressive try against Leicester but nothing else to report. Yes, I too thought Depoortère’s a 13 but Galthié’s clearly happy.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Starting team makes sense and good to get continuity. The bench doesn't feel particularly impactful to me. Not saying there's an alternative, but it feels a bit meh.

[Banquo]

Not saying there's an alternative, but it feels a bit meh.

indeed

[Crash Hamster]

Not happy with Slip Backwards' selection at all. So many 13s. The radical selection of an actual winger on the wing seems to have been an experiment too far. Can't wait to see Daly gassing Penaud on the outside, while bringing him to a shuddering halt when the roles are reversed.

I know they were away and it's diffferent for France at home, but defensively they looked more at 6s and 7s than an England back row and they're there for the taking. Instead we've picked a 'scrape a win v Itlay and Wales' side again.

Daly has played 11 twice in 2 years at club level, according to all.rugby.

[p/d]

Not happy with Slip Backwards' selection at all. So many 13s. The radical selection of an actual winger on the wing seems to have been an experiment too far. Can't wait to see Daly gassing Penaud on the outside, while bringing him to a shuddering halt when the roles are reversed.

I know they were away and it's diffferent for France at home, but defensively they looked more at 6s and 7s than an England back row and they're there for the taking. Instead we've picked a 'scrape a win v Itlay and Wales' side again.

Daly has played 11 twice in 2 years at club level, according to all.rugby.

Totally agree regards Daly. Though I have been informed by those more qualified that he is fully versed with the system and, to date, the only one who has deployed the ‘blitz trip’