Page 14 of 18
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:24 pm
by Which Tyler
74 minutes, and we're still in this.
We're closer to deserving it, but it's still thanks to France failing with the final pass 4(?) times
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:25 pm
by Which Tyler
Which Tyler wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:24 pm
74 minutes, and we're still in this.
We're closer to deserving it, but it's still thanks to France failing with the final pass 4(?) times
I may have spoken too soon - though they still managed to spoil a good opportunity 20 seconds earlier
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:25 pm
by Galfon
Genius by Penaud with that kick.
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:30 pm
by Insouciant
Yeeeesssssssssssssssssssssssss
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:30 pm
by Galfon
Super-sub !!
Lovely FH link play by Fin S.
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:32 pm
by Insouciant
Fucking wow, just fucking wow
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:32 pm
by Puja
Bonus point victory. Clearly dominant.
Puja
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:33 pm
by jngf
Borthwick’s ass saved!
Tom Curry was heroic and arguably had best game of his career. Earl and Willis didn’t get that much pocession but when they had it they looked potent. Lawrence had great game too.
Still room for improvement: Genge and Martin are plodders in the loose and we need something different at 12
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:33 pm
by Stom
Well, that was entertaining.
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:34 pm
by Mr Mwenda
What a game, Stupendous Bollocks gets something right! So pleased.
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:35 pm
by Mikey Brown
What a ridiculous game. Amazing ending.
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:35 pm
by Galfon
Merci Fra for giving us a foot-up - the confidence this will bring will be huge.
Refreshing to watch a match without the ref. taking centre stage.
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:38 pm
by Stom
I have to say, I thought Fin Smith grew into that game very well indeed. He didn't start amazing, and it took him a while to get into it, but he was very good for the last 30 minutes.
I thought all 4 backrow forwards played very well. Earl not needing to concentrate on tight carrying freed him up, imo, and Willis gave us good ball, often.
It's a shame Marcus missed those kicks, because I thought he had a good game. Sleightholme, too, good game, but not collecting the ball leading to BBs 2nd try was poor.
We improved drastically when George came on for LCD. I thought the latter had a poor game, and I would want to start George and have Dan on the bench going forward.
Freeman very good, Laurence was good, one atrocious KADAB aside. Subs made impact. Much better.
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:38 pm
by Stom
Galfon wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:35 pm
Merci Fra for giving us a foot-up - the confidence this will bring will be huge.
Refreshing to watch a match without the ref. taking centre stage.
He's so much better than the others it's embarrassing.
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:39 pm
by Insouciant
Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:35 pm
What a ridiculous game. Amazing ending.
This. It was odd to see us really look good with the ball in hand in the final 20 mins or so. There were breaks and dare i say it, creativity. It was also great that we kept going, kept on 'staying in the fight'' as stupendous ballgame might say.
Overall it was so odd and open and entertaining. Just fun to watch and a nice change to win.
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:39 pm
by Puja
I think with the number of close games the last year where we've failed to get the rub of the green, lost the 50:50s, or had one individual mistake (by Earl) ruining a whole team effort, I think we're definitely owed a little bit of jam to come out on the right side of one of these for once.
This feels so much better.
Puja
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:40 pm
by Oakboy
Good win from a reconstructed application of energy over the 80 minutes. It's something to build on.
Was Willis injured? I don't understand taking him off otherwise.
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:42 pm
by Mr Mwenda
Galfon wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:35 pm
Refreshing to watch a match without the ref. taking centre stage.
Yes, you can tell the players respond to him well as well. Credit is due!
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:43 pm
by Oakboy
Oakboy wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 5:45 pm
Banquo wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 5:42 pm
Oakboy wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 5:39 pm
We SHOULD win this from here.
Why? Could is more on the mark.
I think we have momentum and we are capable of a win. That makes it should but I'll concede your could.
As I said, should!!!!!!!!!

Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:47 pm
by Which Tyler
Hang on, have we just won the Raeburn?
Looking forward to the minute by minute, but might need a new acronym for failing to score against an open goal
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:50 pm
by Puja
Oakboy wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:40 pm
Good win from a reconstructed application of energy over the 80 minutes. It's something to build on.
Was Willis injured? I don't understand taking him off otherwise.
In fairness, BCurry was an excellent input into the game, especially when we were attacking the last 15 - he cleared so many rucks. It would've been a big call to take TCurry off after the game he was having, and Earl had one of his best games (and only got better after moving to 8). I wasn't in favour at the time, but if we needed fresh legs in the backrow to help our impetus, then Boldchoice was probably vindicated in leaving TCurry and Earl on.
Puja
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:52 pm
by Mikey Brown
You’ve set yourself a pretty mammoth task if you’re doing an MBM for this one, Puja.
Chessum almost MOTM worthy off the bench.
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:54 pm
by Puja
Which Tyler wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:47 pm
Hang on, have we just won the Raeburn?
Looking forward to the minute by minute, but might need a new acronym for failing to score against an open goal
Yeah, I think that's going to have to be a counter.
Can confirm, we're definitely getting a m-b-m for this one.
Puja
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:56 pm
by fivepointer
Well, that was bloody lovely.
Sober analysis can wait, for now lets enjoy a performance full of spirit, heart and no little skill.
Well done lads.
Re: England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:57 pm
by Puja
Want to apologise to George, as I was dubious about what his value off the bench would be, but I thought he was absolutely superb. Was the absolute glue in that last 15-20 minute surge. Would start him and have Dan on the bench for Scotland.
Daly is now forgiven for everything as well.
Puja