6 Nations - FRANCE v ENGLAND - 10/03/18 - MATCH THREAD

[TightHEAD]

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FRANCE v ENGLAND - 10/03/18 - MATCH THREAD


Kick off: 16:45pm

Venue Stade de France BBC One & BBC Radio 5 live





England Team Starting XV
15 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby 31 caps), 14 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers 32 caps), 13 Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors 11 caps), 12 Owen Farrell (Saracens 56 caps) C, 11 Elliot Daly (Wasps 16 caps), 10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers 43 caps), 9 Danny Care (Harlequins 79 caps), 1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens 47 caps) VC, 2 Jamie George (Saracens 23 caps), 3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers 80 caps), 4 Joe Launchbury (Wasps 50 caps), 5 Maro Itoje (Saracens 17 caps), 6 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints 64 caps), 7 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins 62 caps), 8 Nathan Hughes (Wasps 13 caps).

Finishers
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs 4 caps), 17 Joe Marler (Harlequins 54 caps), 18 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins 8 caps), 19 James Haskell (Wasps 75 caps), 20 Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs 5 caps), 21 Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens 29 caps), 22 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby 38 caps), 23 Mike Brown (Harlequins 67 caps).



France Team News







Head to head
 P-103 England won 57, lost 39, drawn 7



Fully expect to see a tight game in poor weather conditions.
Must see a reaction from England at all costs, we've been treading water since the tour down-under imho and have seen little or no improvement since, plenty of depth but they must start playing like they own the shirt.

[Duty281]

That's a fair call for me. Wasn't intentional, but that doesn't matter.

In a tight game like this, that could be the match-winning score.

Hopefully, today gives England the required kick up the arse they need.

[No 7&1/2]

Fair enough pen try and yellow

[eirebilly]

Jeez if France had a little composure there then they were in for a try.

What the hell has happened to England?

[Duty281]

What the hell has happened to England?

Complacency? It has been a dire campaign.

[No 7&1/2]

Best lock off but at least it's a back row

[Guest]

How come that was a penalty try? He wouldn’t definitely have scored if the tackle was legal. Seems harsh.

[No 7&1/2]

Ha. No idea how the ref is seeing the scrum but good for us!

[whocares]

Slimani keeps on getting pinged every other game... he should be subbed for his own good really.

[eirebilly]

Well that was a bad call, nothing wrong there at all.

[mid_gen]

If only Billy V and Underhill were fit :/

Our carrying is absolute poop. Get Sinckler on.

[Heaf]

Who's the stupid AR that called that as a pen to France?

[Heaf]

Probably the same one calling Eng offside when they weren't

[Scottrff]

How come that was a penalty try? He wouldn’t definitely have scored if the tackle was legal. Seems harsh.

Because that's not the test. The tackle has to be ruled out completely.

[eirebilly]

Robshaw really is everywhere, he is such a workhorse for England.

[No 7&1/2]

Yup. If a foul act asnif the player want there. Spot on decision.

[Geordie]

Wheres the England leaders??? Driving this game back?

[Guest]

How come that was a penalty try? He wouldn’t definitely have scored if the tackle was legal. Seems harsh.

Because that's not the test. The tackle has to be ruled out completely.

Hmmm. Then, for me, that’s a silly rule.

[Heaf]

Wasn't that LO knocked-on by France?

[No 7&1/2]

Bit harsh that if it was against haskell.

[Taylorman]

How come that was a penalty try? He wouldn’t definitely have scored if the tackle was legal. Seems harsh.

Because that's not the test. The tackle has to be ruled out completely.

Hmmm. Then, for me, that’s a silly rule.

Take away the illegal act completely, he scores. He had the chance to make the tackle legally, and didn’t, so gets no ‘compensation on woulda coulda’. Perfectly sensible rule.

[eirebilly]

I am absolutely amazed at just how poor England are playing. Far too slow at the breakdown and the backline has not engaged at all. Have to say again that Ford really hindered England today.

[mid_gen]

Sinckler showing the rest of the forwards how to make yards.

Haven't seen an England pack this soft in a while.

[Collapse2005]

Frances breakdown work is far stronger than Englands. Excellent defense too.

[Duty281]

This will be the first time England have suffered consecutive defeats since the 2015 World Cup, when they lost to Wales and Australia.

[Collapse2005]

Thing England underestimated France. They arent that bad.

[eirebilly]

Robshaw keeping England in this game on his own right now. So many important turnovers.

[Heaf]

When was last 3 in a row?

[Guest]

How come that was a penalty try? He wouldn’t definitely have scored if the tackle was legal. Seems harsh.

Because that's not the test. The tackle has to be ruled out completely.

Hmmm. Then, for me, that’s a silly rule.

Take away the illegal act completely, he scores. He had the chance to make the tackle legally, and didn’t, so gets no ‘compensation on woulda coulda’. Perfectly sensible rule.

I just don’t agree with it. Take away the illegal act and in reality the defender doesn't disappear into thin air. He’d still be there. So if his illegal act was slightly lower there’s a very good chance he’d still make the tackle.

I’m not English btw. I’m rooting for France here. Just don’t like that rule.

[eirebilly]

Beautiful try set up by Daly

[No 7&1/2]

V good analysis by POC there should have been a pen france.

[Duty281]

When was last 3 in a row?

2014, when England went on to lose 5 in a row - three in New Zealand, one against NZ at Twickenham, and one against South Africa at Twickenham.

[mid_gen]

Robshaw doing his best one-man back row impression again. I do hope we can see him working with Billy V and Underhill soon.

Much better with Farrell, Teo, JJ.

[Scottrff]

How come that was a penalty try? He wouldn’t definitely have scored if the tackle was legal. Seems harsh.

Because that's not the test. The tackle has to be ruled out completely.

Hmmm. Then, for me, that’s a silly rule.

Take away the illegal act completely, he scores. He had the chance to make the tackle legally, and didn’t, so gets no ‘compensation on woulda coulda’. Perfectly sensible rule.

I just don’t agree with it. Take away the illegal act and in reality the defender doesn't disappear into thin air. He’d still be there. So if his illegal act was slightly lower there’s a very good chance he’d still make the tackle.

I’m not English btw. I’m rooting for France here. Just don’t like that rule.

He had a chance to tackle slightly lower...

[eirebilly]

Robshaw doing his best one-man back row impression again. I do hope we can see him working with Billy V and Underhill soon.

Much better with Farrell, Teo, JJ.

Too little too late, Jones should have seen that after 25-30mins.

[No 7&1/2]

Done and dusted now.

[Duty281]

When was last 3 in a row?

2014, when England went on to lose 5 in a row - three in New Zealand, one against NZ at Twickenham, and one against South Africa at Twickenham.

Interestingly enough, the last time England lost 3 in a row against Northern Hemisphere opposition was in 2006, when England:

Lost to Scotland in Scotland; then lost to France in France; then lost to Ireland at Twickers.

[eirebilly]

Still on here for England.

[No 7&1/2]

Similar matches to previous to be fair. 15 toil subs come on and make a difference. Clls for LCD over george etc.

[RDW]

Oh France all you had to do was kick it out!!

[Guest]

Beauxis noooooooo!

[RDW]

Dummy throw England!

[Duty281]

Well Beauxis' heart, for now, is going to be pumping at 100 mph.

[RDW]

Well well well!

[Collapse2005]

CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!

[Duty281]

France are nothing special, but I'll have a little punt on them at halftime at 5/2.

England have seriously struggled so far.

Well done France.  Deserved.

[No 7&1/2]

Well done to ireland then.

[whocares]

Phew.
What a mess.
Thank you Bastareaud . Won’t critic him ever again.

[No 7&1/2]

Although for guns to come on to a england france thread to say that makes me regret it immediately!

[Pete330v2]

Thanks France. Merci Francais.

[eirebilly]

France deserved that, it was a very strong defensive display from them.

England, poor very poor in the dynamics around the breakdown and no impact from the backline.

Hats off to Robshaw who played out of his skin, it may have been a bigger loss if he was not on the field.

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