France vs England - Match Thread

[LondonTiger]

First topic message reminder :

Sunday 2nd February 15:00 - France (a)
BBC Sport

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant 1: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant 2: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)


Recent Form

France:
20th October 2019: Wales - Lost 19-20
6th Ocober 2019: Tonga - Won 23-21
2nd October 2019: USA - Won 33-9
21st September 2019: Argentina - Won 23-21
30th August 2019: Italy - Won 47-19


England
2nd November 2019: South Africa - Lost 12-32
26th October 2019: New Zealand: Won 19:7
19th October 2019: Australia - won 40-16
5th October 2019: Argentina - Won 39-10
26th September 2019: USA - Won 45-7


Head to Head

Matches Played - 90
Wins - England 49, France 34
Draws - 7
Tries - England 165, France 143



Teams

France:


Bouthier; Thomas, Vakatawa, Fickou, Penaud; Ntamack, Dupont; Baille, Marchand, Haouas, Le Roux, Willemse, Cros, Ollivon (c), Alldritt

Reps: Mauvaka, Poirot, Bamba, Palu, Woki, Serin, Jalibert, Rattez


England


Furbank; May, Tuilagi, Farrell (capt), Daly; Ford, B Youngs; Marler, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Ewels, Lawes, Underhill, Curry.

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Genge, Stuart, Kruis, Ludlam, Heinz, Devoto, Joseph

[No 7&1/2]

Farrell injured.

[TightHEAD]

We look lightweight.

We will not win this

[Heaf]

France miles offside from that up and under

[formerly known as Sam]

Disadvantage of having a flanker at 8. And having youngs not paying enough attention.

From experience there's not a lot you can do when your scrum is marching forward and then your 8 doesn't connect properly with the ball and squirms out. It's not and easy pick up and your opposite number is all over you normally trying to kick where you're putting your hands.

Manu off is a huge blow.

[No 7&1/2]

I'm going to criticising youngs now. As theres too much typing.

[majesticimperialman]

England not doing too good at the moment.

[tigertattie]

Penalty to England. Offside

[Guest]

Wow what a difference a top class defence coach makes. This looks like the real France again, finally.

[Heaf]

Why did England all stop there?

[Guest]

Why did Tuilagi go off?

[tigertattie]

Well it looked forward off 7 to me.

[Collapse2005]

Good call TMO.

[formerly known as Sam]

We look lightweight.

We will not win this

We look like we've got three locks on the pitch one of whom is anonymous and the French are playing at a tempo that's taking them out of the game.

Lawes has been poor and Ewels anonymous. One of the two of them has to go at half time. We haven't got the option we need on the bench though.

Youngs playing quite well ball in hand but the options for him aren't offering much. Ford and Farrell need to start finding the corners and pinning France back and forcing them to play from deep at the minute France are dominating up front and dictating the tempo.

[Geordie]

Ewells ....? Is he playing?

[Heaf]

Looked like it came off 7 onto Lawes to me ... tight though

[lostinwales]

Ball hits french arm goes back hits Lawes in the face and bounces forward. Seems fine but it definitely didn't hit Lawes' arm

[quinsforever]

thats a shocker

idiot 4th official didnt look at right angle. clesrly came off french arm from overhead camera

[formerly known as Sam]

Ewells ....? Is he playing?

Exactly my point. Lineout is a shambles as well.

[majesticimperialman]

France so far the better team.

[Heaf]

England are a bit of a shambles all round at the moment ...

[Collapse2005]

Wow, what a kick.

[No 7&1/2]

French director isnt keen to show replays of the rucks france are winning are they.

[Dirtydave]

England are getting mugged at the breakdown!

[Heaf]

Bit suspect how it was turned over though ...

[Geordie]

I think England will be getting the hair dryer treatment at half time.

[TightHEAD]

£25k each for this?

What a load of shhh

[quinsforever]

difference in score exemplified by difference between youngs and furband and their opposite numbers. worlds apart

[Collapse2005]

You have to imagine if France score next it will be too much for england to claw back.

[formerly known as Sam]

28mins and Ewels gets into the game with a lineout steal.

[majesticimperialman]

England so far this game playing just like Scotland yesterday. Getting turned over near the France line. If things dont improve soon England will deffo lose.

[Dirtydave]

Ben Youngs looks like a pub player, his distribution has sowed total panic throughout the backline.

[tigertattie]

Are there any welsh fans hiding in here?

I’m going to say something very very controversial here. I could get a pasting.

Are we seeing a France team revved up by Shaun Edwards? They are ferocious.

All these years Garland has been getting the applause for Wales wins based on a defensive system. Should the kudos be given to Shaun Edwards all this time?

I know it’s only been 30mins of rugby. But France look completely reinvented. They look........ disciplined

[Heaf]

Keeping hold of the ball would be a start ...

[formerly known as Sam]

Farrell couldn't catch a cold at the minute let alone the ball.

[quinsforever]

Are there any welsh fans hiding in here?

I’m going to say something very very controversial here. I could get a pasting.

Are we seeing a France team revved up by Shaun Edwards? They are ferocious.

All these years Garland has been getting the applause for Wales wins based on a defensive system. Should the kudos be given to Shaun Edwards all this time?

I know it’s only been 30mins of rugby. But France look completely reinvented. They look........ disciplined

love sean edwards. great interview with him on bbc before the match started

[Heaf]

The annoying thing is Shaun is English - why didn't we get him?

[quinsforever]

Are there any welsh fans hiding in here?

I’m going to say something very very controversial here. I could get a pasting.

Are we seeing a France team revved up by Shaun Edwards? They are ferocious.

All these years Garland has been getting the applause for Wales wins based on a defensive system. Should the kudos be given to Shaun Edwards all this time?

I know it’s only been 30mins of rugby. But France look completely reinvented. They look........ disciplined

love sean edwards. great interview with him on bbc before the match started

[Heaf]

Ben Youngs looks like a pub player, his distribution has sowed total panic throughout the backline.

Looks like they've all been in the pub ... maybe with Finn Russell ...

[Rugby Fan]

You have to imagine if France score next it will be too much for england to claw back.

Trying to remember when we last overcame a 17 point deficit. Mind you, we've certainly let teams back in against us from there.

[Dirtydave]

Sean Edwards has basically been given the key to wales after the last decade, the WRU are under pressure for letting him go for similar money because they refused to commit to a 4 year contract because of Pivac.

Sean Edwards is one of the best coaches on the planet, and this defensive structure is exactly what wales did to england in previous seasons

[quinsforever]

ben youngs. awful. awful. awful. awful

[Collapse2005]

Brain dead from Sinkler

[Geordie]

Ben Youngs looks like a pub player, his distribution has sowed total panic throughout the backline.

Whats irritating me is he keeps taking 2 or 3 steps before he passes....it just telegraphs what hes doing

[Dirtydave]

Kyle Sinkler isn't renowned as a smart player, but even for him that was stupid!

[Collapse2005]

You have to imagine if France score next it will be too much for england to claw back.

Trying to remember when we last overcame a 17 point deficit. Mind you, we've certainly let teams back in against us from there.

Its definitely possible but big ask

[carpet baboon]

I did say england would have a Minny implosion

[Gooseberry]

Think the biggest issue here is that France are scoring a lot of points and England arent

[No 7&1/2]

Not getting the rub of the green in the 50 50s here but we need Heinz on asap.

[Geordie]

France are aggressive and physical. Playing very well

[majesticimperialman]

This is terrible from England. making toooo many mistakes all over the place.

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