England V France
Discussion
This same thing happened before the last world cup. We beat France at Twickenham as they run out some fringe guys, then we go to France and they put out a strong squad and we rest players.
Not knocking it though, works out well as everyone gets a run. Just hope we get no injuries as the teams looking quite tasty at the moment.
Roll on September! Anyone else heading over for some games?
Not knocking it though, works out well as everyone gets a run. Just hope we get no injuries as the teams looking quite tasty at the moment.
Roll on September! Anyone else heading over for some games?
trickywoo said:
I don't think we will be resting many players simply because I don't think Ashton knows what the optimum 15 is yet.
We will see if the Frenchies put out a B or C team but I can't see they would want to risk a heavy defeat on home turf.
I can just see the home teams playing stronger squads than their away ones. But good point about Ashton not knowing his best 15 yet. Sounds like the training camp has been going well and they've been getting a bit tasty.We will see if the Frenchies put out a B or C team but I can't see they would want to risk a heavy defeat on home turf.
Well I guess everyone else on here who went to the game is still out drinking!
Did anyone else think we should've won that by a good 10 points? Just in the last 10 minutes or so we had 2 opportunities right in front of us where any one of about 3-4 players could've straightened up, put their foot down and aimed at the line with a much better than 50/50 chance of getting in, so why did they insist on just sending it left/right/left until they got turned over!
Overall, having seen the performance of the Northern hemisphere sides today, I can't help thinking the Southern Hemisphere nations are going to be rubbing their hands in anticipation of the World Cup.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that it's all a cunning plan by the Northern nations to seem crap right up until the crunch!
Did anyone else think we should've won that by a good 10 points? Just in the last 10 minutes or so we had 2 opportunities right in front of us where any one of about 3-4 players could've straightened up, put their foot down and aimed at the line with a much better than 50/50 chance of getting in, so why did they insist on just sending it left/right/left until they got turned over!
Overall, having seen the performance of the Northern hemisphere sides today, I can't help thinking the Southern Hemisphere nations are going to be rubbing their hands in anticipation of the World Cup.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that it's all a cunning plan by the Northern nations to seem crap right up until the crunch!
How impressive were the French in the tackles though, I mean even Noons hits just failed to impress after they somehow got a bulldozer on the pitch to stop Vickery. There was no way he was going to be stopped short of the line but the perfect challenge just laid him up.
Next week though is when Ashton intends to start with his world IX. That'd be such a boost to turn over Les Bleues at home next weekend before it turns real.
Next week though is when Ashton intends to start with his world IX. That'd be such a boost to turn over Les Bleues at home next weekend before it turns real.
I think there was reason to be a bit optimistic from Saturday. That was pretty close to a first choice 15 from France. Thought as with the Wales game the forwards put in a decent display, the backs still need to fire but chances were created they just werent executed which is something we have to work on.
Next weeks game is going to be a true representation of form. France will pick a first choice as will England and Marsaille will provide a 'decent'
atmosphere... Looking forward to it as I think it'll be pretty close. Looking at the draw for the WC it has the potential to be kind to England. If we can get out of the group as winners (S.Africa being a key game again...) then it'll probably be a QF against Wales. I'd fancy England to win that as long as the forwards front up and keep the ball away from the Welsh backs. At that point all bets are off as in SF its just who handles the pressure best. It will be funny as from a lunatic 4 years England could put in a decent display...
Next weeks game is going to be a true representation of form. France will pick a first choice as will England and Marsaille will provide a 'decent'
atmosphere... Looking forward to it as I think it'll be pretty close. Looking at the draw for the WC it has the potential to be kind to England. If we can get out of the group as winners (S.Africa being a key game again...) then it'll probably be a QF against Wales. I'd fancy England to win that as long as the forwards front up and keep the ball away from the Welsh backs. At that point all bets are off as in SF its just who handles the pressure best. It will be funny as from a lunatic 4 years England could put in a decent display...Twit said:
I think there was reason to be a bit optimistic from Saturday.
Agreed.This may sound odd but I really didn't want to win saturday as this would mean the media would jump on Englands back saying 'We're going to retain the cup'
At least with this encouraging performance we can go into the world cup with a little more confidence than during the 6 nations
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