France vs England, Saturday 20 March 7:45pm, Match Thread.

thomond2006

RBS SIX NATIONS: France v England

VS

Date: Saturday, March 20
Kick-off: 20.45 (19.45 GMT)
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Expected weather conditions: Heavy rain showers during the day, calming down to light rain in the evening. High 16°C; low 10°C
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Alain Rolland (Ireland), Simon McDowell (Ireland)
TMO: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)

The Teams:

France:
15 Clement Poitrenaud, 14 Marc Andreu, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Alexis Palisson, 10 François Trinh-Duc, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Julien Bonnaire, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5 Julien Pierre, 4 Lionel Nallet, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 William Servat, 1 Thomas Domingo
Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Sébastien Chabal, 19 Alexandre Lapandry, 20 Dimitri Yachvili, 21 David Marty, 22 Julien Malzieu

England:
15 Ben Foden, 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Mike Tindall, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Chris Ashton, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Danny Care, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Lewis Moody (captain), 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Louis Deacon, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Tim Payne
Replacements: 16 Steve Thompson, 17 David Wilson, 18 Tom Palmer, 19 James Haskell, 20 Ben Youngs, 21 Jonny Wilkinson, 22 Mathew Tait

France make just one change from the side that demolished Italy last week. Mathieu Bastearaud, who has been nominated for the Player of the Tournament, replaces David Marty.

England make six changes to the starting XV that drew with Scotland. In the forwards, Simon Shaw and Lewis Moody replace Louis Deacon and James Haskell. Toby Flood replaces Jonny Wilkinson at fly-half. In the backline, Chris Ashton will win his first cap on the wing in place of the injured Ugo Monye. Ben Foden replaces Delon Armitage at fullback, with Armitage dropping out of the 22 altogether. Mike Tindall comes in at outside centre, with Mathew Tait dropping to the bench.

Previous Results:
2009: England won 34-10 at Twickenham
2008: England won 24-13 at Stade de France
2007: England won 14-9 at Stade de France (RWC)
2007: England won 26-18 at Twickenham
2006: France won 31-6 at Stade de France


Key Head-to-Head: Mathieu Basteraud vs Mike Tindall

Basteraud has been an important attacking weapon in the French backline. His power and physical presence were clear for all to see when he carved up Ireland's and Scotland's midfield defence.
Mike Tindall has been brought back in by Martin Johnson to keep Basteraud quiet, with doubts over Mathew Tait's defence. He is a strong defender but he will be tested. If Tindall fails to deal with his opposite number, it will be a long night for England in Paris.

Prediction: France will be sick to death of losing to their bogey team and will come out all guns blazing and romp to a Grand Slam. France by at least 15.

http://www.rugby365.com/tournaments/sixnation/news/2310401.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8576625.stm

Stev_o

Borthwick out, Moody captain and Palmer comes onto the bench.

God id hate to be a English fan, MJ would take ten years off your life with these selections/

Otacon

Is Lawes injured?

toomevara

Stev_o wrote: »

Borthwick out, Moody captains

Delighted for Moody, should have had that armband long ago. Yet another good selection arrived at through luck/injury rather than judgement.

Crash

Yes, but their second row is now Shaw and Deacon. *shudder*

keano_afc

Wow, didnt know France hadnt beaten then in that long.

Should be put right on Saturday.

Judgement Day

toomevara wrote: »

Delighted for Moody, should have had that armband long ago. Yet another good selection arrived at through luck/injury rather than judgement.

Yes, things are looking up for us and if something untoward was to happen to Flood. England to win by more than 8 at 9/1.

Webbs

toomevara wrote: »

Delighted for Moody, should have had that armband long ago. Yet another good selection arrived at through luck/injury rather than judgement.

Moody whilst a decent enough flanker is not captain material, he is in the team to fly around generally like a headless chicken and has proved it in the past by being a penalty machine. Whilst he may well lead by example he never strikes me as someone with a cool head and therefore make good decisions on the pitch while others around him are losing theirs.

Co45

Thomond you should really give a little mention to Planet Rugby at the end of your match reports. I know you add some of your own stuff in but it's just polite to acknowledge it.
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9989_6036542,00.html

Stev_o

Co45 wrote: »

Thomond you should really give a little mention to Planet Rugby at the end of your match reports. I know you add some of your own stuff in but it's just polite to acknowledge it.
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9989_6036542,00.html

He's just copied the previous results and what time the match is on at, i don't think anyone here actually cares the rest of that is completely his.

Co45

Stev_o wrote: »

He's just copied the previous results and what time the match is on at, i don't think anyone here actually cares the rest of that is completely his.

I'm really talking about the whole match report format being an identical copy. I'm not having a go at him but I just feel he should give credit where it's due. I've seen previous match report threads by him that have contained exactly what the PR report said but re worded.

Aidric

Co45 wrote: »

I'm really talking about the whole match report format being an identical copy. I'm not having a go at him but I just feel he should give credit where it's due. I've seen previous match report threads by him that have contained exactly what the PR report said but re worded.

You are right. Nothing worse than seeing someone plagiarise your hard work.

P_1

Can't really see England beating France in this one, although through sheer luck they may have settled on their best lineup.

France by 15.

*Didn't France beat England twice before the World Cup in 2007?

thomond2006

Co45 wrote: »

Thomond you should really give a little mention to Planet Rugby at the end of your match reports. I know you add some of your own stuff in but it's just polite to acknowledge it.
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9989_6036542,00.html

I actually don't use Planet Rugby at all nor take any inspiration from it, although it's layout is very
similar to mine so I can see why you think I copied the whole thing.

Any analysis on coaches, team changes, head to heads and predictions are all my work. Obviously refs, weather conditions etc is taken from another site (usually rugby365 or BBC).

I'll quote any site I use in the future.

corny

thomond2006 wrote: »

I actually don't use Planet Rugby at all nor take any inspiration from it, although it's layout is very
similar to mine so I can see why you think I copied the whole thing.

Any analysis on coaches, team changes, head to heads and predictions are all my work. Obviously refs, weather conditions etc is taken from another site (usually rugby365 or BBC).

I'll quote any site I use in the future.

Keep up the good work.

andrewdcs

Have a feeling France will run riot on this, would not want to be an England fan having to watch it (seeing as it was pretty sickening watching Ireland get taken apart a few weeks back)

BoarHunter

corny wrote: »

Keep up the good work.

+1 it's the best match threads

anybody has the average age of the england team ? Cos i think 12 /15 are over 30 y old ...

Mr.Applepie

BoarHunter wrote: »

+1 it's the best match threads

anybody has the average age of the england team ? Cos i think 12 /15 are over 30 y old ...

I don't know about this exact team but the average age for the past few years has been 28 (pre & post Johnson). I read that somewhere a few days ago.

greendom

BoarHunter wrote: »

+1 it's the best match threads

anybody has the average age of the england team ? Cos i think 12 /15 are over 30 y old ...

Yes and unlike a good Bordeaux, they're not ageing well

BoarHunter

that could be damaging for M Johnson future .... would prefer that they keep him for the WC as we might face them at the world cup.

Judgement Day

You mean a bit like this.....?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aseBxdYuHSM

pat_mas

England to be drowned in Champagne Rugby... nothing more than both teams deserve (not to mention how NH Rugby dramtically needs that)

thomond2006

While (IMO) this Six Nations was better than last year's, I'm really hoping that both sides will end the tournament in style. As pat-mas says, the NH could do with it.

2040

Funny from Mike Tindall there on BBC:

"How do you tackle Bastareaud?"

"Same way that you tackle any prop...that can run quickly."

Aidric

France pumping England will be some consolation.

athtrasna

Allez les bleus Might help dull the pain of our match!!

Morf

I hope we see some open rugby tonight.

athtrasna

Pity Trinh Duc doesn't have Irish relatives!! Now there's a 10!

mike65

G'wan

pappyodaniel

savage savage try for england

Podge_irl

England are going to win this, just to top off Ireland's misery.

Theta

I can see us coming third on the table!

amacachi

Why have England not done anything like that in so long? Lovely try.

athtrasna

Bastareaud just decided he wasn't going to bother chasing Foden there - wtf?

Aidric

Mickey Tindall to be the difference. :P

wixfjord

How in the name of god anyone can call for Wilkonson to stay at 10 after that is crazy. Judgement Day im looking at you!

OPENROAD

Excellent try there

ednwireland

try england woo hoo
best peice of play by england for years

strathspey

Come on Les Blues!!!!!

2040

All this year the Gods have conspired to force Martin Johnson to make the right selections. Flood and Ashton have a made a big impact so far. Flood makes Wilkinson look like a flanker.

ongarite

Flood is having a great game so far.

Theta

strathspey wrote: »

Come on Les Blues!!!!!

Why? Id rather England denied them the slam

Good Game so far

corny

Bit harsh on Tindall there but he stopped Basteraud dead.

strathspey

Theta wrote: »

Why? Id rather England denied them the slam

Good Game so far

I just happen to love watching the French play rugby. Personally the greatest games of rugby are between NZ and France...poetry in motion.

Theta

strathspey wrote: »

I just happen to love watching the French play rugby. Personally the greatest games of rugby are between NZ and France...poetry in motion.

Fair enough! Understandable

athtrasna

would love to see the French score a try

thomond2006

C'mon France.

2040

France playing with heads rather than hearts.

corny

Come on Wilkinson.

OPENROAD

Nice one Johnny

Lol at Brian Moore having a hissy fit about the refereeing.

And being wrong twice