Bad news for Scotland if this is the case
England mostly always had the talent and ability to beat anyone who let them. I think France very much 'let' England win that yesterday in a way we didn't. Scotland, playing at full tilt could do England or an Italian team on a good day. I don't think we can say England have arrived back, yet. France will be France, any team could turn up in Dublin. Untouchables or an easily controlled and beatable one.
After watching the spirit and effort England put into that game yesterday I am very glad we got them out of the way last week, you wouldn't recognise them from the shambles that Eddie Jones left them in.
Two questions - do you think England have played their "final" and will not play as well for the rest of the tournament or will they improve? And will France go out with a wimper or tear into the next few games? Also, surely France can't be that bad again?
In some ways he has, but I don't think yesterday is on him, it's on the players. For one of the try scoring chances in the first half not to be converted was unusual, three of them not to be converted is crazy. They should have been out of sight by half time if the players caught the ball
that England number 11 will be very relieved they got the late try - he should have won that ball in the lead up to the last French try.
Danty and Fikou are massive losses, the French backs were so lateral. Fancy out chances.
I think itojes influence on game had been curtailed somewhat by the new directives around protecting the 9.
That was one of his strengths to this point.
I agree freeish but they'd already missed three kicks, their first choice kicker was off the pitch, the kick was near touch and if whoever kicked it didn't welly it and it didn't go dead (or it hit the upright) , Wales would be in prime position to run the ball up the pitch and probably would have.
I think it's easy as a viewer to say "Ah they should have gone for it" but bare in mind, this is a team that struggled to get any wins over the last 20 years - 15 wins in 125 games before today. If they'd have gone for it and somehow drawn the game, it'd have been devastating.
I mean, I agree. He should have been told to give it a shot, but to make sure he wellied it either way.
Anyway, suspect it won't matter. I simply can not see Wales winning a game.
Forgot they were down to 13 at that stage, may be not the worst call so. It seemed close in enough that other than hitting the post it was likely to go dead. Seemed like a freeish shot to deny Wales the LBP to me.
France with be easy meat for Ireland
They wouldn't have got a 22 dropout as time was up, but they could have run it back if they kept it live.
To be fair, Italy were down to 13 so I do see the logic somewhat. But I still kinda think it was a mistake
Just watched the game there as I was out earlier in the afternoon. I too was surprised that Italy didn't attempt that final penalty to deny Wales the LBP. At worst, Wales would be kicking back from a 22 drop out or trying to run in a try from behind their own try line in the rain. Wales didn't threaten a try all game other than from 5m lineouts. The risk was very low.
They could but they also haven't beaten Scotland in 5 years etc etc.
Bookies have ireland at 1.4, France at 2.5, England way out on 8. Sure if France beat us on a low score England could win the competition??
Every home side has won so far, hopefully Ireland can break that pattern.
Galthie has seriously underperformed given the resources he has, they should kick him out. Always playing the "building" or "project" card but never delivers. They put big scores on crap teams but it ultimately means nothing.
Still think England are very limited and I'd fancy Ireland to be comfortable again against them if they were to play again next week. England were cut open several times only for the French to drop the ball. A reprieve for Borthwick but I think he is reliant on the good coaching Mitchell and F.Smith get at Northampton.
No try bonus and a French loss, I'll take that every day of the week
Edit: ah yeah England though, still a good result
Great game for the neutral. Delighted with the result. If we win tomorrow we go top with 9 or 10 points, and essentially not much has changed in terms of our objectives - win every game = 6N + GS.
Thought Itoje was anonymous, Martin was much busier. Mitchell went well, as did Sleightholme (aside from not fielding the kick before France scored). Fin Smith at 10 was very impressive. My MOTM was Earl.
I mean, sod the World Cup, their record in the 6N is pathetic.
The won 5 6N between 2000 and 2010 (usually beating us out for it grrr), and have won a grand total of ONE since.
Who have they next? Scotland?
Thankfully we won't catch them right after this.
France always have a flaky streak, not as much as years ago.
But with all their talent and great teams they've never won a World Cup. Not winning the World Cup at home in 2023 will hang over them for a while.
England got benefit out of a hard first game, a soft opener didn’t do France any favours. Never like playing a chastened France, but at least it’s in Dublin
France bringing on a load of young lads in the second half really threw them off. Thought Araudou struggled
I reckon I will
But give me a FB who plays FB playing FB instead.
FSmith from here on in at 10
We threw away a bonus point to England. But still got 5 pts to 1.
France threw away a game, big difference. It's all in our hands
It's hard to get to grips with that. France played so poorly. By half time they had butchered at least three genuine try scoring attempts and one 50/50. Had they managed to hold onto the ball, that would have been game over at half time.
Just thinking of Geordan Murphy sitting at home watching this after his deplorable character assassination attempt on Borthwick.
England fully deserved that victory.
France kept doing what we didn’t - let them into the game.
A bit too much made of France. The same team that fell apart against us in Marseilles last year.
They threw that away.
