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Unless we're in for a major upset, I don't see a way England come out on top of this one. Maybe a few last minute shock injuries in the French team run and warm up, Jalibert and Penaud to suddenly walk off, and maybe a red card or too with some hyper aroused French forwards..... The last one we've seen a few times to be fair.
Unless we're in for a major upset, I don't see a way England come out on top of this one. Maybe a few last minute shock injuries in the French team run and warm up, Jalibert and Penaud to suddenly walk off, and maybe a red card or too with some hyper aroused French forwards..... The last one we've seen a few times to be fair.
France can go through you, round you, over the top, beat you at set piece, win the speed race, they really are some team. We saw a third gear France deal with Wales (yes I know it's only Wales) last week and even a suspension to Ntamack this week, you bring in a fly half, in form, with a relationship with half that backline.
England aren't exactly firing on all fronts, but there is an argument to be made that you can see the glimpse of a good team coming together. The defensive system has tweaked slightly and leaving less gaps, and with Marcus Smith in the 15 shirt this week, we should see him in a lot more time and space which we know is very, very dangerous.
There is a number of Saints boys back in this English set up, even though we haven't seen the best of them this year in the Premiership. But with a 9, 10, and both wings playing week in week out, could we see that Northampton connection back to it's best this weekend.
EnglandFranceEnglandFranceEnglandThe last two meetings have been very memorable, albeit for different reasons with the same outcome. Last year, England showed what they can do with the ball and came to play in that second half with just a last minute penalty by Ramos seeing them off at the death.
Last time at HQ however, well lets just say, being down 27-3 at Half Time didn't exactly do the team any favours with the crowd.
Although Steve Borthwick gives it the whole, "Week on week" attitude, I don't know how much more patience the England faithful will have with him, the team, or the rest of the RFU for that matter.
For France however, this really is a special, golden generation that realistically, has under delivered on the big stage. A Grand Slam in 2022 was the first in 12 years and if that game with Italy was anything to go by, this game isn't in the bag yet for the French.
I can't see past the French talent in the starting line up, and that's underselling the bench massively. A bench with Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille and Nolann le Garrec........ Pretty safe to say they could make the England starting team.
To HQ we go. Go on Steve, prove me wrong!
| # | Team | PL | W | L | D | PD | BP | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  France | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 1 | 05 |
| 2 |  Scotland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 05 |
| 3 |  Ireland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 05 |
| 4 |  England | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -5 | 1 | 01 |
| 5 |  Italy | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -12 | 0 | 00 |
| 6 |  Wales | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -43 | 0 | 00 |
England Starting XV (1-15) Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Tom Willis, Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Ollie Sleightholme, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Tommy Freeman, Marcus Smith
England Replacements (16-23) Jamie George, Fin Baxter, Joe Heyes, Ollie Chessum, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Curry, Harry Randall, Elliot Daly
France Starting XV (1-15) Jean-Baptiste Gros, Peato Mauvaka, Uini Atonio, Alexandre Roumat, Emmanuel Meafou, François Cros, Paul Boudehent, Grégory Alldritt, Antoine Dupont, Matthieu Jalibert, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Yoram Moefana, Pierre-Louis Barassi, Damian Penaud, Thomas Ramos
France Replacements (16-23) Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille, Georges-Henri Colombe, Hugo Auradou, Mickael Guillard, Oscar Jegou, Nolann le Garrec, Emilien Gailleton
