France v England
The game is just hours away, the two teams who were picked as favourites before the tournament meet in Paris to conclude what should be a bloody good day of rugby.
The forwards Ashton has picked are brilliant. The only issue I have is at 7, but that is due to injury and it’s not like Lipman isn’t good. However we do need to find a decent No 8. I dont think it’s a bad idea to put Haskell there and move Croft to 6, but that needs to be done in the last 20min of this game to see how it works.
At 9, Wigglesworth really needs to perform like he can this weekend, as when Ellis and Richards come back of injury he’ll be under a lot of pressure. Gomersall was always on his way out. However, he always plays better as an underdog with something to prove, it would have been nice to see him come in off the bench but with Hodgson on such good form there’s no space.
Some pundits are talking about moving Wilkinson to 12. It’s an interesting idea. Cipriani needs to improve his defence. Right now, moving Wilkinson is something that should only be done if injurys hit England mid-game. It would be easier to put Cipriani at 12, but he really covets Wilko’s shirt. Flood is playing so well, with such pace and vision, Barkley’s going to have a bit of a job coming back into the side once he’s finished smashing sky sports producers at weddings. The future for English rugby at 10 and 12 is very promising. This will be a very strong point for England if managed correctly. Overall I am quite happy with the backline, although I don’t think Noon should be a permanant fixture at 13, despite his amazing defence two weeks ago. This position has been a problem since Greenwood retired and I struggle to think of a long term world class outside centre for England bar Tait, which some may say leaves a gap at full-back. But for now, stick with Noon, he’s playing well and his big hits encourage others.
The only decision that makes me cringe is the one that fans have been moaning about since the start of the tournament. When the Welsh say they are going to kick to who they deem to be your worst player and pressurise him AND he crumbles, you’ve got to take a step back and think. I do hope that Ashton knows something that we dont and Balshaw magically becomes good enough to put on Jason’s old shirt, but I am not an idiot. I wont say bring on Lewsey like so many others as he isn’t in the squad in the first place (although he should be) but bring on the guy who played so well in the same French stadium only three games ago slotting in at full back for the injured legendary Jason Robinson.
The England team I selected on Monday night was identical to the one that Ashton has selected with the exception of Gomersall for Hodgson and Tait for Balshaw.
It’s clear from reading Ashton’s interviews that he is fed up with the stick he is getting. So if Balshaw doesnt improve tomorrow then I can see Tait resuming his England career in the form of an early second half substitution.
As for the French team, what a formidable side. I won’t pretend to know the French team as well as I know the English, but it’s clear that Szarzewski is a good replacement for the much missed, awesome Ibanez. And with Mas and Nallet the England pack will have a handful at the breakdown. The inexperienced Parra must be put under pressure through the young Picamoles at the base of the scrum. Picamoles the man mountain has Bonnaire and Dusatoir at his flanks- no pressure Wilko! I think that the 10 man game that England sometimes revert to is under-rated, especially when you look at the skill and power of the French forwards. Traille has been selected as goal kicker and if it does turn out to be a kicking contest I expect him to choke. However with the infamous demon back three that France currently have and the vision of Trinh-Duc, they wont be thinking about the 2 and 3 points that arent guaranteed.
Four games ago England were underdogs at the Saint Denis Stadium in France and they won. Three games ago Paul Sackey closed down the man everyone was calling the best winger in the world. I think he’ll do it again. One thing is certain, assuming the French dont go into that all so familiar suicidal mode after falling behind, England will have to play a full 80 minutes to win this game and fend off the challenges of the many impact players Lievremont will use off the bench.
Let’s just hope that Vainikolo’s inexperince in union isnt exploited by Rougerie. Let’s hope Balshaw settles and doesn’t make too many errors. And let’s hope the wind blows the right way for Jonny. If England can win tomorrow then the loss against Wales can be put down to good coaching from the Kiwi and Englishman and a post World Cup Final stutter.
The teams, courtesy of BBC sport:
France: Heymans (Toulouse); Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), Marty (Perpignan), Traille (Biarritz), Clerc (Toulouse); Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Parra (Bourgoin); Faure (Sale), Szarzewski (Stade Francais), Mas (Perpignan), Nallet (Castres, capt), Pape (Stade Francais), Bonnaire (Clermont-Auvergne), Dusautoir (Toulouse), Picamoles (Montpellier).
Replacements: Servat (Toulouse), J-B Poux (Toulouse), Thion (Biarritz), Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Yachvili (Biarritz), Skrela (Stade Francais), Floch (Clermont Auvergne).
England: Balshaw (Gloucester); Sackey (Wasps), Noon (Newcastle), Flood (Newcastle), Vainikolo (Gloucester); Wilkinson (Newcastle), Wigglesworth (Sale); Sheridan (Sale Sharks), Regan (Bristol), Vickery (Wasps, capt), Shaw (Wasps), Borthwick (Bath), Haskell (Wasps), Lipman (Bath), Easter (Harlequins).
Replacements: Mears (Bath), Stevens (Bath), Kay (Leicester), Croft (Leicester), Hodgson (London Irish), Cipriani (Wasps), Tait (Newcastle).
Good Luck boys!
