Le Crunch

[Banquo]

Yep. Daly is the ideal candidate for that role, but I think Marchant is a bit underestimated. He really is a fantastic player, so I would be happy enough to see him get a proper opportunity rather than single-digit cameos.

at 13 would be my preference, outside Lawrence or Manu. Daly gives you more all round ability namely a humungeous boot as a blindside wing/third centre/conventional wing.

[Mellsblue]

I’ve got to agree with the argument to play Daly at wing. I reckon he’d a shoe in for the Lions and, arguably, world class....

[Banquo]

Yep. Daly is the ideal candidate for that role, but I think Marchant is a bit underestimated. He really is a fantastic player, so I would be happy enough to see him get a proper opportunity rather than single-digit cameos.

at 13 would be my preference, outside Lawrence or Manu. Daly gives you more all round ability namely a humungeous boot as a blindside wing/third centre/conventional wing.

for sure

(shoo-in......)

[Mellsblue]

Yep. Daly is the ideal candidate for that role, but I think Marchant is a bit underestimated. He really is a fantastic player, so I would be happy enough to see him get a proper opportunity rather than single-digit cameos.

at 13 would be my preference, outside Lawrence or Manu. Daly gives you more all round ability namely a humungeous boot as a blindside wing/third centre/conventional wing.

for sure

(shoo-in......)

Blimey. I’m really not with it today...

[Banquo]

at 13 would be my preference, outside Lawrence or Manu. Daly gives you more all round ability namely a humungeous boot as a blindside wing/third centre/conventional wing.

for sure

(shoo-in......)

Blimey. I’m really not with it today...

Me either. I replied to myself.

[p/d]

muppets

[Banquo]

muppets

yep

[twitchy]

[Puja]

Ford in - tick
No lock in back row - tick
FFS - eh, could be worse

Pity Willis has missed out, but I understand why he has.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Has Watson ever played centre before?

[Puja]

Has Watson ever played centre before?

No, but May has.

Puja

[Banquo]

Be surprised if they used the three centre model, and if they do it will be Daly.

[Oakboy]

Just the one change as expected in the starting XV. Presumably, Lawrence is not fully fit to not even get a bench slot. If fit, I'd have started Marler against a French scrum.

Maybe, all the three-centre business was just because Jones did not consider that he had a good enough (roving) winger to replace Watson.

[francoisfou]

And the French team:

15. Dulin ; 14. Raka, 13. Mefana, 12. Danty, 11. Villière ; 10. Jalibert, 9. Couilloud (cap.) ; 7. Jelonch, 8. Tolofua, 6. Woki ; 5. Pesenti, 4. Geraci ; 3. Aldegheri, 2. Bourgarit, 1. Kolingar

Replacements : 16. Mauvaka, 17. Neti, 18. Atonio, 19 .Ducat, 20. Macalou, 21. Bézy, 22. Carbonel, 23. Barassi

Allez les bleus!

[Raggs]

Would have liked to have seen Willis, or have him returned to Wasps. But if I recall, all teams are travelling with more reserves in case of a covid test.

[fivepointer]

Continuity in selection is usually a good thing. It means there is little for us to get excited about.

We'll have to wait until Sunday for the excitement........wont we?

[Puja]

And the French team:

15. Dulin ; 14. Raka, 13. Mefana, 12. Danty, 11. Villière ; 10. Jalibert, 9. Couilloud (cap.) ; 7. Jelonch, 8. Tolofua, 6. Woki ; 5. Pesenti, 4. Geraci ; 3. Aldegheri, 2. Bourgarit, 1. Kolingar

Replacements : 16. Mauvaka, 17. Neti, 18. Atonio, 19 .Ducat, 20. Macalou, 21. Bézy, 22. Carbonel, 23. Barassi

Allez les bleus!

Is that Christopher Tolofua playing 8?

Puja

[FKAS]

And the French team:

15. Dulin ; 14. Raka, 13. Mefana, 12. Danty, 11. Villière ; 10. Jalibert, 9. Couilloud (cap.) ; 7. Jelonch, 8. Tolofua, 6. Woki ; 5. Pesenti, 4. Geraci ; 3. Aldegheri, 2. Bourgarit, 1. Kolingar

Replacements : 16. Mauvaka, 17. Neti, 18. Atonio, 19 .Ducat, 20. Macalou, 21. Bézy, 22. Carbonel, 23. Barassi

Allez les bleus!

Is that Christopher Tolofua playing 8?

Puja

I presume it's his younger brother Selevasio Tolofua who plays for Tolouse. Some good options for France in there. Could be closer than expected.

Nice to see England continuing with a backline that doesn't fucking work but never mind.

[tigran]

And the French team:

15. Dulin ; 14. Raka, 13. Mefana, 12. Danty, 11. Villière ; 10. Jalibert, 9. Couilloud (cap.) ; 7. Jelonch, 8. Tolofua, 6. Woki ; 5. Pesenti, 4. Geraci ; 3. Aldegheri, 2. Bourgarit, 1. Kolingar

Replacements : 16. Mauvaka, 17. Neti, 18. Atonio, 19 .Ducat, 20. Macalou, 21. Bézy, 22. Carbonel, 23. Barassi

Allez les bleus!

Is that Christopher Tolofua playing 8?

Puja

Nope, his brother Selevasio, a very good player

[tigran]

Seems to me only two french players have more than 5 selections..

many of the rest will celebrate their first..

[Oakboy]

Nice to see England continuing with a backline that doesn't fucking work but never mind.

Perhaps, if allowed to at least try to work, it will.

[FKAS]

Nice to see England continuing with a backline that doesn't fucking work but never mind.

Perhaps, if allowed to at least try to work, it will.

Ford tried pretty hard last weekend. No strike runners tends to leave a 10 a little bit exposed.

[francoisfou]

I presume it's his younger brother Selevasio Tolofua who plays for Tolouse.

Indeed it is, and he'll be pushing hard for 6N selection!!

[Puja]

I presume it's his younger brother Selevasio Tolofua who plays for Tolouse.

Indeed it is, and he'll be pushing hard for 6N selection!!

Useful knowledge. I know enough about French rugby to be dangerous, but clearly not enough to parse this selection.

Puja

[FKAS]

I presume it's his younger brother Selevasio Tolofua who plays for Tolouse.

Indeed it is, and he'll be pushing hard for 6N selection!!

I've seen him play for Tolouse a couple of times. He fits their style of play very well. He's a bit of a monster, very mobile.