RugbyRebels

Finally got to watch it. It's pretty much all been said but defence early on was fantastic, particularly the props and flankers, but everyone really. Jones did look a touch rusty, not sure whether that's worth a swap out for Bennet either. Russell obviously a threat but still too fucking wild at moments and that was already knowing we won the game.

Only really watched the latter stages of the second half, couldn't handle watching that bit.

Laidlaw playing like a 9 was the most exciting thing about the first half to me. Whatever I may say about his speed of service sometimes I can't explain how much I enjoyed his stupid face at the end.

Right, France up Next.

They won't be as good at the Breakdown as Ireland but they do have powerful Players. Their Pack is massive. They are trying to develop an offloading game (see their try vs England) although it is still not very fluent. Their Back line is not very impressive ( Not as it used to be).

They have brought Lacroix into the training camp (who is having an amazing season with LaRochelle). He is a speedy winger, fairly small in size. I believe they might thing of Bringing Bastareaud in against us to attack our potential size deficiency. Goujon (or is it Gourdon?), their 7, played a vital part in their link game and should be watched. I think our back row should be able to handle him unless they are carried away by Picamoles, Goujon, Vahamina, Maestry, Baille, Antonio, Guirado...

I'd go for:
Forwards:
Reid
Ford
ZJRF
Gray squared
Now, this is where it gets a bit interesting. Wilson and Watson are in, not been a fan of Wilson but continues to deserve his shirt. But what to do about the other spot? We need some physicality for this game so we could do with Strauss carrying a bit better than last week.

Same backline as last week. Still would consider Scott on the bench.

Subs: Same players as last week with Brown and Dell. Possibly Welsh for Berghan.

ESPN GB+I team of the week:
Hogg
North
Henshaw
Williams
Daly
Jackson
Laidlaw

Evans
Best
Furlong
Gray squared
Itoje
Warburton
Strauss

Big D wrote:I'd go for:
Forwards:
Reid
Ford
ZJRF
Gray squared
Now, this is where it gets a bit interesting. Wilson and Watson are in, not been a fan of Wilson but continues to deserve his shirt. But what to do about the other spot? We need some physicality for this game so we could do with Strauss carrying a bit better than last week.

Same backline as last week. Still would consider Scott on the bench.

Subs: Same players as last week with Brown and Dell. Possibly Welsh for Berghan.

I was thinking of Scott at 13 and Jones as the impact player. I think Jones can cover more and can bring a lot as the French get tired.

wouldn't mind CDP on the bench.

Adder wrote:

Big D wrote:I'd go for:
Forwards:
Reid
Ford
ZJRF
Gray squared
Now, this is where it gets a bit interesting. Wilson and Watson are in, not been a fan of Wilson but continues to deserve his shirt. But what to do about the other spot? We need some physicality for this game so we could do with Strauss carrying a bit better than last week.

Same backline as last week. Still would consider Scott on the bench.

Subs: Same players as last week with Brown and Dell. Possibly Welsh for Berghan.

I was thinking of Scott at 13 and Jones as the impact player. I think Jones can cover more and can bring a lot as the French get tired.

wouldn't mind CDP on the bench.

That's not a bad shout re Scott and Jones. I do think Jones is the better player though.

CdP is an option, but Barclay had a great defensive game off the bench. I do wonder whether CdP is a start or miss out totally option.

Big D wrote:

Adder wrote:

Big D wrote:I'd go for:
Forwards:
Reid
Ford
ZJRF
Gray squared
Now, this is where it gets a bit interesting. Wilson and Watson are in, not been a fan of Wilson but continues to deserve his shirt. But what to do about the other spot? We need some physicality for this game so we could do with Strauss carrying a bit better than last week.

Same backline as last week. Still would consider Scott on the bench.

Subs: Same players as last week with Brown and Dell. Possibly Welsh for Berghan.

I was thinking of Scott at 13 and Jones as the impact player. I think Jones can cover more and can bring a lot as the French get tired.

wouldn't mind CDP on the bench.

That's not a bad shout re Scott and Jones. I do think Jones is the better player though.

CdP is an option, but Barclay had a great defensive game off the bench. I do wonder whether CdP is a start or miss out totally option.

Jones does seem the better player but I wouldn't want him to get injured because of the French physicality( not that he has given any signs of not being able to cope with it). I think Scott has shown signs during the whole season that he is Hungry, he has improved in defence and he runs great lines and is a Powerful player. I want him to be rewarded for going out of his comfort zone and working on his game. If he has a meh game, I am more confident in Jones being able to cover.

Barclay has played well against Ireland and it would be a shame to ditch him. Bar CDP (and watson ) the only other player similar/better at carrying as Strauss is Bradbury, but he still seems a bit green.

What's the score with dickinson's injury?

General Zod wrote:What's the score with dickinson's injury?

He's fucked for a while yet.

I am not convinced the scrum problems were all down to our props rather that some clever (sometimes illegal but no issues with that tbh) Irish scrummaging. There was one scrum on our 5 that we got a decent nudge on them back. I still would play Reid and Ford though.

After all that, it looks like Ronan O'Gara who doesn't have a leg to stand on rather than Conor Murray.

Stones of granite wrote:After all that, it looks like Ronan O'Gara who doesn't have a leg to stand on rather than Conor Murray.

Haha, jesus Woot, that's awful.

Edinburgh in Exile wrote:

Stones of granite wrote:After all that, it looks like Ronan O'Gara who doesn't have a leg to stand on rather than Conor Murray.

Haha, jesus Woot, that's awful.

Where is the fecking DOH! smiley when you need one?

Big D wrote:ESPN GB+I team of the week:
Hogg
North
Henshaw - Nope. Both of the Scots, English and French centres had better games.
Williams
Daly
Jackson
Laidlaw

Evans
Best - me arse!
Furlong
Gray squared
Itoje
Warburton
Strauss

Best? He flung away 3 line-outs in the Scotland 22 and went AWOL in the loose? And that's before his abject performance as captain. How the feck does he get in there?

SerjeantWildgoose wrote:

Big D wrote:ESPN GB+I team of the week:
Hogg
North
Henshaw - Nope. Both of the Scots, English and French centres had better games.
Williams
Daly
Jackson
Laidlaw

Evans
Best - me arse!
Furlong
Gray squared
Itoje
Warburton
Strauss

Best? He flung away 3 line-outs in the Scotland 22 and went AWOL in the loose? And that's before his abject performance as captain. How the feck does he get in there?

Itoje is also a very questionable choice. Picamoles was also very imposing and should be in there ahead of Strauss.

Adder wrote:

SerjeantWildgoose wrote:

Big D wrote:ESPN GB+I team of the week:
Hogg
North
Henshaw - Nope. Both of the Scots, English and French centres had better games.
Williams
Daly
Jackson
Laidlaw

Evans
Best - me arse!
Furlong
Gray squared
Itoje
Warburton
Strauss

Best? He flung away 3 line-outs in the Scotland 22 and went AWOL in the loose? And that's before his abject performance as captain. How the feck does he get in there?

Itoje is also a very questionable choice. Picamoles was also very imposing and should be in there ahead of Strauss.

Only if Picamoles became eligible for the Lions. Was aa GB+I XV

Agree about Itoje.

Big D wrote:

Adder wrote:

SerjeantWildgoose wrote:
Best? He flung away 3 line-outs in the Scotland 22 and went AWOL in the loose? And that's before his abject performance as captain. How the feck does he get in there?

Itoje is also a very questionable choice. Picamoles was also very imposing and should be in there ahead of Strauss.

Only if Picamoles became eligible for the Lions. Was aa GB+I XV

Agree about Itoje.

Ah yes, I was on a team of the week Approach.

I will share this anyway:

SerjeantWildgoose wrote:

Big D wrote:ESPN GB+I team of the week:
Hogg
North
Henshaw - Nope. Both of the Scots, English and French centres had better games.
Williams
Daly
Jackson
Laidlaw

Evans
Best - me arse!
Furlong
Gray squared
Itoje
Warburton
Strauss

Best? He flung away 3 line-outs in the Scotland 22 and went AWOL in the loose? And that's before his abject performance as captain. How the feck does he get in there?

No idea how Best got in there to be fair. Maybe ESPN was having a laugh.

Stones of granite wrote:

Edinburgh in Exile wrote:

Stones of granite wrote:After all that, it looks like Ronan O'Gara who doesn't have a leg to stand on rather than Conor Murray.

Haha, jesus Woot, that's awful.

I like to think you've spent the weekend sidling up to strangers in bars and accosting them with that joke, no introduction, no hello, just that joke, then without breaking eye contact backing away slowly making pistol gestures at them with both your hands.

Big D wrote:

General Zod wrote:What's the score with dickinson's injury?

He's fucked for a while yet.

I am not convinced the scrum problems were all down to our props rather that some clever (sometimes illegal but no issues with that tbh) Irish scrummaging. There was one scrum on our 5 that we got a decent nudge on them back. I still would play Reid and Ford though.

That hoary old chestnut eh? Your scrum was rinsed.

Fuck all points for winning scrums (illegally).

OptimisticJock wrote:Fuck all points for winning scrums (illegally).

Rinsed baby. Rinsed.

Big D wrote:
Only if Picamoles became eligible for the Lions. Was aa GB+I XV

Agree about Itoje.

Ah now hey! If we can pick CJ and Strauss, you can let Adder have Picamoles as an honorary Taff.