France XV vs England XV - 19/06/26

[Reiser99]

He can't be kept in reserve forever. Do that enough and he's not useful when he's actually needed.

He's either fit enough to play for England or he's so injury prone that he shouldn't be there at all.

Yeah you're right. We'll never know what he's capable of if we don't play him.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

He can't be kept in reserve forever. Do that enough and he's not useful when he's actually needed.

He's either fit enough to play for England or he's so injury prone that he shouldn't be there at all.

Yeah these are my thoughts too tbh. He hasn’t played a game in 2 weeks and he’s unlikely to play another game for another 2 weeks; it’s really not like he’s being flogged.

At some point the rugby player does actually need to play some rugby. I don’t want to see him play 80 mins but I really don’t think it’s at all controversial for him to be playing.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Wondering how to actually watch this on my tv rather than my phone.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I agree that props should be encouraged to do both sides but at u20’s level max really




Sort of proves my point though, it’s just extra training that is pretty pointless at a certain level.

Props already have one of the toughest work loads and people want more?

Well you’ve got examples like du Toit who switched at about AOF’s age. Porter did so as a fully fledged international while Nyakane also switched but was still trusted enough to be bench LH in 2 Lions tests after starting the first at TH.

Exemptions to rules maybe but I do think there are some tricks being missed, especially in premature specialisation.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Yeah these are my thoughts too tbh. He hasn’t played a game in 2 weeks and he’s unlikely to play another game for another 2 weeks; it’s really not like he’s being flogged.

At some point the rugby player does actually need to play some rugby. I don’t want to see him play 80 mins but I really don’t think it’s at all controversial for him to be playing.

This would be a really silly game for one of our key players to get hurt in and I think the fact he’s playing at all confirms he’s slipped from being one of our Indispensables. Still a very good player, but we have options.

Given his lack of game time and that he’s not appeared in a white shirt for a while, I get why Martin is playing, but he’s the one I’ll be watching from behind the sofa.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Anyone else's RugbyPass just say waiting for event to start?

 

[Becca]

It’s hopeless

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Swapped to Facebook and that's working fine

Randall's kicking has been poor so far, hopefully we've a calm head on the bench to come on later, I'll just check who it is

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Another kick on the full (this time Smith) another French try

Our defensive structure isn't terrible but individual defensive skills in the toilet - with Randall/Ford/Caluori/Smith is this the worst defensive backline we can put out?

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

This is a frustrating watch. England look toothless. No heavy carriers, no-one threatening a line or outside break.

Set-piece looks alright at least

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Attisogbe lucky not to be penalised for that. Two footed slide into a player's ankles?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Murley probably the only player who will have increased his chances that half - he's a baller

Scrum solid, lineout mostly ok
A lot of completely anonymous players - I had to go and look up who is in the second row with Martin, and I don't think I've seen Hill once
Caluori a bit of a rabbit in the headlights ball in hand, just seems to always pick the option that leads to him getting flattened by a defender twice his size
Dombrandt going well at the breakdown

 

[TRF_Olyy]

You know you're in trouble when Ford is the one putting in the big hits in midfield

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Not a great first scrum for the replacement props

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Hahahahaha, unlucky - had his mind on his money and his money on his mind instead of just catching the ball

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Hahahahaha, unlucky - had his mind on his money and his money on his mind instead of just catching the ball

Oh no, BJ

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Murley probably the only player who will have increased his chances that half - he's a baller

And this remains true at full time

AOF and Kloska definitely the pick of the prop pairings - I would say they were expected to play that well but considering how bad everyone else was maybe they've actually elevated their cases too? Prop depth actually looking good considering how many are unavailable for this game

Very disappointed that Hill, Atkinson and Ojomoh were anonymous at best (though Ojomoh took his try well - something Merc can't say) - really wanted them to stake a claim

 

[Becca]

Finally got to see the second half…I’m not on Facebook.

Pretty poor showing really.

I too laughed when the Mullet fumbled on the line

 

[Quel Carreleur]

Caught about 5min at the end of the first half, as I'd mostly watch the tennis with this on the small screen. Watered the garden instead of the 2nd.

Sounds like I made the right decision.

A pointless game as a warm up for a pointless series.

 

[Ddanno]

Caught about 5min at the end of the first half, as I'd mostly watch the tennis with this on the small screen. Watered the garden instead of the 2nd.

Sounds like I made the right decision.

A pointless game as a warm up for a pointless series.

What, you don't like dropped balls, aimless and overcooked kicks and a defence coached by Father Jack?

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

What a shower of **** really, could do with some much better coaches and tacticians .

 

[Geordie]

A load of tosh. Simple as that.

 

[Scotty]

Is Wiggs still our defence coach?.....thought so

 

[BrokenWing]

Have we not got a catching coach?

 

[Ddanno]

Have we not got a catching coach?

Doesn't look like it. I'll do it. I'm sure I can cobble together a cat o'nine tails so they get the idea.

 

[OllyM97]

Yeah, by the sounds of this thread I’m glad I didn’t watch this game. This Nations Cup is a load of garbage tbh. I’ve never really rated Summer tours but, if they have to be on the calendar, it should always be a 3 test series against one country.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

From what I’ve read it sounds like the scrum went OK. AOF was up against an older, more experienced opponent, how did he get on at LH?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

They did alright the starting front row. Our bench props made them look world class though.
Generally speaking, for me no one did well, similar to last years game no one looked fully into it

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, with the starting props the scrum was solid - as in it literally just locked out, don't think there was a single scrum penalty with them on for either side (though I think France were starting to get a nudge on before the subs)

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Yeah, with the starting props the scrum was solid - as in it literally just locked out, don't think there was a single scrum penalty with them on for either side (though I think France were starting to get a nudge on before the subs)

Sounds blissful. It can be done.