RBS 6 Nations: France v England

[Philtaz]

So, what predictions for today? France have made an un-enforced change in their half-back pairing as Parra and Trinh-Duc appear to have been deemed too ineffectual against Ireland last week. It's a brave call from Saint-Andre but I'm sure he has his reasons for bringing in DuPuy and Beauxis.

England were unchanged but apparently Strettle has picked up an injury late on so is replaced by Sharples, whom I believe is making his debut.

I hope England can play with the same flair, belief, passion and intensity that they did against Wales last week. France IMHO haven't impressed that much in this campaign, though playing at the Stade de France usually gives them an edge, as it does most home teams.

I like Lancaster, he's obvioulsy got England playing well and playing for each other, to the extent that he has earned a crack at the job full-time. Farrell has been a revelation, nothing appears to faze him and I expect him to have another good game today.

I'm going to stick my neck out and say England by 5 points.

Anyone else?

[WyeDyed]

As you say, France have not been impressive during this campaign and England are a building and improving team. France do have the home advantage.
I can't be detached about this one, for me beating France is important as Wales beating England is for the Welsh.
I'm going to agree with England by 5 points, before I read this post I was going to predict 17 - 12.

C'mon England...
Confusion to the French.

[Philtaz]

23-18 England, with Farrell having another impressive afternoon with the boot.

[Philtaz]

Programme just starting, k.o. at 3 p.m.

Allez Les Blancs!

[The-HouseHusband]

It will be a tight one, France have not been at their best and some of the players are long in the tooth, England on the other hand are still trying out a new squad.

Hoping for a Win for England but will probably have no finger nails or fingers left by the time the final whistle blows!

[Philtaz]

Good try from Tuilagi, who backed himself and made it.

Monsieur, sorry, Mister Rolland is being somewhat influenced a little by the Stade crowd, but I won't criticize a fellow referee.......

[Nibble]

Good start!

[Philtaz]

Fantastic try from England by Foden! Wish I'd had a bet on that scoreline prediction I made earlier! The Stade crowd are stunned into silence.

[Philtaz]

That's a rare event, Farrell misses a penalty kick (hit the post) and incredulously probably his easiest of the campaign so far.

[Philtaz]

Indiscipline costs England a penalty, 6-14.

[Philtaz]

Same as previous post, 9-14 and the teams go in for half time.

[WyeDyed]

England's greatest danger on the pitch is the flippin' ref!

[Lie-in King]

The overhead camera shots are truly dreadful - I wonder if the operator is sitting in a vat of vin?

[Kiki-frog]

Is it just me who thinks that the fluent French-speaking Irish ref, M. Alain Rolland, has allowed France to creep back into the game with some very suspect penalties?

[Philtaz]

As I tell my rugby playing son on a weekly basis, (not that he's a transgressor, far from it) indiscipline will cost a team the game every single time.

If England keep their heads and settle down a little in the second half, the game is theirs to go on and win.

I expect the game to open up a lttle more in the last 20 minutes and we could be in for a stormer, especially if the French are chasing the game and start throwing it about a la Barbarians.

[Philtaz]

Farrell gets his radar back with the boot and slots the penalty, which was a little harsh but it's now 9-17.

[Philtaz]

Beauxis misses a pen but the French are coming back into the game a little more now and are building pressure.

[Philtaz]

Looks like Monsieur Rolland is doing his utmost to get the land of his father back into the game with a yellow for Sharples for a deliberate knock on, the same offence for which he didn't issue to a French player some 2 minutes earlier.

Fancy that.

[Philtaz]

Sharples back on for England, back to full complement. Great work by England in not shipping any points during the enforced absence of their winger.
Fresh legs coming on for England but they give away a penalty at the scrum.
Parra slots it and we're at the predicted score made earlier by WyeDyed, 12-17.
15 mins to go.

[Philtaz]

Yet another lecture for England from Rolland and another French pen brings it to 15-17.

Squeaky bum time now!