6N 2025: England v France
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@Catogrande said in 6N 2025: England v France:
A really exciting game, especially for the neutral. I was watching it in a bar in France with some decent french guys, all of us applauding any good play and shouting at the TV when our side fucked up and it’s fair to say that they shouted more than me, which makes me feel that France lost the game rather than we won it. Notwithstanding a bloody good fight back.
I still see little structure in England’s game plan and look back to last year’s game v Ireland and think “is this another false dawn”?
On the positive side of things there were some good individual performances; Chessum made his mark and carried very well. George made a mockery of my view that he cannot be an impact player anymore, but for me the biggest positive was the dropping of the replacement by numbers strategy that we’ve seen far too often. Let’s hope that continues.
Unlucky France, you did more than enough to win but tits do not make hands. Another day and you’d have been 20 point winners.
England looked like a team. France looked like a group of highly-talented individuals. As a neutral, an absolutely fantastic game.
PS. Loved the way Itoje referred to the ground as Twickenham in the post-match interview.
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@Dodge said in 6N 2025: England v France:
Fuck me that was fun. Best experience at twickenham for a while, what an atmosphere at the end. Bars were bouncing after the game. Beautiful try to win it but I’ve no idea how we did. A word for Will Stuart, his scrummaging was immense.
Oh you went?
Atmosphere sounded incredible
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@antipodean said in 6N 2025: England v France:
Dupont demonstrating even to the NH scribes that he's less then mortal
Sacrilege
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@mariner4life said in 6N 2025: England v France:
... immense fun ... open ...
... broken field ...
Fun, open, chaotic game ...All well and good, but doesn't really prepare them for Test Match footy though huh?
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finally sober after a painful day yesterday, tough to know what to make of England's performance, France could have been out of sight by half time. They butchered some chances but by the same token, it was nice to see some dogged scramble defence - how Sleightholme got across to force the ball inside from BB is a mystery to me.
not sure how Finn Smith won man of the match - I am slightly bias as I want Marcus to play 10, but i'm not sure i saw control of the game or backline from F Smith in a way I haven't from Marcus. His defence was excellent but i didn't see much else. Tom Curry was the best player on the park, should easily have won MoM.
Overall, was pleasantly surprised how our scrum held up, Will Stuart was immovable at tight head and even Genge looked to be getting his shoulder up at scrum time. Lineout still needs work mind. George Martin is a beast and needs to start every week, our back row looked better balanced with Tom Willis at 8 and I hope he gets a run in the side now.
Alex Mitchell proved again he's the key to England's attack, turning into a proper 9 IMO, hope he stays fit through the 6N. Think we have long term questions about the centre partnership as Slade drifts in and out of games, so too full back, I want Marcus on the field but lets be honest, he's not a robust full back. Mind you, France play Ramos there to get him on the field so what do I know.
Am going to the Scotland game in a couple of weeks, just as nervous now as I was before this weekend.
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Couldn't agree more Dodge re the Smiths. Pundits seem unanimous that Fin is the way forwards and was the MOTM. I thought he did a decent job, but I know which Smith I got excited about every time he touched the ball.
I do wonder how much the idea that the flyhallf must be the goal kicker is engrained in UK punditry, as his off the tee was certainly poor.
Curry easily MOTM for me too.
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@Dodge said in 6N 2025: England v France:
Fuck me that was fun. Best experience at twickenham for a while, what an atmosphere at the end. Bars were bouncing after the game. Beautiful try to win it but I’ve no idea how we did. A word for Will Stuart, his scrummaging was immense.
Game of the weekend for me. Can't put my finger on it, but there's something about this England side I really like.
As a neutral, I find myself looking forward to their games.
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@Dodge said in 6N 2025: England v France:
Think we have long term questions about the centre partnership as Slade drifts in and out of games, so too full back
Agreed. But think Ollie Laurence has has an excellent 6N's so far. Good D and becoming a real threat on attack.
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@Dodge said in 6N 2025: England v France:
They butchered some chances but by the same token, it was nice to see some dogged scramble defence - how Sleightholme got across to force the ball inside from BB is a mystery to me.
It was a mystery to Moefana, too
https://archive.ph/grFP7/26c684feb7008c8b35809985c28afa4f1569751a.jpg
