France v England

[sam16111986]

Eddie is hinting in interviews that will kick to the corners and back the defence to keep them locked down, Scoring off their mistakes. The back row makes sense for those tactics.. let’s see if it works. The French backline looks insane so kicks will have to be on point or could be carnage.

French backline looks very run heavy though. You can't imagine them engaging in a tactical kicking battle where as we've got two flyhalfs, a scrum half with nearly 100 caps, a specialist 15 and Daly's cannon all waiting to push France deep into their own 22 at every opportunity. Let them try to run out and pick them off at either the lineout (three good jumpers for us) or at the breakdown with our two opensides looking to jackle. If our defence holds out we'll win big, if it doesn't then it could be carnage.

[SthrnTiger]

Eddie is hinting in interviews that will kick to the corners and back the defence to keep them locked down, Scoring off their mistakes. The back row makes sense for those tactics.. let’s see if it works. The French backline looks insane so kicks will have to be on point or could be carnage.

French backline looks very run heavy though. You can't imagine them engaging in a tactical kicking battle where as we've got two flyhalfs, a scrum half with nearly 100 caps, a specialist 15 and Daly's cannon all waiting to push France deep into their own 22 at every opportunity. Let them try to run out and pick them off at either the lineout (three good jumpers for us) or at the breakdown with our two opensides looking to jackle. If our defence holds out we'll win big, if it doesn't then it could be carnage.

Yes agree, think it’s decent tactics especially since French hooker is inexperienced will still be be quite nervous come kick-off!

[BFG]

Eddie is hinting in interviews that will kick to the corners and back the defence to keep them locked down, Scoring off their mistakes. The back row makes sense for those tactics.. let’s see if it works. The French backline looks insane so kicks will have to be on point or could be carnage.

French backline looks very run heavy though. You can't imagine them engaging in a tactical kicking battle where as we've got two flyhalfs, a scrum half with nearly 100 caps, a specialist 15 and Daly's cannon all waiting to push France deep into their own 22 at every opportunity. Let them try to run out and pick them off at either the lineout (three good jumpers for us) or at the breakdown with our two opensides looking to jackle. If our defence holds out we'll win big, if it doesn't then it could be carnage.

Looks like that's the basic picture.
Other No8's have been shown to be a bit weak at international level so far, when you compare to great No8's like Parisse or past No8's like Deano.
Billy V is an excellent No8, a shame he has another broken arm.
I can certainly see why Eddie has selected this way.
A new French set up playing at home will try to bring an onslaught.

[Robespierre]

Eddie is hinting in interviews that will kick to the corners and back the defence to keep them locked down, Scoring off their mistakes. The back row makes sense for those tactics.. let’s see if it works. The French backline looks insane so kicks will have to be on point or could be carnage.

French backline looks very run heavy though. You can't imagine them engaging in a tactical kicking battle where as we've got two flyhalfs, a scrum half with nearly 100 caps, a specialist 15 and Daly's cannon all waiting to push France deep into their own 22 at every opportunity. Let them try to run out and pick them off at either the lineout (three good jumpers for us) or at the breakdown with our two opensides looking to jackle. If our defence holds out we'll win big, if it doesn't then it could be carnage.

Yes agree, think it’s decent tactics especially since French hooker is inexperienced will still be be quite nervous come kick-off!

Underestimate hooker Julien Marchand at your peril!

[JP14]

Marchand and his younger brother (also a hooker) are both very good.

[Scott1]

Dreadful defence by BY!

[chewbacca]

Good start by France. Bit of a Tigers tackle attempt.

[chewbacca]

And Manu injured. The day just gets worse.

[Jimmy Skitz]

All of the French backs were in front of that last kick and now Manu off injured

[Scott1]

BY has been truly awful in all facets of the game!

[chewbacca]

Well Im impressed with the intensity of the French

[chewbacca]

Clearly off a French hand. Playing 16/17

[CitizenSmiff]

Awful bit of TMO work there, why didn't they freeze frame? Could barely see anything let alone whose hand it was.

[chewbacca]

At the moment we look a right shower and the French look well drilled

[Leicestertinytiger]

Great selection by Eddie, difficult when you’ve got no no.8 to make the hard yards on the field. Simmonds, Dombrandt, Hughes any of them would have done!