strange match, but i am quite sure if France had played Italy and Wales with that team, the results would have been quite different.That must put a question mark on Saint Andre's ability to select a team as well as his substitutions in yesterdays match.For me France dominated the match for 50 mins and if it wasnt for missing two kickable penalties whilst conceding sloppy ones themselves might have been up16-6 at that point.The subs were daft in the extreme, Michalak was his usual useless self and the new front row were nowhere as good as the one the replaced.
England showed that if a team wins whilst not playing that well then that is the mark ofvery good side.They were bested at scrum time for 50 mins had very little go forward momentum rarely breaking the gain line but they took theoir points when on offer and showed great resolve .Their subs also made a massive difference as the last 30 mins were all theirs
Next match -front row- Marley need to be replaced with Mako, Young in for Hartley
Back row- Lawes needs to be replaced with Wood at blind side hoping for Morgan to return at 8
Back three -Ashton has had too many chances and should be replacedwith Strettle
I would probably give 36 another shot at inside centre and Flood in for Farrell who was not at his best,far too petulant IMO
It's all ifs and buts. You could apply similar statements to many sporting statements. If you didn't have Wilkinson you wouldn't have won the world cup. If it wasn't for Gatland we wouldn't have been the most entertaining northern hemisphere team for the past 5 years etc...
Wales?
At least under Howley they won't now get the Wooden Spoon. France will.
Love how Ireland are very attacking even with all the younglings on. Not playing for penalties like England. Theyre going for the try's.
That's worked so far. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
Haha. Playing with heart though. Scotland are just extremely fortunate. Pretty embarrassing performance for a home team though. Sitting back against a team with 8 injuries
Yes Wales.
except France quite clearly have little strength in depth a fact shown by the poor display of their subs.Playing Fofana out on the wing ,not picking Parra , Trinh Duc or Domingo in the first two matches was just brain dead imo.Their inclusion yesterday made a heck of difference
Conditions favour better rugby, having said that its still a dire match.Ireklanbd missed some chances they should have put away
Eugh this is awful. This six nations all about boring defence and playing for penalties. Crying shame if Scotland or England win it.