Frogs to blitz Poms

Frogs to blitz Poms

21 Feb 2008

Marc Lievremont confirms France will revert to their attacking strengths when they host England at Stade de France this Saturday.

Lievremont has made some brave selections since succeeding Bernard Laporte, and for this particular fixture he has entrusted three youngsters with the 8,9 and 10 positions. Louis Picamoles starts for the first time at No 8 while Morgan Parra and Francois Trinh-Duc will begin at halfback.

“We stayed true to our belief,” Lievremont said. “We hope that these young players will bring enthusiasm and cheek to the team.”

England coach Brian Ashton said he was in no way intimidated by the French approach.

“I have always been a massive admirer of French rugby,” he told a news conference. “I am delighted to see them playing the type of rugby they are playing at the moment.”

France – Heymans (Toulouse); Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), Marty (Perpignan), Traille (Biarritz), Clerc (Toulouse); Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Parra (Bourgoin); Faure (Sale), Szarzewski (Stade Francais), Mas (Perpignan), Nallet (Castres, capt), Pape (Stade Francais), Bonnaire (Clermont-Auvergne), Dusautoir (Toulouse), Picamoles (Montpellier).
Subs: Servat (Toulouse), J-B Poux (Toulouse), Thion (Biarritz), Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Yachvili (Biarritz), Skrela (Stade Francais), Floch (Clermont Auvergne).

England - Balshaw (Gloucester); Sackey (Wasps), Noon (Newcastle), Flood (Newcastle), Vainikolo (Gloucester); Wilkinson (Newcastle), Wigglesworth (Sale); Sheridan (Sale Sharks), Regan (Bristol), Vickery (Wasps, capt), Shaw (Wasps), Borthwick (Bath), Haskell (Wasps), Lipman (Bath), Easter (Harlequins).
Subs: Mears (Bath), Stevens (Bath), Kay (Leicester), Croft (Leicester), Hodgson (London Irish), Cipriani (Wasps), Tait (Newcastle).


28 Comments

  • 1.zimshark: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 14:28 pm

    C’mon you french dragons!

  • 2.zimshark: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 14:30 pm

    It’s gonna be a much tighter game than the previous french games but hopefully the poms perform their usual half time self destruct show and the frogs run away with it!

  • 3.It is just a game: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 14:57 pm

    Frogs by at least 14.

  • 4.jb: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 15:02 pm

    allez le bleu
    drill the pompous chops

  • 5.greatest13gerber: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 15:04 pm

    theres no point betting on the french..they never play to their protential when we ALL expect them to blitz a side.

    English pack may hold th key.

  • 6.THE MAULER: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 15:28 pm

    Young team! If the English suffocate them it could be along night! But French should win!

  • 7.tight head: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 15:39 pm

    Should be an interesting game, with a clash of styles.

  • 8.Loosehead: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 16:13 pm

    Allez Les Bleu!!!!

  • 9.Mol: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 17:43 pm

    Hoping France will give England a good hiding, just for making it so far in the RWC and being so average..

  • 10.4man: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 18:10 pm

    Wigglesworth has a big outing. Sheridan is back. The French youngsters are playing…it will be a close game.

  • 11.Jinx: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 18:24 pm

    Frogs to whip the bangers and mash crowd.

  • 12.chch: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 18:58 pm

    I have already picked the French for a big win

  • 13.chch: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 19:06 pm

    How can the Cheetahs game be sooo early …. don’t people need to travel from work?

  • 14.chch: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 19:13 pm

    Did you see all the changes for the Italians?

  • 15.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 23:28 pm

    Poms to blitz Frogs

    Fixed.

  • 16.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 23:29 pm

    Although isn’t Poms and Frogs kind of derogatory?

  • 17.Flametop: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 23:46 pm

    Howzit Big Hit….long time.

    Do us a favour and rack up a score against the French

    8)

  • 18.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 23:49 pm

    17

    We’ll be trying Flametop but I’m not sure what type of game England are trying to play. Its looking shaky at present.

  • 19.Flametop: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 23:50 pm

    French back row is ripe for the pick and drive.
    They’re light and like to swan with the backs both in defense and attack.
    Around the fringes is where Ireland found them wanting

  • 20.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2008, 23:53 pm

    19

    Hmm, that could work out all right for us then as Haskell and Easter are decent carriers.

    But Ashton seems to want to whip the ball out to the backs a la New Zealand at every opportunity, thats why Wigglesworth has been picked at 9.

  • 21.Flametop: Reply to this comment
    22 Feb 2008, 00:01 am

    Ashton is rebuilding and he’s right to get the ball out past 10 an odd time. At least you have some pace out wide

  • 22.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    22 Feb 2008, 00:09 am

    21

    I would say our strengths up front though and we must play to our strengths.

  • 23.Flametop: Reply to this comment
    22 Feb 2008, 00:25 am

    Yep For sure that’s true but backs should want to run a bit – that’s what they do.
    England will have a good side soon

  • 24.chch: Reply to this comment
    22 Feb 2008, 01:40 am

    morning all

    arnt we just all waiting for wales vs france

  • 25.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    22 Feb 2008, 04:53 am

    24

    U mean england v Wales? silly kiwi

  • 26.Hambafrika: Reply to this comment
    22 Feb 2008, 12:16 pm

    10

    Wrigglesworth looks a good player. Having a tough time at his club as they have signed Peel, meaning he is not even guarenteed a start for his club

  • 27.leeanthonyw: Reply to this comment
    22 Feb 2008, 13:08 pm

    Big Hit – Why isn’t Hippkiss playing? He had a good world cup along with Tait.

  • 28.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    22 Feb 2008, 16:02 pm

    27

    Hipkiss showed zero form for Leicester since the RWC where I agree he looked pretty decent. He’s also picked an injury in recent weeks.

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