French Rugby Boss On England...should fire them up for Saturday

[keaton]

With the recent performaces of England rugby, they could pick a best 15 of the other 5 nations and I still dont think they would get near us.......world cup year and again we look to be getting it right whilst the other Northern Hemisphere sides "peak to early" about 2 years too early!!! England win there group (only really the Argies who look a force, Scotland will be hammered by 40 odd points) and another final beckons i reckon

What do you classify as being near? England only beat Wales by 7 points.

England look the best they've done for a while, but they still give away silly penalties, and they're not as good in attack as the French. Should still win on Saturday though

 

[strings]

England look the best they've done for a while, but they still give away silly penalties, and they're not as good in attack as the French. Should still win on Saturday though

I would agree with this. My biggest concern, even more than the penalties, is having the ball turned over at the ruck. Italy won far too many turnovers against us, as did Wales. I was at Bath vs. Northampton at the weekend, and I though Moody looked good when he came on - he definately appeared to stengthen Bath at the breakdown. I'm not sure I would start with Moody - but he is an option.

As you say, England are looking better than they have in years. Even so, we are far from perfect.

 

[Icy Gull]

and they're not as good in attack as the French.

Not sure I'd agree with that. Historically yes but the French didn't look all that against Ireland, and I think we look pretty good in attack these days.

 

[chops]

England have been NOWHERE for eight years and now a couple of southern hemisphere scalps mean you Englanders reckon you're going to win the World Cup. It's not the confidence I resent, it's the sense of entitlement.
New Zealand will DESTROY you in their own back yard, just like they did in your back yard in the autumn. And I'll be there to watch.

 

[Common as Mook]

England have been NOWHERE for eight years and now a couple of southern hemisphere scalps mean you Englanders reckon you're going to win the World Cup. It's not the confidence I resent, it's the sense of entitlement.
New Zealand will DESTROY you in their own back yard, just like they did in your back yard in the autumn. And I'll be there to watch.

I'd concentrate your efforts on supporting your own than expending energy hating a far superior side.

 

[Common as Mook]

Oh, and a WC win in 2003 and a final in 2007 gives us more than enough ammo to be confident.

 

[strings]

The one thing that chops does have right, is the fact that after a few good games, many England fans think we are going to walk the six nations and stroll into the World Cup semis.

We are a lot better than we have been in years. However, it has been 8 years since we won the Six Nations, and we are still miles away from new Zealand's technical ability with only 6 short months before the World Cup.

At the moment, all our boys can do is focus on the next game. We are going to need an improvement on our last two performances to beat a strong French side. Once we have dispatched France, we can dream of the Six Nations title...

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

we are still miles away from new Zealand's technical ability with only 6 short months before the World Cup.

Yeah, but they're gonna CHOKE somewhere in the knockout stages...

 

[chops]

Yeah, but they're gonna CHOKE somewhere in the knockout stages...

Not in their own backyard. If the world cup was elsewhere I'd agree.

Oh, and a WC win in 2003 and a final in 2007 gives us more than enough ammo to be confident.

Confidence I don't mind, acting like you're ENTITLED to win it pisses me off. Remember you hadn't won in Cardiff since 2003 until this year, now you're world beaters?

 

[Icy Gull]

England have been NOWHERE for eight years and now a couple of southern hemisphere scalps mean you Englanders reckon you're going to win the World Cup. It's not the confidence I resent, it's the sense of entitlement.
New Zealand will DESTROY you in their own back yard, just like they did in your back yard in the autumn. And I'll be there to watch.

We have been SHIT for years, we are now contenders. In fact we were shit in the last World Cup and look how far we went. We were a team on the wane when we won it. Bit of respect required from the Welsh I think as we are the only British side with a prayer in the WC...imo

I could take a defeat against NZ too.

 

[keaton]

We have been SHIT for years, we are now contenders. In fact we were shit in the last World Cup and look how far we went. We were a team on the wane when we won it. Bit of respect required from the Welsh I think as we are the only British side with a prayer in the WC...imo

I could take a defeat against NZ too.

I think the English need to show the Welsh a little respect. Two Grand Slams in the last five years England haven't won it for eight

 

[Scotty Mac]

its EXACTLY the same with all england teams, be it football, cricket or rugby - a couple of wins and we can win the world cup and are the best in the world. a couple of defeats and the team isnt good enough, the system is broken and we are going to be stuck being shit for years

 

[Common as Mook]

its EXACTLY the same with all england teams, be it football, cricket or rugby - a couple of wins and we can win the world cup and are the best in the world. a couple of defeats and the team isnt good enough, the system is broken and we are going to be stuck being shit for years

Bit different in that we have actually won a WC

 

[Scotty Mac]

Bit different in that we have actually won a WC

every one of those teams has won a world cup. doesnt give a divine right to win it again though

 

[chops]

I think the English need to show the Welsh a little respect. Two Grand Slams in the last five years England haven't won it for eight

This...

Although our win against Scotland was our first win for nearly a year...

Was going to write a long piece about our strengths but I'm busy at work so I'll just stick down waht I reckon would be the best anglo-welsh team (ignoring injury).

1. Gethin Jenkins WAL
2. Dylan Hartley ENG
3. Adam Jones WAL
4. Bradley Davies WAL
5. Courtney Lawes ENG
6. Dan Lydiate WAL
7. Sam Warburton WAL
8. No-one is really sticking their hands up for this so in the interest of balance I'll plump for Easter ENG
9. Mike Phillips WAL - Tight. Youngs is very good but Phillips is a proven LION.
10. Toby Flood ENG
11. Shane Williams WAL
12. Jamie Roberts WAL
13. James Hook WAL
14. Chris Ashton ENG
15. Ben Foden ENG

That's nine Welshmen and six English. I honestly think we have the better players but aren't playing well at the moment.
England are playing well, but not that well. If we had played against England like we did against Scotland we'd have won.

YES, England demolished Italy but the wops are notorious for giving up if they fall behind early.

 

[Icy Gull]

This...

If we had played against England like we did against Scotland we'd have won.

QUOTE]


That's a bit like saying if we'd played against Stoke like we did against Hartlepool we'd have demolished them...England are a much tougher proposition than Scotland and didn't actually let you play..and we beat your on your own patch but don't worry we'll not be expecting any credit for that.

 

[keaton]

I'm half-English and half-Welsh, my neutrally picked team would be

1. Gethin Jenkins WAL
2. Matthew Rees WAL
3. Adam Jones WAL
4. Tom Palmer ENG
5. Courtney Lawes ENG
6. Tom Croft ENG
7. Sam Warburton WAL
8. Ryan Jones WAL
9. Ben Youngs ENG
10. Toby Flood ENG
11. Shane Williams WAL
12. Jamie Roberts WAL
13. James Hook WAL
14. Chris Ashton ENG
15. Ben Foden ENG

I don't think Hartley's the best hooker in England, and while Phillips is Lion he's been poor for Wales and Ospreys for a while now

 

[Icy Gull]

I think the English need to show the Welsh a little respect. Two Grand Slams in the last five years England haven't won it for eight

I did when you were winning them but you all still think you're a good side and you've won how many games in the last year? I think you'll find most England fans have had very low expectations until this year, that's hardly an arrogant approach is it?

 

[keaton]

I did when you were winning them but you all still think you're a good side and you've won how many games in the last year? I think you'll find most England fans have had very low expectations until this year, that's hardly an arrogant approach is it?

We (Wales) are still a good side. We're a brilliant side when everyone's fit but we've no strength in depth, Fiji was shocking but we had lot of reserves apart from that all the defeats have been against SH teams, France and England.

 

[Pavilionaire]

An England team on the rise against the unpredictability of a French side on the back of a Grand Slam but prone to lapses such as the "3 tries to 1" lucky escape against the Irish.

I think England will shade it at Twickenham, though our recent lack of success should make the crowd extra vocal on the day. We should go on to beat Scotland but the Ireland match will be tough.

As for the England side, it's not vintage and I worry about Johnson's natural conservatism. I think he should shut the f*** up about Ashton's swallow-diving and try and harness that "joie de vivre" into making the England players relax and enjoy their rugby more.

A side of Sheridan, Hartley, Cole, Laws, Palmer, Croft, Moody, Easter, Youngs, Flood, Cueto, Hape/Flutey, Tindall, Ashton and Foden looks pretty potent, especially with Jonny on the bench so, ultimately, England are in a good place but they're most definitely NOT in the same class as the side of 2003.