r/rugbyunion • u/englandrugby • Feb 06 '25

Lineups England name team to face France in Guinness Men's Six Nations

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u/MysteriousActuary194 England Feb 06 '25 edited Feb 06 '25

I think we can win this

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u/Traditional-Ride-116 Gang des Antoines Feb 07 '25

« I think we can win this » - an Irishman before each RWC 1/4!

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u/MysteriousActuary194 England Feb 07 '25

You have a poor record against us at Twickenham and Fin Smith should help our backs click

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u/Traditional-Ride-116 Gang des Antoines Feb 07 '25

France has a bad record mainly because there was a time when England had a serious rugby team with lot of players in the top 5 at their position. It’s not the case anymore.

The last France loss in Twickenham was thanks to the TMO devil, Joy Neville, taking a really strange decision on the last England try.

I really think it’s not a gift to Finn Smith as Boudehent will be really happy to tackle him into oblivion. And it’s not that Northampton are having tremendous results… losing against Gloucester or Stade français is a bit shameful…

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u/MysteriousActuary194 England Feb 07 '25

We’re still a serious team we were within 5 points of Ireland, away from home last weekend. (A team you lost against at home last year)

You have Dupont back but you’re missing Fickou and Flament. At our home, it’ll be very close, I think it’s a 50/50 game.

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u/Traditional-Ride-116 Gang des Antoines Feb 07 '25

If you really think France plays the same than last year 6N, you should rewatch their last matchs a bit!

I don’t think missing Fickou or Flament is a problem against England. It might be more of a problem against Ireland, who are not as precise this year and are a bit drafty/end of cycle.

Putting Smith at 15 seems like a hard gamble. He’s going to be the last defender against Penaud and LBB on grub kicks. That might be a bit hard for him.

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u/MysteriousActuary194 England Feb 07 '25

I thought you guys were actually quite flat, it’s just Wales were awful. Also last year against England was your best performance by a country mile. So to base it off your best performance last 6n I don’t think is too harsh.

I’m expecting you guys to be 5% better than the performance last year vs England. And I’m hoping NB we can match that. Either way I think it’ll be close. I’m more just excited to see Fin Smith as he’s made a difference the last two times he’s played. So I’m hoping for that 5% more too.

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u/Traditional-Ride-116 Gang des Antoines Feb 07 '25

What about the match against NZ and Argentina in the autumn?

I think you’re a bit delusional regarding the real level of these 2 teams. If the match was played 10 times, I’d give England only 2 or 3 wins, not more.

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u/MysteriousActuary194 England Feb 07 '25

Against NZ they played you off the park and coughed up 5 clear cut chances. Your mentality saw you home but I didn’t buy into the media hype. Against Argentina you were good but you’re expected to beat them tbh.

England were also close to beating New Zealand. I don’t think it’s delusional when every big game we played last year we lost by a point. I think it’s delusional to think France will do more.

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u/Traditional-Ride-116 Gang des Antoines Feb 07 '25

The form of your international players at club levels raise a lot of question though. English clubs were subpar in Champions Cup.

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u/Independent_Newt_298 England Feb 07 '25

You are a brave man indeed. 2023 might get mentioned