Re: GAME ON GROUP A : England v France - Sun - 10:00:00 : Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:26 pm  

Who did well for France?

I thought Benjamin Garcia, Lucas Albert and Jason Baitieri were good.
Bastien Ader was good in defence, as was Theodore Fages.
Little John Boudebza was not bad, Fouad Yaha did well bringing the ball back, Romain Navarette provided some glimpses in attack and Benjamin Jullien tried hard in defence.
Big Julien Bousquet had a shocker with three dropped balls and no penetration in attack.
Pity that Thibault Margalet got injured because he is a good back rower with potential.

Awarding points 3,2,1 based on French performances I would go:

3. Garcia
2. Albert
1. Baitieri

If France had its six missing injured star players (Morgan Escare, Anthony Gigot, Remi Casty, Mickael Simon, Gadwin Springer, and Eloi Pelissier) the score line would have been much different.

Re: GAME ON GROUP A : England v France - Sun - 10:00:00 : Sun Nov 12, 2017 11:50 pm  

Bless.....

Re: GAME ON GROUP A : England v France - Sun - 10:00:00 : Sun Nov 12, 2017 11:53 pm  

We looked very fluid and fluent in attack in the first half and awful in the second. Partly that was down to moving players around, but also attitude. Laurie Daley was spot on after the game IMO, saying we need to start turning in 80 minute performances now as we definitely will have to against Tonga and whoever we may meet in the final (assuming we beat them which is far from a given).

After the France game, I'd say Percival should be given a chance. He's at least a proper centre, and more likely to keep plays going than Bateman, who IMO has defensive issues on the line as well, due to not actually being a centre.

I thought Brown looked more confident than Gale ball in hand, but not fussed if Gale is picked ahead of him. Sadly Williams looked absolutely clueless, made at least one really poor kick and just generally not good enough.

We should definitely beat PNG, particularly if we get an early lead. The best team they have played so far is Ireland, who they barely beat, but England would be confident of putting 50 past. Tonga is another story...

Re: GAME ON GROUP A : England v France - Sun - 10:00:00 : Mon Nov 13, 2017 10:55 am  

I thought it was Gale’s best performance by a distance. I put that down to Widdop being immediately on his left rather than the plodding Bateman. When 3 commentators are critical of an English international player you know there are issues. Percival looked every inch an international, which pleasantly surprised me. Him & Watkins must start. Williams looked lost, which I put down to being regularly coached by an ape, rather than anyone resembling a half back. Brown was a revelation; though I have been a long term fan I thought his inclusion on the trip was a mistake. Widdop is developing into the class pivotal leader we need, some of his touches were sublime. Lomax & Ratchford do not have that quality, so I would go Gale, Brown, Widdop 7,6,1. Currie has slightly disappointed me, McMeekan looks like a big bloke who only took up the game 3 years ago & lacks the nous at this level, he will get exposed.

Re: GAME ON GROUP A : England v France - Sun - 10:00:00 : Mon Nov 13, 2017 11:25 am  

tigertot wrote:

I thought it was Gale’s best performance by a distance. I put that down to Widdop being immediately on his left rather than the plodding Bateman. When 3 commentators are critical of an English international player you know there are issues. Percival looked every inch an international, which pleasantly surprised me. Him & Watkins must start. Williams looked lost, which I put down to being regularly coached by an ape, rather than anyone resembling a half back. Brown was a revelation; though I have been a long term fan I thought his inclusion on the trip was a mistake. Widdop is developing into the class pivotal leader we need, some of his touches were sublime. Lomax & Ratchford do not have that quality, so I would go Gale, Brown, Widdop 7,6,1. Currie has slightly disappointed me, McMeekan looks like a big bloke who only took up the game 3 years ago & lacks the nous at this level, he will get exposed.

I agree that Percival is streets ahead of Bateman in centre play, and the continued inclusion of Bateman there is for me the greatest mystery of the world cup. I too was pleasantly surprised by Brown, who I thought shouldn't have been on the plane. I'd like to see him get another gig against PNG, who will be harder than France. If he can free up Widdop with that sort of space again, then I'd keep him in. I'm not convinced Lomax is either fast enough or big enough to play internationally, and felt much more comfortable with Widdop at the back instead.

I agree that Currie didn't rip up any trees. He's had a torrid time, and this tournament may have been a dozen games too early for him after his recovery. McMeekan was just disappointing. Against the much smaller men of France, he wasn't able to either make any penetration or get any offloads away like he does at Cas. One for the future, but not now.

[Bullseye]

Re: GAME ON GROUP A : England v France - Sun - 10:00:00 : Mon Nov 13, 2017 11:43 am  

Agreed. I think we looked far more threatening and far slicker with Widdop at fullback, Brown and Gale at halfback and Roby at hooker. Also thought Percival should be straight in at No 4 for the PNG game with Watkins coming back in a 3. Bateman offers nothing in the centres and is a completely negative selection there.

Roby can play 80 mins and should. Hodgson should be binned off as he's been quite poor barring one assist versus Lebanon. I'd start Walmsley too as he'd give us valuable size and go forward from the off versus PNG who will come out on fire and he will take some gas out of them - more than Hill anyway.

Widdop
McGilvary
Watkins
Percival
Hall
Brown
Gale
Walmsley
Roby
Graham
Whitehead
O'Loughlin
S Burgess

Currie
Hill
T,Burgess
Bateman

Currie and Bateman can cover backs if we get an injury with Flanders or Widdop able to cover the halves if necessary. That 17 is picked with a 80min performance in mind. I'd be wanting some intensity from the backrowers in defence so could rotate them like the props.

Re: GAME ON GROUP A : England v France - Sun - 10:00:00 : Mon Nov 13, 2017 11:54 am  

Aye, summat like that. I forgot to mention Roby, who is on a different planet to Hodgson.

Re: GAME ON GROUP A : England v France - Sun - 10:00:00 : Mon Nov 13, 2017 12:01 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

I'd start Walmsley too as he'd give us valuable size and go forward from the off versus PNG who will come out on fire and he will take some gas out of them - more than Hill anyway.

I'm looking forward to seeing Walmsley play against the better teams but happy to keep bringing him on off the bench for impact after around 20 mins.

Re: GAME ON GROUP A : England v France - Sun - 10:00:00 : Mon Nov 13, 2017 1:48 pm  

I'm unconvinced by our back row, with Heighington offering little, Bateman and Currie both looking a bit lightweight, and McMeeken getting smashed all over the place against France. Could it be worth using Hill there off the bench to add some size? He's played loose for England quite a bit. I'd go:

1. Widdop
2. McGillvary
3. Watkins
4. Percival
5. Hall
6. Brown
7. Gale
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Walmsley
11. S.Burgess
12. Whitehead
13. O'Loughlin

14. T.Burgess
15. Hill
16. Hodgson
17. Taylor

Re: GAME ON GROUP A : England v France - Sun - 10:00:00 : Mon Nov 13, 2017 2:06 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

I'm unconvinced by our back row, with Heighington offering little, Bateman and Currie both looking a bit lightweight, and McMeeken getting smashed all over the place against France. Could it be worth using Hill there off the bench to add some size? He's played loose for England quite a bit. I'd go:

1. Widdop
2. McGillvary
3. Watkins
4. Percival
5. Hall
6. Brown
7. Gale
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Walmsley
11. S.Burgess
12. Whitehead
13. O'Loughlin

14. T.Burgess
15. Hill
16. Hodgson
17. Taylor

It's definitely a way we could go if we want the biggest pack with the most go forward. Tbh though I've not really thought about going this way before you mentioned it, but I'd be very tempted. Trouble is I'm not sure Bennettt will go this way. Against teams like Tonga and Aus, I think having the biggest pack we can, who won't get dominated and smashed around would defo be beneficial.
The only problem I can see in not having say at least Currie on the bench, is if a back gets injured and we have to move a couple of players around, depending on who got injured. I'd also be tempted to play Roby for the full 80 and leave Hodgson out and maybe stick Currie/bateman on the bench and you can still have 3 Props there.