'It's been a few years since England made such an impact' - France confident for Le Crunch fixture
France delivered another less-than-impressive performance in their latest World Cup win, a 23-21 over a fast-finishing Tonga side, setting up a final pool clash against old rivals England.
Jacques Brunel’s side has come under fire for lacklustre displays against the lesser-knowns after coming away with a first-up win over Argentina. However, after the Los Pumas’ 14-man defeat to England and the win over Tonga, France have secured a quarterfinal spot without the Le Crunch fixture playing a part.
“We did what we had to do with the win. We knew qualification was the primary goal, and it’s done,” flyhalf Romain Ntamack said following the win.
Continue reading below…
“It was difficult for a while, and it became a tough match. The Tongans clung on right to the end. There are things to fix but we’ll take the win.”
“I’m not saying we were scared because we were in control. Tonga came back in the end, but we were never in danger. For me, the score doesn’t reflect the nature of the game.”
France will know that this kind of performance will not be up to scratch against a powerful England side who dispatched them 44-8 at Twickenham earlier this year in the Six Nations. The French were awful in kick coverage that day as England picked apart a feeble back three with an aerial assault.
“It’s a game that matters,” the Toulouse-utility back said of the England fixture.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3OxDP8Ar84/
“We will be facing a better team. We will try and respond, to play our own game. It’s been a few years since England made such an impact. They’ll want to reassert that.”
This time around the result will decide who tops Pool C, with France keen on showing improvement ahead of the knockout stages. Ntamack says the side needs to be more patient to avoid making the same errors.
“We know there’s no consistency. We can’t play a full game from the first to the 80th minute. It didn’t happen today. We need to be more patient. We must work on not making the same old errors,” he said.
Elusive halfback Antoine Dupont is excited about facing England without the fear of elimination which will allow the side to test themselves ahead of the finals.
“We are in the quarter-finals, and before that, a big game awaits us against England. We can measure ourselves against one of the best teams in the world without having to worry about qualification. It’s always a good test,” he said.
“We’re going to concentrate on our own rugby. We’re not going to speculate: after the pool phase there is no good draw. There are only the big teams left.”
Dupont also was not worried about the performance against Tonga, saying the side ‘were never in real trouble’ but missed the control they needed to be more comfortable.
“There are a few things to look at. We could have killed the game off sooner. But we’ve qualified. Not many people believed in us. We can be happy with that for now.”
England coach Eddie Jones following win over Argentina:
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
6 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
6 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to comments