A new word has entered the French vocabulary this month: ‘Pom’, as in ‘Le Pom Squad’. It was seen in a headline in the sports daily, L’Equipe, last week, defined as ‘the English equivalent of South Africa’s Bomb Squad’.
It didn’t offer any further explanation. Fair enough. If the origin of the word ‘Pom’ is vague for the English and Antipodeans then what chance have the French of deciphering one of sport’s oldest nicknames.
But that’s not the point. What has impressed the French is how effective England’s ‘Pom Squad’ has been this month. In their three victories – Australia, Fiji and New Zealand – Steve Borthwick’s side have dominated the second half with the introduction of the replacements a decisive factor.
Like the original ‘Bomb Squad’, England’s explosive replacements blend power, dynamism and experience. Judging from Argentina’s sensational comeback against Scotland on Sunday the Pumas may have found their own ‘Bomba Squad’.
Gallic admiration for England’s Pom Squad is also tinged with envy. They have nothing similar. Indeed, France have fizzled out in their two Autumn internationals, squandering a half-time lead against 14-man South Africa to lose 32-17 and then making heavy work of last Saturday’s Test against Fiji.
France raced into a 21-0 lead after 20 minutes but allowed their visitors back into the game before eventually running out 34-21 winners.
Of course, France’s well-documented injury list is a factor (and the latest casualty is loose forward Paul Boudehent, who won’t be seen again this year after suffering a knee injury) but there is also an alarming shortage of talented young players coming through, particularly up front.
In 2027 the Golden Generation will be the Greying Generation, all in their thirties and past their peaks.
The two standout performers against Fiji were the most experienced: flanker Anthony Jelonch and No 8 turned second row Charles Ollivon, playing his first Test of the year after suffering a serious knee injury in January. There were also decent shifts put in by a couple of other veterans, hooker Julien Marchand and No8 Gregory Alldritt.
This is France’s ‘Golden Generation’, the players – add in Dupont, Fickou, Ramos and Penaud – who won the Grand Slam in 2022 (the first for 12 years) and were tipped to win the World Cup the following year. We know what happened to that dream.
In 2027 the Golden Generation will be the Greying Generation, all in their thirties and past their peaks.
Where are the next golden garcons? There is young talent in the squad, of course, the likes of Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Émilien Gailleton, Nolann Le Garrec and Nicolas Depoortère, but they are all backs. What France desperately lacks is muscle.
Their shortage of top-quality props has been brutally exposed this month. Without the injured Uini Atonio – soon to turn 36 – France really don’t have much in the way of tightheads. Their loosehead props are mediocre and they are also understaffed in the second row, hence why Ollivon was drafted in against Fiji.
Against New Zealand, England brought on Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry and Henry Pollock. Five Lions.
Against South Africa, France brought on Romain Taofifenua, Oscar Jegou, Dorian Aldegheri, Jean-Baptiste Gros and Guillaume Cramont. Jegou and Cramont have much promise but the other three are not in the same class as the Pom Squad.
There isn’t one French forward who could have done what Pollock has done this month: that sublime pick up and score against Australia, and then the harry and hack that led to Tom Roebuck’s try against New Zealand. French flankers have neither the speed nor the skill.
There’s no energy from the bench. France haven’t a Ben Earl, a Sam Underhill or a Henry Pollock. They have big men but these are players formed in the Top 14.
Three years ago I spoke to Steve Walsh, the fitness guru who was at Toulon during their glory years. The subject was Englishman Zach Mercer, then tearing it up with Montpellier. Walsh remarked: ‘He fits in so well because the Top 14 is slightly slower [than the English Premiership] and also less structured and that suits Zach’s game. The skill level among the forwards is a little lower and so with his natural ability, and the speed with which he reads the game, Zach can really shine.’
Mercer was voted the Player of the Year in the Top 14 awards ceremony in 2022. This year the award went to another English loose forward, Jack Willis of Toulouse. That says something. Significantly, since the awards were inaugurated in 2004, no French forward has been voted Player of the Year.
There isn’t one French forward who could have done what Pollock has done this month: that sublime pick up and score against Australia, and then the harry and hack that led to Tom Roebuck’s try against New Zealand. French flankers have neither the speed nor the skill.
The Top 14 is a wonderful competition, without a doubt the world’s greatest domestic league. But it doesn’t complement France’s national team. Its physicality, its unstructured play, its reliance up front on foreigners, all are a hindrance to the Bleus.
The one consistency of the French has always been their inconsistency. They have some wonderful players and a huge base to pick from their 2 very strong leagues. Watching the French youth teams, they have huge talent coming through and I don't believe for one moment that they are in any way envious of England’s so called pom squad. The English media here are full of hype they only deal with extremes. Fortunately we now have a coach who has no hype and takes one game at a time using the tools available to him, players and coaches. We’ ll see how they get on against the Pumas tomorrow with a team depleted by injury. It will be a real test of our strength in depth. I don't think Australia will trouble France despite the absence of their own pom squad.
Pom is said to derive from the red colour of the burned English skin after time in the Australian sun. Much like the colour of a pomegranate. Interestingly the Afrikaner expression is translated to red neck. Rooinek I think.
An article right on the money mais tout n’est pas perdu André Trépel
One notable win and the English are handing out lessons to the ‘jealous’ current 6 Nations champions. I wonder how English sports pundits earned their one-eyed reputation?
Nick Mallet was right!
Well, upfront there are other players not mentioned in the article nor in the comments that are absent or very promising:
-Mallez was quite amazing against NZ, and he’s like Du Toit, he can play both tight and loose.
-Tuilagi entered the game almost 2 years ago. He’s been huge and his return at Perpignan was very effective.
-Akrab, best player of the U20 6 Nations this year, most promising player for Midol
(And Capilla, Nouchi, Tatafu, Castro-Ferreira, Theo Ntamack…)
Not certain Pollock is faster than Capilla (I could be wrong!).
The 2003/2004 generation is almost the equivalent of the 1996/1997 one.
The one position where it could be hard is 10 - no real prospect behind Ntamack or Jalibert, not at Sacha FM’s level (although Sacha is just 3 years younger than Ntamack…). Reus? Jurd?
It’s funny how the French 7-1 was lauded a few months ago during the 6 Nations, and now that they have so many injuries, France have no bomb squad anymore 🙄
With no injuries, bring on Baille, Marchand, Tatafu, Guillard/Tuilagi, Boudehent/Jegou and Jelonch/Fischer - not sure you’ll find that bench ineffective.
English team is looking great atm, but this article puts the sweet chariot before the horse. The next 6N could bring its lot of delusion. France has several interesting forward prospects with some examples provided in the other messages, but starting the november matches with SA and barely any time to train, they had to rely to conservative choices.
I went here to read an article on french team, and I found the “Rule Britannia “ lyrics. Sorry, I have probably clicked in a wrong place….
Une belle esbrouffe cette article. Combien de titres possedent les anglais en 6 ans ? En coupe d'Europe ? France : 2 en 6 nations , 5 en coupe d'Europe des clubs .
Il n’y a que en pilier droit où la France manque de relève de haut niveau. En talon ? Mauvaka et Marchand auront 30 et 31 ans en 2027. Les talons anglais ?
En seconde ligne, Guillard, Flamant, Meafou auront 26, 28 et 30 ans. Les secondes lignes anglais ?
En 8, Alldritt aura 30 ans. Jelonch 31, boudehent 28, Jegou 23. Et il y a une relève avec les Castro Ferreira, Nouchi, Capilla, Gazotti, tous champions -20 et qui ont tous moins de 23 ans.
En 9 , Dupont aura 31 ans. Legarrec 25. Jeaunaud 24. Les 2 derniers (comme Serin), seraient probablement titulaires dans une autre équipe internationale, tant il y a de talents à ce poste en France.
En centre, Moefana aura 27 ans, Barassi 28, sans compter des jeunes très talentueux avenirs que sont les Gailletons (25 ans en 2027), Braue Boirie (22), Gourgue (22), Depoortere (24).
Aux ailes, Bielle biarrey aura 25 ans, Penaud 30 ans, Attissogbe 24…
En 15, Buros (29), Barré (25), ramos (32).
En 10, N Tamack aura 28 ans, Jalibert 29.
Une équipe vieille ?
Et au fait, le meilleur 3eme ligne anglais, il joue en France et vous n’en voulez pas.
France have a great team and are certainly the most enjoyable to watch.
Don’t give any credence the predictable Francophobia
Correct. The writer has just produced a garbage article, that’s all.
They don’t. They are happy with what they have and the depth they are building towards 2027. Unfortunately there are injuries right now which have affected this tour but going into the 6N with key starters Mauvaka, Atonio, Cros, Dupont and Moefana returning as well as guys around the 23 such as Attisogbe or Buros… I would be very surprised to see them not near the top of the 6N by the end of the competition.
This is no where near their strongest bench. I’m not convinced Taofifenua will be there in 2027. In that position during the 6N this year, Meafou was starting then after he couldn’t Guillard was. When Cros is healthy, you likely have Jelonch coming off the bench. Gros was a starter for the 6N champions this year but all of a sudden is a mediocre prop? Baille has just come back from injury, if he gets back to form I certainly wouldn’t put him in the mediocre category. Those two were the props for the 6N this year. Then you have Marchand coming off the bench too, when Mauvaka is healthy. All of a sudden the French forwards off the bench are Baille, Marchand, Atonio/Tatafu, Meafou, Auradou/Jegou and Jelonch. That can certainly rival the Pom squad.
There is, his name is Esteban Capilla. He’s in the 42 and hasn’t made his debut yet but this season in the Top 14 he’s been brilliant. He even did a chip and chase himself which he regathered brilliantly. Jegou has filled in twice at centre including once against Ireland this year in the 6N and not looked out of place so I’d say he has the speed. I’d also say Ollivon is one of the most skillful flankers in the world as well.
Hilarious article, I find the criticism around the team to be exaggerated to the maximum. It’s almost as if they came 4th in the 6N this year.
That generation will have a very good amount of experience and have gone through a lot particularly with the quarter final defeat in 2023. Most of them will be under or around 30 with Fickou + Cros being 33, Ollivon will be 34 and Atonio will be 37. Atonio has recently said he wants to play until 2027 so we’ll see if he can. If he can’t Tevita Tatafu is another one who is currently injured and looks a very good prospect in that position. I’d say he’s second choice when healthy. If anything is to be learnt from the Springboks, it’s that having a load of caps in the side is crucial and older players in their 30s can perform at clutch time in the World Cup.
I am not convinced by this argument. They took their foot of the gas and beat Fiji easily. Dupont is the best in the world, lets see what happens when he’s back