England Team Announced to face French
'Les Bleus'
By Kath 26/8/03
August 28 2003
Clive Woodward England Head Coach has announced his team to play France in Marseilles on Saturday. England will face a tough test against the 'Les Bleus'.
Clive Woodward has announced his team to play France in Marseilles on Saturday and a very strong squad to. West to Captain England and Grayson starts as fly-half. Some very heavy artillery being brought in Cohen and Lewsey and starts for Healey and Balshaw - This is their moment to show what they can do.
This match being played in the heartland of French rugby Marseille, will be a stiff test for England. Bernard Laporte French Head Coach, has gone on record saying that he will play his strongest side on Saturday. The French who are always tough opponents, will be even more so on Saturday. 'Les Bleus will be out to terminate England's record winning streak of 14 games and will enjoy every minute of it - if they can do it!
Have no doubt, the French Cockerel feathers will be flying up and down those touchlines in the hope that they will put England off their stride and Im sure we all just love this quote from Laporte:-
"We are very excited at the thought of playing England, the ogres of international rugby, over two legs," said coach Bernard Laporte. "They have not lost for a year and a half. They have defeated everybody, you have to respect that."
FRANCE: Team Announced 28/8/03
N Brusque; A Rougerie, Y Jauzion, D
Traille, C Dominici; F Michalak, F Galthie (capt); J-J Crenca, Y Bru, S
Marconnet, F Pelous, J Thion, S Betsen, O Magne, I Harinordoquy
Replacements:
R Ibanez, O Milloud, D Auradou, S Chabal, P Tabacco, X Garbajosa, B Liebenberg.
ENGLAND:
I Balshaw (Bath); J Lewsey (Wasps), O Smith (Leicester), M Tindall (Bath), B Cohen (Northampton); P Grayson (Northampton), A Healey (Leicester); G Rowntree (Leicester), D West (Leicester, capt), J White (Leicester), S Borthwick (Northampton), D Grewcock (Bath), M Corry (Leicester), L Moody (Leicester), A.Sanderson(Sale).
Replacements: S Thompson (Northampton), J Leonard (Harlequins), S Shaw (Wasps), Andy Hazell (Gloucester), A Gommersall (Gloucester), D Walder (Newcastle), J Noon (Newcastle).
UPDATE: 27/8/03 2045hrs (The above team has been corrected)
Number eight Joe Worsley has been forced to withdraw from the team after twisting his ankle in training. Wasps forward Worsley will be replaced in the starting XV team by Sale Sharks' Alex Sanderson, with Gloucester flanker Andy Hazell taking Sanderson's spot on the bench.
Just leaves me to sound my familiar cry:-
The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit; and, upon this charge
Cry "God for Harry! England and Saint George!"
http://www.innotts.co.uk/asperges/george.html