England v France 27/3/04 - RBS 6N Match Preview

RBS 6N Trophy
By Kath 23/2/04
April 11 2004

UPDATED:1300 hrs - Olly Barkley to start due to Paul Grayson failing fitness test! - England v France Royal Bank of Scotland Six Nations Championship decider! Will England turn on the class and defeat France in this final game of the championship?

Royal Bank of Scotland - Six Nations Championship 2004  

France v England  27/3/04

Le Crunch!

©Claire Jones

Well this is it, the final match of this year's RBS Six Nations Championship!

Sir Clive Woodward openly said that Olly Barkley was his man of the match against Wales last weekend and yet he has not picked him in the 22 let alone to start!  Most people would have put money on Olly Barkley starting against the French.  However, Sir Clive has thrown yet another spanner in the workings of the selection process, or has he?     I rather feel that in the back of Sir Clive Woodward's mind, is the memory of another fly-half two years ago who took such punishment at the hands of a certain Frenchman called Betson.   The No10 that day of course was Jonny Wilkinson!  Who could forget the sight of the dejected face of Jonny as he was substituted that day, splattered with mud and head in his hands, he had been beaten that day by the tactics of the French and Mr. Betson.

Sir Clive said that he has opted for experience by choosing Paul Grayson and there is no doubt about Grayson having experience both at International level and European but in the back of his mind I am sure the memory of Jonny Wilkinson's experience at the hands of Betson will have swayed his decision also. 

Yes we need to blood young players but not always in such games a wise manager perhaps allows the confidence that Olly must have felt coming off the field against Wales to settle and develop rather than have this new born international confidence destroyed by the French at Stade de France within days of it emerging. UPDATE Olly to start due to Paul Grayson failing fitness test - oh well we shall see what this young man is now made of!!!!!

Greenwood is another question altogether, perhaps other things are crowding in around Will at the moment but he is not playing to his best and perhaps this is a case of Sir Clive hoping he will run it off.  Again going with experience knowing that Greenwood tends to rise to the big game occasions, well we will see no doubt on Saturday night!   Chris Jones edged out because of a hand injury, so Joe Worsley winning try scorer against the Welsh starts and Martin Corry recalled into the squad.

The French - well what can one say about them.  It is the old cliché, which French team will turn up?  Well I feel it will be a very fired up French Team ready to have the scalp of England, the Six Nations Trophy and Grand Slam along with it.  No doubt about it, the French smell blood and this will be a fitting finale to this years RBS Six Nations Championship which I have to say has been the most thrilling for a while.  French forward Imanol Harinordoquy, recalled after injury, said: "If we can take the ball to the English, it will be easier to win".  So it would seem the French will be targeting the set piece, in particular the scrums and line out - now there is a surprise eh?

If we are honest this is just the setting the competition needs, the last game deciding the championship and for England to retain the championship they need to beat France by 8 points. 

FRANCE: N Brusque, P Elhorga, Y Jauzion, D Traille, C Dominici, F Michalak, D Yachvili, S Marconnet, W Servat, P de Villiers, F Pelous (Captain), P Pape, S Betsen, O Magne, I Harinordoquy.
Replacements: Y Bru, J-J Crenca, D Auradou, T Lievremont, P Mignoni, J Peyrelongue, C Poitrenaud.

ENGLAND: J Robinson (Sale); J Lewsey (Wasps), W Greenwood (Harlequins), M Tindall (Bath), B Cohen (Northampton); P Grayson (Northampton), M Dawson (Northampton); T Woodman (Gloucester), S Thompson (Northampton), P Vickery (Gloucester), D Grewcock (Bath), B Kay (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps), R Hill (Saracens), L Dallaglio (Wasps, Captain).
Replacements: M Regan (Leeds), J White (Leicester), S Borthwick (Bath), M Corry (Leicester), A Gomarsall (Gloucester), M Catt (Bath), J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester).

and now for the final time this Six Nations.......... my usual cry...............

And you, good yeoman,
Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
The mettle of your pasture; let us swear
That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not;
For there is none of you so mean and base,
That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!'

Henry V (1599) Act3, Scene1

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