IRB Six Nations 2009 - Match Preview

England v France

Sunday 15th March -Twickenham kick off 1500 GMT

England v Les Blues - here we go again.  What can we expect?  Well many think another defeat but I am sure Martin Johnson does not think that way,  Jonno is looking for a win and a WIN at all costs.  This may explain why he has brought back another old head Simon Shaw.  If you look at the line up we have a few old heads and again many fans cry what is the point, why?   We must bring in the young players, build for the next Rugby World Cup etc.,

However, there is also the 'mantra' one game at a time and let's start winning.  The present England squad to my mind lack  confidence and discipline in each another. Various players over the last week have let their colleagues down. 

England need to win, even if it is ugly, once they start winning then the mental process changes.   I believe that is what Martin Johnson's main goal is at the moment to start winning and unfortunately he does not seem to trust the younger personnel do to the job.  We will have to wait and see if the older heads can pull it out of the bag, Joe Worsley proved he was still hungry for International honours and turned in a fantastic performance the other week, why not Shawsy?  

After all I don't here many crying about the inclusion for France of Sebastien Chabal who returns to France's back row at the ripe age of 31years as flanker.   Mind you I don't think anyone would want to argue with Chabal face to face on that one, would you?  

Getting back to England, discipline we have been told has been worked on with top Referees Wayne Barnes and Andrew Small at Pennyhill Park this week but it is ok to work on it they have to put into practice on the pitch. 

I will be beside myself with rage if we see more yellow cards this week and yes I am aware there will be a chance of it, as England are a marked team now, this has not been missed by France's coach Marc Lievremont who has called on referee Stuart Dickenson to be watchful of England's players when the two sides meet this weekend.

England have a massive damage repair job on their hands with discipline!

    England's Andrew Sheridan (left) and Simon Shaw during a training session at Pennyhill Park,

Simon Shaw talking on his selection this week had a different view as to why he was re-called he said:  "Perhaps I bring a bit of extra ball carrying and it's a big pack we're playing against so I also bring weight in the scrum and a bit more punch, figuratively speaking, in the rucks.

 "I've been around the England set-up for 15 years and I just love playing for England. I don't think I'd be just playing club rugby if I didn't think I was capable of playing international rugby.

"I had a good pre-season but then picked up some niggling injuries and my form wasn't great, so then the doubts do flicker into your mind a bit. But you have a couple of good games, get back to doing the basics well and then you just build from there."

  England's Danny Care is sent to the sin bin by referee Craig Joubert, to the disbelief of England captain Steve Borthwick  at Croke Park, Dublin,

And one of the villains of the peace last time out Danny Care had this to say on his yellow card against Ireland: "I apologised after the game, I knew it was the wrong thing to do. I was disappointed in myself but I have to move on. Discipline is something we've been working on, we have spoken to referees Wayne Barnes and Andrew Small this week.

"Playing for Harlequins at the weekend was great I couldn't wait to get out there and play the game - it was good to be back. This weekend if I come off the bench I have to make the most of the opportunity."

Regardless of who has been selected and past demeanours, I for one will be behind the team on Sunday, wishing them well and cheering them all the way.  As for the oldies amongst them, well there is a saying 'You are as young as you feel'  

So come on the Golden Oldies and get us that WIN we need!

England: Delon Armitage (London Irish), Mark Cueto (Sale), Mike Tindall (Gloucester), Riki Flutey (Wasps), Ugo Monye (Harlequins); Toby Flood (Leicester), Harry Ellis (Leicester); Andrew Sheridan (Sale), Lee Mears (Bath), Phil Vickery (Wasps), Simon Shaw (Wasps), Steve Borthwick (Saracens), Tom Croft (Leicester), Joe Worsley (Wasps), Nick Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements: Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Julian White (Leicester), Nick Kennedy (London Irish), James Haskell (Wasps), Danny Care (Harlequins), Andy Goode (Brive), Mathew Tait (Sale).

France: Maxime Medard (Toulouse); Julien Malzieu (Clermont-Auvergne), Mathieu Bastareaud (Stade Francais), Yannick Jauzion, Cedric Heymans (both Toulouse); Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Morgan Parra (Bourgoin); Lionel Faure (Sale), Dimitri Szarzewski, Sylvain Marconnet (both Stade Francais), Lionel Nallet (Castres, capt), Jerome Thion (Biarritz), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Sebastien Chabal (Sale), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz).

Replacements: Benjamin Kayser (Leicester), Thomas Domingo (Clermont-Auvergne), Louis Picamoles (Montpellier), Julien Bonnaire (Clermont-Auvergne), Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Castres), Florian Fritz (Toulouse), Damien Traille (Biarritz).

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