England team announced with only the one change in both the bench and the run on XV.

England: Daly; Roebuck, Freeman, Atkinson, Murley; F Smith, Spencer; Genge, George, Heyes, Itoje (capt), Coles, Chessum, Pepper, Earl.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Rodd, Davison, Cunningham-South, Underhill, Pollock, van Poortvliet, Smith.

I get the need for a bit more beef in the pack so Chessum at 6 is not a great surprise but, but, firstly it suggests that the quick, light back row we have been getting was not the answer notwithstanding that it was only a few weeks ago that it was very much the answer. Secondly we now have no out and out 7, except of course for the guy that is playing 8. France to rule the breakdown, get quick ball and cut us to ribbons. Still persisting with the experiment of Freeman as a 13 which hasn't gone well against any decent centre combo in attack or defence. Let's see how many actual passes get to the wingers...

As to the bench - meh.

Last chance saloon Steve, don't let the door slam you on the arse on your way out.

Edit: Caveat in that this was all said in expectation of the usual game plan.

Tough time to be an English supporter. Borthwick is almost as woeful a selector as Robertson.

Genge, Itoje and Earl are test match luxuries. All great players. Put any one of them in a big, mean, gnarly pack and they shine. But you can’t afford two of them starting a test, let alone three. Especially if your strategy is dependent on forward dominance.

Just signed his own death warrant

Even with the YC, Underhill was the best English forward last week

Madness not to start him

@sparky seems fair to me, pull your head in Smith.

@Bones said in 2026 6N - France v England:

@sparky seems fair to me, pull your head in Smith.

Yeah but also a poor response from Itoje. Not a good look for either of them and to me suggests something is rotten in the kingdom of Denmark. Fractures appearing when the pressure is on speaks of a lack of cohesiveness within the squad.

In the last 6N England had a turnaround in playing style after the narrow wins v Scotland and France, rumour has it that a group of senior players were unhappy about the playing style. England then went on to record their vaunted 12 match winning run playing more expansively but have gone back to their previous style with the usual lack of accuracy. If the rumour is true then there is bound to be some unhappy boys in the changing rooms.

@Catogrande probably because the loosies are getting named in the front row and vice versa.

@Bones I rather think that they've got used to that old boy.

@Catogrande to the contrary chap, your props are under the misguided impression that carrying the ball is a fundamental aspect of their game and seem to consider scrummaging as a secondary consideration. Your loosies meanwhile apply almost no pressure on the opposition halves, see rucks as an opportunity to rest. In fact about the only time I notice them is at scrums - ineffectually looking very serious about it all.

@Smuts

I will not dignify that post with an erudite response based on the fact that over the last three games, you may have a point.

It's weird really. It was only in November that those England loosies were lethal, completely owned us at the breakdown. Earl was everywhere, carrying, attacking breakdowns, constant pressure. And he was backed up by 3 others in the same mode.
Genge used to be a great prop, good at the scrum, and a genuine threat with the ball.

As Cat said, you would not use any of those descriptors at the moment. What the hell happened over Christmas??

I wou

I get the feeling that the England players are very entitled and it’s impossible for them to put their egos away and get on with it. Talk of etoje not mixing with the others and having his own schedule just screams of a very unhealthy environment. If things are going their way on the day it can work as they have wonderful players… but apply some pressure and they just go home. A great shame that the NH teams are on one side of the draw practically ensuring one of them get to the next final.

@W32 said in 2026 6N - France v England:

I get the feeling that the England players are very entitled and it’s impossible for them to put their egos away and get on with it.

Not enough armbands and pledges...

@nostrildamus said in 2026 6N - France v England:

@W32 said in 2026 6N - France v England:

I get the feeling that the England players are very entitled and it’s impossible for them to put their egos away and get on with it.

Not enough armbands and pledges...

They should make a pact. I’m sure Ardie will put a word in for them

@W32 said in 2026 6N - France v England:

@nostrildamus said in 2026 6N - France v England:

Not enough armbands and pledges...

They should make a pact. I’m sure Addie will put a word in for them

The Adidas logo writes itself:

You Pact This.

Even better if Nike:
Just Pact It In.

@W32 said in 2026 6N - France v England:

I get the feeling that the England players are very entitled and it’s impossible for them to put their egos away and get on with it.

The saffers used to be like that!
used to be . . .
NZ or Aus are guna end up on the otherside of the draw; and put a spanner in the NH works

@W32 said in 2026 6N - France v England:

I get the feeling that the England players are very entitled and it’s impossible for them to put their egos away and get on with it. Talk of etoje not mixing with the others and having his own schedule just screams of a very unhealthy environment. If things are going their way on the day it can work as they have wonderful players… but apply some pressure and they just go home. A great shame that the NH teams are on one side of the draw practically ensuring one of them get to the next final.

But that is the same for the SH teams no?

All in all this thing is a manufactured event that is designed to have a SH v NH final come what may. It makes the likelihood of the two best teams meeting in the final less certain. I really can't get too enthused about it all but I guess I'll still watch it. Which I suppose is the point.

@Catogrande said in 2026 6N - France v England:

I really can't get too enthused about it all but I guess I'll still watch it. Which I suppose is the point.

RWC evil geniuses want to drag you into viewing a tournament that doesn't really appeal to you? The scoundrels!

said in 2026 6N - France v England:

@W32 said in 2026 6N - France v England:

I get the feeling that the England players are very entitled and it’s impossible for them to put their egos away and get on with it.

The saffers used to be like that!
used to be . . .
NZ or Aus are guna end up on the otherside of the draw; and put a spanner in the NH works

You mean like Tupou Paea'i Okalani Vaa'?

Can see a nice red card ruining this one.

Really want England to get absolutely smashed but also want Ireland to win the 6N

Torn

@MiketheSnow said in 2026 6N - France v England:

Really want England to get absolutely smashed but also want Ireland to win the 6N

Torn

Completely wrong. If France win then I can say Scotland beat the champions and claim a really lame #moralvictory

The French National Anthem really is a tune.

Hmmm not the best choices in Jersey colours

@JayCee said in 2026 6N - France v England:

Hmmm not the best choices in Jersey colours

I'm struggling to pick players in reality.

Ah lads the game is unwatchable. That jersey clash is diabolical.

Who signed off on this.

Prime time game. Title decider. Cant pick out the players.

@Jet said in 2026 6N - France v England:

Who signed off on this.

Prime time game. Title decider. Cant pick out the players.

Was just about to write that

Last round no red for Wales for the 16 people with colour blindness who watch rugby

This round guess the scorer?

Absolute fucking shambles

Scrappy start by both teams

Even every Super Rugby CEO thinks this kit clash is a bit much

LBB only European player to get in a World XV

When the ball goes up in the air you have no idea who is under it.

Only off first phase ball do you know which players are which.

This is a shambles.....they need to stop the game and have one team change strip.

@Jet said in 2026 6N - France v England:

Who signed off on this.

Prime time game. Title decider. Cant pick out the players.

The over head shots wash out the French baby blue even more and it just looked like 30 players wearing white

@game_film said in 2026 6N - France v England:

LBB only European player to get in a World XV

Loving your irony.

And LB-B scores in every game in back-to-back 6 Nations. A wizard on the left wing.

@Victor-Meldrew said in 2026 6N - France v England:

@game_film said in 2026 6N - France v England:

LBB only European player to get in a World XV

Loving your irony.

irony......trolling. Same thing.

And LB-B has a double.

England far too narrow in defence.