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More selection shifts from Steve Borthwick as he seeks to tinker his way to a victory. Northampton youngling Fin Smith is asked to run the team from 10, while Marcus Smith moves to fullback at the expense of Freddie Steward. The two Curries plan from last week is jettisoned from the back row with Tom Willis replacing Ben Curry, a decision that nudges Ben Earl to the openside. Injury to Cadan Murley brings Ollie Sleightholme onto the wing.
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France are without the suspended Romain Ntamack and so the usual backup Mathieu Jalibert slots in at demi d’ouverture. In better news for the visitors, Damien Penaud is back on the wing.
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England: Marcus Smith; Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Ollie Sleightholme; Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Will Stuart; Maro Itoje (capt), George Martin; Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Tom Willis.
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Replacements: Jamie George, Finn Baxter, Joe Heyes, Ollie Chessum, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Curry, Harry Randall, Elliot Daly.
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France: Thomas Ramos; Damian Penaud, Pierre-Louis Barrassi, Yoram Moefana, Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Dupont (capt); Jean-Baptiste Gros, Peato Mauvaka, Uini Atonio; Alexandre Roumat, Emmanuel Meafou, François Cros, Paul Boudehent, Grégory Alldritt.
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Replacements: Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille, Georges-Henri Colombe, Hugo Auradou, Mickaël Guillard, Oscar Jegou, Nolann Le Garrec, Émilien Gailleton.
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There are some things that shouldn’t last more than an hour: Roman Catholic mass, zumba classes, meetings, episodes of Strictly Come Dancing to name a few. Unfortunately, some of those often last much longer and Steve Borthwick must powerfully wish that rugby matches were not in this bracket, as for the best part of a year his England team have resolutely struggled with the inconvenient final quarter of games. The latest attempt to sort it will play out in the face of France, a team that traditionally doesn’t trouble itself with such humdrum things as the constraints of the time continuum.
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England haven’t beaten France since 2021, and the last time Fabien Galthie’s side rolled into SponsorNameDome Twickenham they dished out a 53-point whomping to a hapless home side. Both squads are in a different place now; England more resolutely organised after two more Borthwick years, and Les Bleus still capable of hammerings (just ask Wales) but more uneven in their form.
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France are more fancied, but as Ireland can testify England capable of beating anyone at home regardless of form coming into the match. It’s not too fanciful to suggest this could happen again today. Just keep your eye on that pesky clock when it hits 60 minutes.
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Kick-off: 4.45pm GMT.
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In the meantime …
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Important Events
10 minutes. More French possessions and balls move through the hands to the right where Ramos joined the line to compete for 22. He falls and takes the poor option of DuPont trying a long pass to Roomat in recycling, but the ball is the ball. In the air, the curry can fly and hit the lock forward to loosen the ball.
8 minutes. Tom Willis has a half-carry of his own giving Finn Smith a ball that moves a little forward to give Freeman the chance to kick and chase. However, the winger is too eager to track it down and takes the vial vialy into the air well before the ball arrives.
6 minutes. Visitors have been the busiest so far, with the latest attacks attacking the free barisi on the left outside of Freeman. The centre looks inside to find the Vial-Bialei, but his pass is burning so hard that it bounces off the winger's chest and returns the ball to England.
4 minutes. The first scrum of the game is a French scrum near the way, and they win snarky and move it to the right. DuPont jabs the grabber towards the touchline, but Penau is unable to reach it before dribbling onto the line.
2 minutes. Ben Earl carries up along the way, and Smith, a recycled fin, is a bit late. The balls will be curled here and there, and come back clean with merciless English hands.
Let's see how he handles it in the early and difficult moments for the 10 young people.
kick off!
Ref Amashukeli blows up his whistle and Finn Smith sends the ball to French hands.
The national anthem is all finished, and we are a few separate
The team heads out on a decent South London night. There is the silence of former English player Tom Voyne, who was tragically lost his life in the recent storm.
Today's official
Judgment: Nika Amashkeri (Georgia)
Judgement Assistant 1: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Judgement Assistant 2: Damien Schneider (Argentina)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuisen (South Africa)
it's not Le Crunch This has been a small event up until now, but I feel it is huge for both parties. France wants a grand slam, and England must once again assert control after the year has passed.
What are your thoughts? Send them to me by email, otherwise you can use it Blue skiing.
team
More choices change as Steve Boethwick tries to tinker with his path to victory. Northampton Young Ring Fin Smith is asked to run the team from the 10th, and Marcus Smith moves to the fullback at the expense of Freddish Tuward. Last week's two curry plans have been abandoned from the back row, with Tom Willis replacing Ben Curry and tweaking Ben Earl to the open side. Cadan Murley's injury brings Ollie Sleightholme to the wings.
France doesn't have a suspended romance ntamack, so the regular backup Mathieu Jalibert slot Demidau Virture. With better news for visitors, Damien Penau is back on the wings.
England: Marcus Smith. Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Ollie Sladeholm. Finn Smith and Alex Mitchell. Ellis Jenge, Luke Cowan Dickey and Will Stuart. Malo Itzje (captain) and George Martin. Tom Curry, Ben Earl, and Tom Willis.
exchange: Jamie George, Finn Baxter, Joe Hayes, Ollie Chesham, Chandler Cunningham South, Ben Curry, Harry Randall, Elliot Daly.
France: Thomas Ramos; Damien Penau, Pierre Louis Barisi, Yoram Morfana, Louis Bealy. Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Dupont (Capt); Jean Baptiste Gross, Pete Maubaka, Winni Atonio. Alexandre Roumat, Emmanuel Meafou, François Cros, Paul Boudehent, Grégory Alldritt.
exchange: Julien Marchand, Cyrile Baille, Georges Henry Columbe, Hugo Aurado, Mikcal Gillard, Oscar Jegou, Nolan Le Garreck, Emilien Galletton.
preamble
There are some things that should not last for more than an hour: Roman Catholic Mass, Zumba classes, meetings, strictly dancing episodes give some names. Unfortunately, some of them often last a long time, and Steve Boethwick must strongly hope that rugby matches are not in this bracket. The latest attempts to sort it face France. France is a team that traditionally does not plague itself with such humble things, including the continued constraints of the times.
England has not beaten France since 2021. When Fabian Garcy's side was finally caught up in To Twickenham's sponsor Maumee, they made a 53-point cry to the unfortunate home side. Both squads are now somewhere else. England is organised even more resolutely two years later, and Lesbulus is still able to hammer (Ask Wales), but more uneven.
France is more fantasized, but Ireland can testify to England where anyone can beat at home, regardless of the form that appears in the match. It's not too fantasy to suggest that this could happen today as well. When it hits for 60 minutes, turn to that nasty clock.
kick off: 4.45pm GMT.
Meanwhile…
