Oh dear! The French selection looks the way every weak-kneed England fan must have feared, hideously strong.
Romane Ménager returns at No 8 to nobody’s surprise. It’s when we spot the names Corson and Trémoulière hiding on the bench that we get an idea of the strength of the squad. Annick Hayraud has kept faith with important units, Jade Ulutule and Carla Neisen at centre, and Laure Sansus and Caroline Drouin at pivot.
One unknown that the England think-tank will have debated is Emilie Boulard’s qualities in defence.
The analysts will have been working into the small hours to spot any inadequacies there. Against her Simon Middleton has chosen Sarah McKenna, the more experienced and clinical of two outstanding full-back options.
Sarah Hunter continues her cautious return to high-level rugby, so Emily Scarratt captains again.
Poppy Cleall slots in at No 8, which allows the selectors to keep Zoe Aldcroft at 6. In an unwelcome development she becomes the only Red Rose to start from beyond the London-based players and the four from Loughborough.
Zoe Harrison is restored to 12 to partner Helena Rowland and Scarratt in midfield. Lark Davies gets the nod over Amy Cokayne at No 2.
Overall, the England bench looks more potent than the French. The final moments of recent crunches have been dramatic in the extreme. England have come away with narrow victories; whether they can prove superior fitness again will be another fascinating question.
The one concern is the old one: can the pack hold its own at the set-scrum? There is no Hunter to rescue retreating ball; Poppy Cleall will have to show the same skill unless the power of the French pack can be thwarted.
For me the most extravagant try of the series so far was by Boulard, who chased a high box-kick by Sansus down the right touch-line last week. The speed of thought of both players was exemplary. It is that skill that the English must beware above all. The French may think they’ll need to display it again if they want to break down England’s defensive systems. They are telling themselves that they will have to force errors; they won’t be given any.
If Sarah Hunter comes on (if? when!), she will chalk up a century and a quarter of caps. The rarest of achievements.
This will be the very first final ever organised in the history of the 6 Nations. While I hope it will also be the last, there’s no doubting the added drama it will produce.
What a game in prospect!
Teams:
England
15. Sarah McKenna (Saracens, 34 caps)
14. Jess Breach (Harlequins, 17 caps)
13. Emily Scarratt (captain; Loughborough Lightning, 94 caps)
12. Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 28 caps)
11. Abby Dow (Wasps, 16 caps)
10. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 5 caps)
9. Leanne Riley (Harlequins, 41 caps)
1. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins, 58 caps)
2. Lark Davies (Loughborough Lightning, 30 caps)
3. Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins, 22 caps)
4. Abbie Ward (Harlequins, 46 caps)
5. Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 17 caps)
6. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 22 caps)
7. Marlie Packer (Saracens, 75 caps)
8. Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 45 caps)
Bench
16. Amy Cokayne (Harlequins, 55 caps)
17. Detysha Harper (Loughborough Lightning, 4 caps)
18. Bryony Cleall (Saracens, 3 caps)
19. Harriet Millar-Mills (Wasps, 60 caps)
20. Sarah Hunter (Loughborough Lightning, 124 caps)
21. Claudia MacDonald (Wasps, 14 caps)
22. Lagi Tuima (Harlequins, 7 caps)
23. Ellie Kildunne (Wasps, 13 caps)
France
15 Emilie Boulard
14 Cyrielle Banet
13 Carla Neisen
12 Jade Ulutele
11 Caroline Boujard
10 Caroline Drouin
9 Laure Sansus
1 Annaëlle Deshayes
2 Agathe Sochat
3 Rose Bernadou
4 Madoussou Fall
5 Safi N’Diaye
6 Marjorie Mayans
7 Gaëlle Hermet (captain)
8 Romane MĂ©nager
Bench :
16 Laure Touyé
17 Dhia-Maïlys Traoré
18 Clara Joyeux
19 LĂ©na Corson
20 Coumba Diallo
21 Pauline Bourdon
22 Morgane Peyronnet
23 Jessy Trémoulière
