England v France Result: England 13 France 7 Player of the Match: Alex Matthews This was a first chance for Kiwis to experience a Crunch live. Now they know exactly what all the fuss is about. Sadly the game was distorted early on by two vital injuries to leading French players, Laure Sansus and Romane
England v France World Cup, Round Two At last a meeting between two top-rated teams in a setting even more prestigious than the 6 Nations. England So the English player-choice for the Fiji game was merely a run-out for the big test against the French. To considerable surprise, Simon Middleton has made only one change
The wise coaches say you learn more from your losses than your wins. That may well be the watchword for the Red Roses as they step closer to a new World Cup campaign. Many of the younger members of the squad have not yet experienced a loss in an English shirt. But those who have
The second World Cup squad to pass before my eyes is a significant one, France As with Canada’s 32, announced last week, the French squad shows unfortunate absences, in this case caused by ill-timed injury. The two outstanding wingers, Cyrielle Banet, Caroline Boujard, are both missing from action. The French management have pulled a rabbit
For the second time in a very short while I have got my predictions completely wrong. Japan saw off Ireland 29-10 in their rematch in Tokyo (27 August). Tonight, 9 September, the Azzurre completed one of their greatest wins, 26-19 in their own return game against Les Bleues. My two forecasts were way off the
To show how much England’s 23 might change for the second test against Wales, we need only glance at France’s side for their return test against Italy. Thomas Darracq has really thrown his cards in the air to see how they fall back to earth again. Several striking experiments. The 23: 1 Deshayes 2 Sochat
Stade des Arboras, Nice Result: France 21 italy 0 This really was a strange game, played in front of a tiny crowd, barely over 3,000, in huge contrast to the vast gates attracted to watch Les Bleues over recent matches. And the French squad seemed to react to the lack of atmosphere. The scoring was
Thomas Darracq has announced his 23 to take on Italy in the first of two encounters; this one in Nice. Rather like England’s side to face the USA, there are one or two unexpected names (listed below). Of course, a few regulars may have picked minor knocks during their intensive sessions at Marcoussis and Font
The French have outlined their programme for the run-in to the World Cup. They mean business. It isn’t so much the two warm-up games announced (see below), it is the intensive sequence of training sessions that precede it. Annick Hayraud often mentioned the lack of time the staff had in assembling the full group for
Thomas Darracq has published 38 names of players to form a wider training group for the World Cup. It will be reduced to 32 at the end of the timetable shown below. The Squad: ANNERY Julie (Stade Français Paris) BANET Cyrielle (Montpellier) BERNADOU Rose (Montpellier) BERTHOUMIEU Axelle (Blagnac) BOUJARD Caroline Montpellier) BOULARD Émilie (Chilly Mazarin) BOURDON Pauline (Stade Toulousain) BOURGEOIS
Social Networks