Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Unlikely that French will upset English applecart
FRANCE can throw the Six Nations wide open and preserve their own unwanted reputation as the most unpredictable team in world rugby by beating England at Twickenham today.
By starting the campaign with surprise defeats to Italy and Wales, the French went from favourites to flops in the space of eight days. It’s their worst start to the championship in 31 years, at a time when coach Philippe Saint-André was calling for an end to the national team’s notorious inconsistency.
It would, however, be typical of the Tricolors to come away from Twickenham having ended the hosts’ Grand Slam hopes.
“It’s often in the difficult times that a team gets back on its feet,” Saint-André said this week, after making eight changes to the starting side that slipped so limply to a 16-6 loss to Wales in Paris.
“We have players of the highest level who are capable of lifting their heads and moving forward together individually and collectively.”
England will have been as surprised as anyone about France’s meltdown, with coach Stuart Lancaster having labeled Saint-André’s side as the team to beat before the Six Nations.
Instead, it’s the English who are carrying the burden of favourites after opening with victories over Scotland and Ireland on the first two weekends, making them the only side capable of winning the Grand Slam.
Like France, they have beefed up their line-up in anticipation of a physical battle, bringing in pow- erful centre Manu Tuilagi as well as tough forwards Courtney Lawes and Dylan Hartley.
“Philippe Saint- André is already saying this is their Grand Slam (match),” England forwards coach Graham Rowntree said. “It will change the whole complexion of their championship if they win at the weekend and the way they will challenge us is through their pack of forwards.”
In a bid to avoid an 11th loss in 13 tournament trips to Twickenham since 1987, France have recalled hooker Benjamin Kayser, lock Christophe Samson and flanker Yannick Nyanga to the pack. Saint- Andre hopes these changes, particularly that of Samson, will allow them to compete more effectively at the lineout.
Among the backs, Morgan Parra and Francois Trinh- Duc have been re-instated as the halfback pairing in place of Maxime Machenaud and Frederic Michalak, whose from the autumn internationals has disappeared.
Winger Vincent Clerc returns from injury to take his place on the right wing, with Wesley Fofana returning to centre alongside Mathieu Bastareaud to give France a compact look in midfield.
“After two defeats, we had to
Also today, Italy and Wales face off at Rome’s Olympic Stadium on starkly contrasting trajectories following the first two rounds of games.
The home side opened the 2013 campaign with a stunning 23-18 win over favourites France, but failed to follow up a week later with a dismal 32-10 loss to Scotland in Edinburgh.
Last year’s Grand Slam champions, Wales, were caught cold by a first-half assault from Ireland in Cardiff to open with a loss before rebounding with a gritty 16-6 triumph over the French at a frigid Stade de France.
That leaves plenty of question marks and a lot to play for and the early signs are all in favour of the Welsh.
The Italians will have to do without skipper and stand- out player Sergio Parisse, the No 8 having been hit by a 30-day suspension for insulting the referee when playing last weekend for his French club side Stade Francais.
Italy coach Jacques Brunel said the Welsh were not to be taken lightly.
“Against the Irish, they were at a loose end for half-an-hour and then it was them that controlled the game and could have easily won it in the end,” he said.
“Against France they played another great match. They are powerful, can run through the phases, and maintain a top level of play.
“It will be a tough match for us, a very tough physical contest.”
Scotland host Ireland tomorrow. – Sapa-AFP