ROUND TWO PREVIEW: France coach Fabien Galthie expects a struggling England to provide a “fierce” Six Nations challenge for his in-form side on Saturday.
Les Bleus arrive in London after launching the tournament with a 43-0 rout of Wales in Paris last week, running in seven tries.
England, however, were beaten 22-27 by defending champions Ireland in Dublin – their seventh straight loss to a leading nation.
But Galthie insisted Thursday: “What I say often about the Six Nations, it’s very hard to predict what happens in the games…I can’t tell you the result or what will happen, but we’ve prepared for this game with a lot of hunger.”
He added: “England beat Ireland at home, you can’t forget that, last year with a Marcus Smith drop-goal. They’re a team that fights.
“They’re often close, they hit the post against New Zealand, against Australia they led until the last play,” said the former France captain while reflecting on two narrow reverses for England during the November internationals.
“You could say they are going to be fierce.”
They will need to be if they are to avoid a repeat of the corresponding 2023 fixture at Twickenham where a rampant France won 53-10, scoring seven tries, as England suffered their heaviest home defeat.
France, however, will be without Romain Ntamack on Saturday after the gifted flyhalf was sent off against Wales for a high tackle.
Matthieu Jalibert takes over at No.10 to partner Antoine Dupont following the France captain’s scrumhalf masterclass against Wales, with wing Damian Penaud the only other change to the starting side.
Saturday’s match will be Jalibert’s first Test since leaving the squad in November for mental health reasons.
“It’s obvious, it’s coherent, it’s logical,” said Galthie of Jalibert’s inclusion.
“Matthieu is an example of a top-quality player who has experienced good and bad moments.”
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‘Genius’ Marcus Smith
But whereas France, who only edged out England 33-31 in Lyon last year, have been forced into a flyhalf change, home coach Steve Borthwick has opted to give the 22-year-old Fin Smith a first Test start at No.10, with Marcus Smith moving to fullback to accommodate the Northampton playmaker.
Although Marcus Smith has started England’s last eight Tests at No.10, Borthwick said the 25-year-old can be a “game-changer” at fullback, having moved there when Fin Smith came off the bench to play at flyhalf against Ireland.
“He [Marcus Smith] is a player who can do things very few of the players in the world can do,” said Borthwick – an assessment endorsed by Galthie, who labelled the Harlequins playmaker a “sort of genius”.
England, however, must first subdue a monstrous French pack if either of the Smiths are to shine in attack.
“The non-negotiable, first and foremost, is the physicality,” said England captain Maro Itoje ahead of his first Twickenham international as skipper after leading the team against Ireland.
The 30-year-old lock added: “The team wants to win and to be the team we want to be, these are the games we have to win.”
England’s cause will be helped if they cut out the missed tackles that led to Ireland tries in Dublin.
Fin Smith’s defence, however, has drawn comparisons with that of England flyhalf great Jonny Wilkinson.
“Early this season, we had Fin at 30 tackles in a game for Northampton,” said Borthwick.
“It tells you a lot about the personality – he’s tough, he’s brave.”
Borthwick guided England to the 2023 World Cup semifinals in France only to suffer an agonising 16-15 loss to champions South Africa.
But the former captain knows there’s no room for sentiment in a Six Nations where England, for all their playing resources and wealth, have not finished higher than third since last winning the championship in 2020.
“Any of the main English sports there is an expectation to win – cricket, football, rugby – there is an expectation and when you take the job you expect that expectation,” said Borthwick.
“I would rather be involved with a team that has expectations than one that doesn’t.”
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Players to watch:
For England: The big talking point in Fin Smith at flyhalf. Smith at flyhalf means that Marcus Smith moves to fullback. The selection is certainly a massive gamble for head coach Steve Borthwick, whose side need to bounce back after last week’s defeat to Ireland. The 22-year-old Fin Smith, who will step into the shoes of his childhood heroes Jonny Wilkinson and Owen Farrell, will have a huge task against France. Fin will be alongside Alex Mitchell, his halfback partner at Northampton. Ollie Sleightholme, another Northampton back, returns on the wing in place of the injured Cadan Murley, with Saracens star Tom Willis brought in to add heft to the back row.
For France: Fabian Galthie’s team also have a new figure at 10. Matthieu Jalibert replaces the suspended playmaker Romain Ntamack. Jalibert, 26, will play his first Test since leaving the set-up in November for personal reasons.
Bordeaux-Begles’ Jalibert is one of two changes from last weekend’s tournament-opening win over Wales with Damian Penaud on the wing instead of Theo Attissogbe for Saturday’s match at Twickenham. There are loads of threats in the Farnace line-up, with captain Antoine Dupont always at the forefront. Gregory Alldritt and Peato Mauvaka are the other names worth mentioning.
Prediction
@rugby365com: France by 12 points.
Teams:
England: 15 Marcus Smith, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Tom Willis, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Tom Curry, 5 George Martin, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 3 Will Stuart, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Ben Curry, 22 Harry Randall, 23 Elliot Daly.
France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Paul Boudehent, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Alexandre Roumat, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Hugo Auradou, 20 Mickael Guillard, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Emilien Gailleton.
Date: Saturday, February 8
Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Kick-off: 16.45 (17.45 CET; 16.45 GMT)
Expected weather: It will be cold and breezy. The temperature will be around 7°C with a chance of rain.
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy), Damian Schneider (Argentina)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
AFP & @rugby365com
