Belfast Telegraph
Menu
Sections
Menu
Sections
Shut down
England’s players celebrate after beating France in the final of the Autumn Nations Cup (Adam Davy / PA)
By George Sessions, PA
France was asked by general manager Raphael Ibanez to consider a possible Grand Slam to forget and focus on beating England in Twickenham for the first time since 2005.
Fabien Galthie’s team will resume their Guinness Six Nations campaign on Saturday after a coronavirus outbreak postponed the planned one Match of the third round match in Paris with Scotland on February 28th.
After the victories on the road in Italy and Ireland last month, France is still fighting for a Grand Slam, which it has not made it since 2010, but first they have to try to get Eddie Jones’ under attack in England even more distressed this weekend.
🇫🇷 @FranceRugby has named his team to take on Twickenha to play m4 against England. Four changes from the team that beat Ireland. Virimi Vakatawa returned to the starting grid. Camille Chat and Romain Ntamack on the bench # GuinnessSixNations
While Les Bleus won a World Cup warm-up game 14 years ago at headquarters, they lost their last seven six-nation games in Twickenham.
“The goal is the victory on Saturday in England, which has not given us an inch of ground in front of the French since 2005.
Enter your email address
This field is required
Registration
« The stakes in this game and the immense challenge that awaited us, 2005 was a long way off.
» It has been 16 years since a French team did not win on English soil. Before every conversation ( about the Grand Slam) this game is especially great for this group and they will fully face the challenge that awaits us. «
The last meeting between the teams was on December 6th and Owen Farrell’s extra time gave England a 22:19 win in the Autumn Nations Cup final.
France had a notable win before Luke Cowan despite the lack of players because the top 14 clubs did not release them -Dickie finished the score with a late attempt.
This time it will be a stronger XV, with center Virimi Vakatawa back after a knee injury and Antonie Dupont, half of the Star Scrum.
Like Autumn Nations Cup also became the French Tournament interrupted. Back in November, there was an outbreak of Covid-19 cases in Fiji where Les Bleus was robbed of a device and this time their own coronavirus problems mean they haven’t played since February 14th.
Head coach Galthie insists that this will not affect preparation before he takes on an English team that have lost two of their last three games.
« We had to end the tournament last year and then we started again » said the 51-year-old regarding the suspension of the Six Nations 2020 at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
« And we had a new competition called Autumn Nations Cup, with sometimes restrictions and therefore for the team sheets.
The stakes in this game and the immense challenge that awaited us in 2005 was far away. It’s now been 16 years since a French team didn’t win on English soil. Raphael Ibanez
“Obviously we took a little break that we will call the episode. I think we are used to this type of event now. We try to come as good as possible. “
In addition to Vakatawa, Galthie makes three other changes, with Teddy Thomas being recalled and Romain Taofifenua replacing Bernard Le Roux, while Dylan Cretin is preferred to Anthony Jelonch.
France is without Arthur Vincent and Gabin Villiere but Romain Ntamack as one of two backs on the bench next to six strikers.
Belfast Telegraph
search
search
Belfast Telegraph is a member of the IPSO and subscribes to the editors’ code of conduct
Ipso
An INM website
© BelfastTelegraph.co.uk
Ref: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
