Le Crunch, the match between England and France, is always the highlight of the Six Nations, even if France have struggled in recent years. This weekend’s match, the final one of the competition, sees France going for the Grand Slam for the first time since 2010. They meet an England team smarting from a record defeat to Ireland last time out, despite the obvious mitigation of playing almost the entire game with 14 men after Charlie Ewels headbutted James Ryan.
This fixture always has a lot of feeling with the general animosity that exists between both sets of players, most notoriously described by former French loose forward Imanol Harinordoquy.
Barely a month into my gap year in 2003, I came across an article in the Independent, under the headline “I despise England”. This caught my attention, considering the banter I was on the end of after the Boks 53 – 3 mauling at the hands of the English 3 months previously.
The then 22-year-old Harinordoquy said: “The only memories I have of England and the English are unpleasant ones. As far as the English are concerned, I have decided to adopt the same attitude as them: I despise them as much as they despise everybody else. And as long as we beat England I wouldn’t mind if we lost every other game in the Six Nations.”
His was a philosophy I could totally get behind.
He went on to say, “They are so chauvinistic and arrogant. They look down on everybody and in one particular under-21s game I found the attitude of the players and spectators intolerable.” I had personal experience of these in my time in England and to this day rejoice in any England defeat, no matter the sport!
The match in Paris on the weekend promises to be an enthralling one, where England could act as kingmakers if Ireland beat Scotland and they get the better of Les Bleus. France have come a long way in the last couple of seasons and following on from their dismantling on the All Blacks in November, they are top of the Six Nations log, having only been tested last time out against Wales in Cardiff. Despite not playing near their best, they were able to grind out a win, based on immaculate defence, superbly marshalled by their defence coach Shaun Edwards. The French now have a hard edge to add to their substantial Gallic flair.
Eddie Jones said earlier in the week that no team in the world has no chinks in their armour, but this French team have hardly any.
It begins with their massive pack. Loosehead Cyril Baille can handle like a centre and is as mobile. Julien Marchand acts an extra loose forward and could be seen as the principal jackal threat at the breakdown.
Locking the scrum, are two supreme athletes, Cameron Woki and Paul Willemse. Former South African u/20 World Cup winner Willemse carries almost harder than any tight forward in world rugby and being cleaned out by him at the ruck would be one of the worst things to experience on a rugby field.
Their loose trio is well balanced too, with ball players across the 3 positions. Gregory Alldritt, being my pick of the bunch. The La Rochelle No. 8 is an all-court player, who drives this behemoth pack around the park.
Their halfbacks are world class! Current World Player of the Year Antoine Dupont runs harder than most forwards, with a devastating fend which he employs on forwards and backs alike. Outside him, Romain Ntamack has all the skills one would wish and has pace too.
Their centres continue the world class theme, with the strength and running power of Jonathan Danty, well supported by the finesse of Gael Fickou. Two devastating runners, either over or around you. Their wings have pace aplenty and excellent finishing skills. Gabin Villiere has proved a revelation this championship and Damien Penaud is always excellent, for club and country. His try against Scotland at Murrayfield earlier in the campaign a real highlight.
To round off their side, the unerring Melvyn Jaminet is solid under the high ball and kicks all his goals.
I have to admit, I love this French team and the way they play. They are coached and managed by Fabien Galthie and Rafa Ibanez respectively, two icons of my rugby upbringing.
What of England? They were gallant losers last weekend, playing basically the entire game with 14 men, even if the man they lost is the one they would have chosen. It is the most discernable impact Ewels has made on a game, for club or country.
Once again Eddie Jones has tried to be clever in his team selection, picking Freddie Steward, a fullback, on the right wing and bringing in the fragile George Furbank into the last line of defence. I cannot wait for a French counterattack to expose him on defence. It is also instructive that he has brought back Ben Youngs at the expense of Harry Randall, seemingly with a view to play a more structured and pressure game, based on trying to outkick France.
The England attack, while much spoken about, has not been seen in this championship. Marcus Smith kicked everything last week, perhaps understandably considering the circumstances, but the New England referred to in the media has not borne much fruit.
Lose and England come 5th for the second season running, which considering how hopeless Italy are, effectively means last. The pressure would ratchet up on Eddie Jones and for all his bravado and mind games, he seems to have bitten off more than he can chew in taking on a second RWC cycle.
In saying all this, England will have plenty of motivation to right this campaign’s wrongs and upset the French at the ground that will hold the RWC final next year. England will be able to play without pressure as they cannot win the championship anymore and will be determined not to finish as also-rans, just 18 months out from the next World Cup.
Whatever happens (pleading for a French win), I cannot wait to see this French side in the flesh in the opening game of RWC 2023 vs the All Blacks next year, at a packed Stade de France.