England unchanged for semi-final versus France
England coach Brian Ashton has stayed true to the team that beat Australia for Saturday’s World Cup semi-final against France in Paris. The game which kicks off at 2000 BST will decide which Northern Hemisphere side will carry the flag into the Rugby World Cup final.
Centre Andy Farrell, is fit but his stand-in Mike Catt keeps his place, Toby Flood is also on the bench so Farrell is out of the 22. The only scare had been flanker Lewis Moody who has recovered from a sore shoulder well enough to play.
England Team V France
Backs: Robinson, Sackey, Tait, Catt, Lewsey, Wilkinson, Gomarsall.
Forwards: Sheridan, Regan, Vickery (C), Shaw, Kay, Corry, Moody, Easter.
Replacements: Chuter, Stevens, Dallaglio, Worsley, Richards, Flood, Hipkiss.
Jonathan Hodgkins said,
October 10, 2007 @ 2:18 pm
Best to leave Farrel out.Talk of his big match temperment could be that he is a not always right but never in doubt type. This could block intimidate the confidence of younger players like Tait. Catts confidence seems more inspiring to his team mates.
Backrow looks balanced strength from Corry and Easter ( shades of a lumbering Dean Richards? ) and Lewis Moody almost looks like a genuine openside putting himself about at pace and raising the tempo of the game.You cant get a game going without a quick cat amongst the piogeons No 7. Lets hope Worsley and Dallaglio aren’t needed till the very end.
Peter said,
October 10, 2007 @ 2:49 pm
Spot on Jonathan, must admit I would like to see Moody at 6 and Rees at 7. But perhaps another day!
Joe King said,
October 12, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
Johnathan,
I quite agree about Farrell. He has not really shown himself to be a great player in this world cup and constantly seemed to be the weak link in the 3Qs. Gomarsall has played exceptionally well at scrum-half and the left-right combination of Catt and Wilko is a wise move. Not sure how long Catt will be on the field, but I’m sure he will continue to prove that he is a fantastic player - even if he is not quite fit enough to play the full 80. This is looking to be a corking match, whichever way it goes. The English side has found some much needed form and look to be playing as a team, rather than as 15 individuals and the French look as determined and fiery as ever. Chabal is going to be a major threat when he is brought on - probably some way into the second half when England’s forwards are flagging and I hope that England get the chance to bury the match before that happens.
Diarmid said,
October 12, 2007 @ 2:07 pm
Joe,
Couldn’t agree more about needing to bury the match before Chabal comes on: England’s forwards are a pretty mighty bunch, but there’s surely some Q’s over their fitness? If England can control the forward game early on and prevent the French from feeding the ball out to their back line, then I reckon they’re in with a good shout. But if they leave it too late, then I reckon the French forwards are gonna get the upper hand on any set pieces going and put England in real trouble. If England can build on he great performance of their semi, then I doubt that even the French with their tails up can stop them - might need a complete re-think if they make it through to the final though! I tipped SA from the start, and so far I’m right on the money!
mark said,
October 13, 2007 @ 8:39 am
i agree with your comments on south africa being the form team and i dont believe the pumas will have a lot of answers to their questions and this will lead to a 1 sided result possibly a 30-40 point rout in s.a. favour but i hope they may give some injury worries for when they play england in the final.
COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!