Under the weather: James Haskell
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England coach Stuart Lancaster is not falling into the trap of underestimating France ahead of Saturday's Six Nations clash at Twickenham.
France will travel across the Channel on the back of successive defeats to Italy and Wales that have triggered heavy criticism of coach Philippe Saint-André.
However, Lancaster refused to write off the French and insisted they remain formidable opposition.
"If you look at their performances in the autumn, the three wins over Samoa, Argentina and Australia show they are not a bad side," said the England coach on Monday.
"They beat Australia 33-6 and Australia then beat us. While we'll take something out of their first two Six Nations games, we'll also take something out of those autumn internationals and make sure we're ready for them."
England fly-half Toby Flood and flanker James Haskell missed training on Monday because of a tight calf and 'flu respectively.
Lancaster is hopeful that loose forward Ben Morgan will recover from his ankle injury in time to play some part in the Six Nations.
Morgan was injured in England's victory over Scotland in the opening round of fixtures and has been ruled out for this weekend's games, but Lancaster believes the Gloucester number eight could return against Italy on March 10.
The 23-year-old has been joined on the sidelines by Gloucester fly-half Freddie Burns, who is struggling with a knee injury, and Lancaster revealed he would also miss the France match.
"Morgan and Burns are making slow progress," Lancaster added.
"Freddie is further down the line, but they won't play this weekend so it will be another week or so.
"Ben will be fine. It's an ankle injury similar to the one Manu Tuilagi had. Manu was out for four or five weeks and Ben will be about the same.
"He wants to get himself right so he can push for selection against Italy."
Meanwhile, centre Jonathan Joseph has been ruled out for two weeks with a toe injury, but full-back Ben Foden has made good progress in his battle with ankle damage and will play for Northampton against Bath on Saturday.
Comments
APV1 says...
@ TVaddict - we're playing Saints this weekend and Foden was mentioned. That's where.
Posted 13:36 19th February 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
you'd have to be a raving idiot to write off france. However don't fixate on there unpredictability, just concentrate on getting your own house in order.
Posted 10:04 19th February 2013
gozar2013 says...
I think England will win this comfortably. Whilst Saint Andre is in charge the only way for France is down. He continually picks players out of position, does not pick the best players available for France, doesn't pick any good young players coming through, then he picks a South African boorn flanker, when there are plenty of good young French flankers available to pick from. What does that do for the motivation and morale of any young French player, trying to get into the French side. I wouldnt pick Basteraud as a run on centre either, he would be great coming of the bench creating havoc, much like chabal did. Michalak is also past his best and France should be looking at picking some youth so a decent side can be built for the 2015 world cup. Anyway I Hope Saint Andre is given his marching orders after the six nations.
Posted 03:21 19th February 2013
PREEST says...
I hate it when coaches pick players out of position. Some of the French players have expressed frustraion (Fofana on the wing not getting his hands on the ball). This is the type of coaching that makes teams lose.
Think back to when silly John Hart picked the best attacking full back in the world, Christian Cullen, at centre for the 1999 RWC campaign for the All Blacks. It disrupted the whole team and the ABs had a shocking year (not just bombing out of RWC 99 and finishing 4th).
The players in a squad are used to seeing, and playing with each other in certain positions. Move them around and disrupt the team dynamic and ultimately the team breaks down. PSA needs to get this. You can't mix and match as you please at international level, the players are chosen because the specialize in certain positions.
France will loose again if this nut job of a coach keeps with his selection choices.
Posted 23:36 18th February 2013
LondonWasp says...
i expect france to come at us with a vengence. france will be a completely different animal.
Posted 23:30 18th February 2013
TVaddict says...
Where has the 'Foden vs Bendy' debate come from? I don't see why Lancaster will change his 23 except maybe (hopefully) Vunipola in for Waldrom. Other than that it's more like who deserves to be in the starting line-up or on the bench. Hartley vs Youngs, Launchbury vs Lawes, Haskell vs a genuine 8, Care vs Youngs, Twelvetrees vs Barritt vs Tuilagi. Personally I'd go for exactly the same starting XV and bench except Vunipola instead of Waldrom.
Posted 22:36 18th February 2013
Frooschman says...
On current form, I'd pick Brown at 15. With Twelvetrees at inside the need for Goode at 15 is diminished and Brown brings far more go forward without compromising the last line of defence. Over the long-term I still suspect Foden is the England 15. The old argument that form is temporary but class is permanent springs to mind.
Posted 20:55 18th February 2013
APV1 says...
@ Warrior7 - most of the time I'd agree with you. but Foden has been injured and out of form (chicken or egg, I don't know)... And Bendy wasn't too bad on Saturday in defence.
I'd still pick Mike "Mr Angry" Brown over them both.
Posted 18:14 18th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
APV1: but against France you have to go with Fodens track record. He's a big game player. I agree this season Bendy has been better. Appears he's slipped below Daily now though.
My worry is France will do what we did after two losses. Ie thrash us with a dream game. Not because that's so French but because good teams benefit from such frustration of losing games they should have won. However...
Posted 18:04 18th February 2013
chubbylugs says...
would it be rude to say that the french cliche "who knows which team will turn up" is not appropriate in the current tense. they just look a bit of a shambles all round
PSA is a on a thin wicket and the players dont seem interested. the top 14 is a bigger priority outside paris
Posted 17:52 18th February 2013
Warrior7 says...
@ APV1 - Abendanon, for all his attacking ability is a terrible defender, and I don't think he has the boot for international rugby, therefore I'de back Foden everytime.
But I can't say Abendanon ever plays badly when Wuss come to the Wreck to get thrashed!
Posted 17:41 18th February 2013
APV1 says...
@ Frooschman - and Foden vs Bendy... In current form I'd back Bendy.
Posted 16:45 18th February 2013
Frooschman says...
All good sensible stuff. And we can certainly assume that the French will be up for upsetting the English apple cart. But doesn't this all really hinge on whether PSA pulls his head out of the sand and picks the right players in the right position? If he picks Michalak at ten and Fofana on the wing again I may have to go very long England!
Posted 16:17 18th February 2013