22 Oct: France v England - International Match Thread

[Wiltshire Rhino]

According to Wikipedia (assuming it's up to date), the BBC red button is channel 991 on Virgin Media.

Cheers for that Mr F. Game is now set to record.

[Hvy wg]

Federation published pictures of the new jersey!

Note the tricolour scapulary and Groupe Nicollin sponsor!

[thehullram]

Any team announced yet?

[Hvy wg]

Any team announced yet?

France ("probable team" updated) :

Gigot

Pala, Garcia, Duport, Arnaud

Robin, Barthau

Casty, Pelissier, Simon

Perez, Jullien

Bousquet

England ("probable team") :

Lomax

Hall, Percival, Watkins, McGillvary

Widdop, Gale

Graham, Hodgson, T.Burgess/Taylor

Ward, Whitehead

G.Burgess/Cooper

According to a French newspaper.

 

[The Daddy]

France ("probable team" updated) :

Gigot

Pala, Garcia, Duport, Arnaud

Robin, Barthau

Casty, Pelissier, Simon

Perez, Jullien

Bousquet

England ("probable team") :

Lomax

Hall, Percival, Watkins, McGillvary

Widdop, Gale

Graham, Hodgson, T.Burgess/Taylor

Ward, Whitehead

G.Burgess/Cooper

According to a French newspaper.

That team looks a bit better......still gonna get tonked though

[RICHARD OLLETT]

What sort of attendance can we expect for the game? The game is being played in a 17.5K capacity Stadium - hope the locals support the event and we can attract a five figure gate?

[Tex Evans Thigh]

To be fair France tend to get decent crowds for the home internationals, even when they aren't that competitive. We're crying out for a strong France we really are.

[EagleEyePie]

If France were able to pick more players from Catalans they'd be a slightly stronger prospect, although even then they'd struggle to really be competitive. If France is to become stronger then more French players need to play for other clubs in Super League and some need to take a risk and try to crack the NRL. All the talent concentrated at one club doesn't provide a strong national side. New Zealand have players at all NRL clubs as well as the Warriors, whilst plenty of young players come through the Warriors youth system and get opportunities at other NRL clubs and that increases the talent pool and increases the number of players competing and a high level.

[deluded pom?]

Federation published pictures of the new jersey!

Note the tricolour scapulary and Groupe Nicollin sponsor!

Errea.jpg

Is that background black or dark blue?

[roughyedspud]

Name a new england captain,someone thats not played for nearly 2 months...then don't select him for our only warm up game..

Thats a good start

*edit - im a forgetful ######*

[Spidey]

Name a new england captain,someone thats not played for nearly 2 months...then don't select him for our only warm up game..

Thats a good start

He's suspended

[Scubby]

Name a new england captain,someone thats not played for nearly 2 months...then don't select him for our only warm up game..

Thats a good start

 

Oops. Someone hasn't been paying attention. One game ban following last NRL game.

[DoubleD]

Absolute radio even mentioned James Graham being captain in place of the suspended Sam Burgess for the warm up game vs France. I can't remember when we had this much publicity for a match vs France, usually it goes under the radar

[roughyedspud]

Oops. Someone hasn't been paying attention. One game ban following last NRL game.

I bloody forgot..lol

[Farmduck]

Squad: Kevin Brown, George Burgess, Tom Burgess, Daryl Clark, Matt Cooper, Liam Farrell, Luke Gale, James Graham, Ryan Hall, Josh Hodgson, Jonny Lomax, Jermain McGillvary, Mark Percival, Stefan Ratchford, Scott Taylor, Stevie Ward, Kallum Watkins, Elliott Whitehead, Gareth Widdop.

 

 

Bennett’s priority is provide those members of his 24-man squad whose club commitments finished several weeks ago some much-needed game time.

“A bit of match fitness for the boys who haven’t played for about five weeks, that will be the main thrust of Saturday night,” Bennett said. “The guys from Warrington and Wigan probably won’t play. Everyone else needs the games. They have had more games than probably everyone else, so another week won’t hurt them being out.

[Hvy wg]

Is that background black or dark blue?

Seems dark blue to me.

[Farmduck]

Squad: Kevin Brown, George Burgess, Tom Burgess, Daryl Clark, Matt Cooper, Liam Farrell, Luke Gale, James Graham, Ryan Hall, Josh Hodgson, Jonny Lomax, Jermain McGillvary, Mark Percival, Stefan Ratchford, Scott Taylor, Stevie Ward, Kallum Watkins, Elliott Whitehead, Gareth Widdop.

 

The biggest shock in there was seeing Matt Cooper come out of retirement to play for England.

[DoubleD]

The biggest shock in there was seeing Matt Cooper come out of retirement to play for England.

Anything goes with these eligibility criteria

[barnyia]

Sounds like there should be a good crowd, it's great that it's on tv but a few people I know said they were going to the match but have now decided to stay home and watch it on tv, it is a 5 hour round trip for them!

I reckon there'll be atleast 12000 there,

The French seem to have changed mentality and are looking forward to the game and going all out to get something out of it,

Reports saying the players are really impressed with the new set up from the president down to the kit man!

The president said that he wants to make it a pleasure and a goal to play for France, I think the players are being put into better surroundings and being really looked after,

Seems the French rl is rebuilding little by little with the new president,

[Hvy wg]

The French seem to have changed mentality and are looking forward to the game and going all out to get something out of it,

 

If they have a good game, they win the heart of everyone back. 

They need, for their own sake and the fans sake, to erase that 84-4 shameful score. 

[audois]

Nice piece in yesterdays 'L'Independant' about William Barthau. Lad from the bush filling-out in the capital at London Broncos. They now have back-up of staff of 10 involved with a squad of twenty this weekend. All French too. A strong link with the Dragons very important as well as Toulouse Olympique and resolving issues with the English clubs with French players. I think they've turned a page here. In twelve months time hopefully with Fages-Albert in tandom and Escare, Navarete, Pelissier and Maria developing nicely along the East Lancs Road we may be seeing the dawn on a new era for the Tricolores. Fingers crossed!

[arcticchris]

I understand why he wants to just go with the players who have had a few weeks off. Just a shame as I hope to see a Williams and Gale halves pairing and getting some time against France would have been helpful.

[damp squib]

Nice piece in yesterdays 'L'Independant' about William Barthau. Lad from the bush filling-out in the capital at London Broncos. They now have back-up of staff of 10 involved with a squad of twenty this weekend. All French too. A strong link with the Dragons very important as well as Toulouse Olympique and resolving issues with the English clubs with French players. I think they've turned a page here. In twelve months time hopefully with Fages-Albert in tandom and Escare, Navarete, Pelissier and Maria developing nicely along the East Lancs Road we may be seeing the dawn on a new era for the Tricolores. Fingers crossed!

 

Is there any indication of a reconciliation between the management and Fages?

 

Also do you know if Escare's omission is based purely on form or is there another conflict? It seems a strange decision given France's weakness in the backs.

[newbe]

Any good bars in Avignon town centre

[John Rhino]

What sort of attendance can we expect for the game? The game is being played in a 17.5K capacity Stadium - hope the locals support the event and we can attract a five figure gate?

And the English