France RL - what hope is there?

ancientnloyal · Post by **ancientnloyal** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 9:36 pm

Another annual drubbing of France against an English side who haven't really trained a lot together etc... and we score 60. If they are joining the tri-nations I fear the aussies will put 100 on them.

Appointing Bobby Goulding, ex-Rochdale coach, is a farce... they have no hope. A full strength and well drilled England will win the game within 20 minutes next time. Another french SL team the answer? It is basically, or could be seen as, a weakened Catalans team that played.

josie andrews · Post by **josie andrews** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 10:09 pm

ancientnloyal wrote:Another annual drubbing of France against an English side who haven't really trained a lot together etc... and we score 60. If they are joining the tri-nations I fear the aussies will put 100 on them.

Appointing Bobby Goulding, ex-Rochdale coach, is a farce... they have no hope. A full strength and well drilled England will win the game within 20 minutes next time. Another french SL team the answer? It is basically, or could be seen as, a weakened Catalans team that played.

They aren't in the four nations this time, they lost their place to Papua New Guinea

ancientnloyal · Post by **ancientnloyal** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 10:33 pm

I know but when they do step up to that they will be lambs to the slaughter, just after being r**** by the welsh

cpwigan · Post by **cpwigan** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 11:15 pm

Not playing them is not an option IMO. We are on the up but we still have an obligation to develop the game internationally. Hence, France can only learn by playing v such opposition.

GeoffN · Post by **GeoffN** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 12:04 am

cpwigan wrote:Not playing them is not an option IMO. We are on the up but we still have an obligation to develop the game internationally. Hence, France can only learn by playing v such opposition.

I'm not convinced. I think they'd be better off playing teams nearer their own level - I don't see today's game benefitted either side, really.

England need to play stronger opposition to prepare them for the NZ and Aus games, and France need to play sides they have a realistic chance of beating, or at least competing with.

If we are going to keep the England v France fixture, we should select more youngsters, rather than our strongest side. That would help France as well as help develop our future England stars.

cpwigan · Post by **cpwigan** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 12:21 am

France given their low number of elite players competed for long periods but were incredibly weak out wide. I concur they need more international fixtures at a similar level and they will get that at the end of the season.

However, we have suffered similarly at the hands of Aus and periodically NZ. Should they have done what some are advocating we do and dump us? We had an even worse mid season defeat to Aus than France sufferd today several years ago when we put ourselves in a similar position.

cpwigan · Post by **cpwigan** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 1:24 am

What I would add is that you only improve by being stretched. The only benefit for England is as a set period when England can come together as a squad etc and train together but playing wise over than familiarity with systems etc very little is gained. For France far more is gained playing wise.

GeoffN · Post by **GeoffN** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 1:51 am

cpwigan wrote:What I would add is that you only improve by being stretched. The only benefit for England is as a set period when England can come together as a squad etc and train together but playing wise over than familiarity with systems etc very little is gained. For France far more is gained playing wise.

That's my point re England. We should be playing a "rest of SL" side, instead of France.

It's very easy to imagine a team that would stretch us, and would be much better preparation for playing NZ or Aus.

Start with a backline of:
Webb
Roberts
Gidley
King
Richards
(for example)
and it's already looking more like what we'll face down under...

cpwigan · Post by **cpwigan** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 8:31 am

I don't think the RFL can afford to have two such 'international' games and if it was added then we would get the usual call, players play too many games.

ancientnloyal · Post by **ancientnloyal** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 8:53 am

France don't have a large pool of talent to choose from... what, Catalan and Toulouse? Their french league is on a par with NL2 over here and players are called up from Pia, Lezignan etc... It's a complete miss-match. Either introduce another french SL team (expand the league to 16) or at least get a better coach Goulding is worse than Noble after losing at home to huddersfield on that funny night

France RL - what hope is there?

France RL - what hope is there?

Re: France RL - what hope is there?

Re: France RL - what hope is there?

Re: France RL - what hope is there?

Re: France RL - what hope is there?

Re: France RL - what hope is there?

Re: France RL - what hope is there?

Re: France RL - what hope is there?

Re: France RL - what hope is there?

Re: France RL - what hope is there?