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'They were all coming back just hating it, it was just an absolute slog but I get a feeling this is different now'

(Photo by Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP via Getty Images)

Ex-England international Nick Abendanon is predicting great things for France under Fabien Galthie. The 34-year-old, who was twice capped by England in 2007, is now playing at Pro D2 Vannes after numerous years starring in the Clermont team that consistently challenged for Top 14 and European titles.  

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France have not won a Six Nations title since 2010, a famine during which time current champions England have collected four titles and Ireland and Wales have won three championships apiece. 

However, last season’s second-place finish featuring four wins from five matches was the best season for France since their Grand Slam eleven years ago and Abendanon has got a sense that things are very different under Galthie compared to previous regimes under the likes of Jacques Brunel, Guy Noves and Philippe Saint-Andre.  

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Jamie Ritchie and George North guest on RugbyPass Offload

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Jamie Ritchie and George North guest on RugbyPass Offload

There is a lot of youth coming through and they have kept a good core of that team for a couple of years,” said Abendanon to RugbyPass ahead of France’s round two game on Sunday away to Ireland following their comprehensive opening weekend win away to Italy.   

“They have got some serious threats. (Antoine) Dupont is probably the best nine in the world at the moment and when he is on form that whole backline and forward pack, they get over the line and they just click. (Charles) Ollivon as well, the captain, is an unbelievable workhorse. 

“It just seems like they are enjoying their rugby again. You talked to a lot of the French guys when I was at Clermont about going to camps and they were all coming back just hating it, they were drained and it was just an absolute slog but I get a feeling that this is different now. They actually enjoy going over there to train and be together as a team – and that is definitely showing in the way they are playing.”

Asked about the influence of Galthie, who took charge last year and has a record so far of eight wins in ten matches, Abendanon added: “It is interesting, I have heard some horror stories about him as well but he has proven himself with different clubs in the past and it seems like he has got a good formula in place with the coaches he has got around him. 

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“The French have always got a big budget so he has got everything at his disposal to make that team as successful as England have become under Eddie Jones. If they keep that core group of the players in that team together for the few years they are going to be definitely one of the favourites going into the World Cup in France.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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