ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Friday Jan 31, 2020

Jones and Galthié go head-to-head in the media while SQUIDGE weighs in ahead of 'Le Crunch'

This weekend’s 6 Nations clash between France and England is perhaps the most eagerly anticipated in recent years, and the two coaching set-ups have been firing missiles towards the other ahead of “Le Crunch”.

ADVERTISEMENT

England head coach Eddie Jones kicked things off in typical Eddie Jones fashion by claiming that France’s vastly changed squad may already be on the back foot due to their lack of physical tests at club and age level.

Jones said: “Test match rugby requires experience and France have decided not to take experience in, they’ve gone with youth. And they might be wrong, they might be right.

“We don’t know but it’s going to test those young players because they will have never have played against a brutal physicality and intensity that we are going to play with on Sunday.”

When quizzed about this in their own press conference, French coaches Fabien Galthié and Raphaël Ibañez not only refuted Jones’ claims but hit back in style.

“On this concept of physical violence, it’s…interesting,” Ibañez told French media.

“But we must remember that the English coach and us have one thing in common, we’re all in the stands. And it’s very easy to say things [like that] when you are in the stands.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Galthié was equally unfazed by Jones’ teasing and added: “we’ve been in rugby for nearly 30 years and we are used to hearing these sorts of little phrases. They have promised physicality and it’s up to them to keep that [promise].”

RELATED: The French rugby team have selected an incredible backline that could defeat England

All talk?

There’s no doubt that a lot of what Jones says in his press conferences is delivered with the intention of causing a stir, whether for the opposition, the media or simply for Jones’ own enjoyment. But there is something in what he says about the inexperience, if not the physicality element.

Anyone who has watched a second division French league (Pro D2) or even a lower league Féderale match will testify that physicality is definitely not lacking for most players. But the cut and thrust of international Test rugby is the part that is missing from the new squad.

That’s not to say that the French are not ready, and a lot of what Galthié and Ibañez reiterate in their dealings with the press focuses on the development of the youth ahead of their own World Cup in 2023.

England on the other hand, experienced the same thing back in 2012 when Stuart Lancaster rang wholesale changes to the previous 2011 World Cup squad, giving the likes of Owen Farrell, Billy Vunipola and Chris Robshaw the opportunity to develop.

ADVERTISEMENT

France is however, a different kettle of fish of course, but as Squidge Rugby brilliantly explains in this video below, 2020 could well be a turning point.

Related Articles

  • 42 WEEKS AGO

    Montage of HUGE hits and brilliant tries...

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    Ellis Genge puts on his boxing gloves ready...

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    Crazy scenes as player deliberately kicks...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Jack Crowley drops the ball on dime for brilliant Munster try in URC Final

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    WATCH: World class offload from James O’Connor Leads To Long Range Reds Try

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Leinster up and running with two incredible tries inside the first five minutes

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Chiefs Score The “Best Team Try” In Super Rugby History

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    La Rochelle centre Seuteni produces other worldly offload in dominant victory

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 5 DAYS AGO

    Watch: Cheslin Kolbe Dominates Sebastian Cancelliere with back-to-back big tackles

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Ben Curry's World Cup hopes dashed as he becomes the latest victim of the crocodile roll

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Australian rugby player banned for 5 years after assaulting referee

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Anthony Watson comes within seconds of a Tuilagi haymaker

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    South African Panel Debate Apparent ‘Clean Cut’ Red Card In Interesting Debate

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Silly Skill From Toulouse Fullback Highlights French Confidence

  • 14 WEEKS AGO

    Ardie Savea Moment Of Magic In Super Rugby Aotearoa

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    'Armchair athletes' berate Arundell's seriously impressive bench press

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    Worcester Warriors - The End

  • 17 WEEKS AGO

    Sevens magic as 'headed' try brings stadium to its feet

View All

Funnies

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    WATCH: La Rochelle Players Gate Crash O’Gara Interview

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    WATCH: Stade Rochelais Coaches With All-Time Coaches Box Celebration

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Stephen Jones’s deleted rugby 7s article leads to hilarious wikipedia update

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Watch: DHL Stormers Celebrate Munster Victory In Style

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Referee brands players 'clowns' in hilarious grassroots clip

View All

Amateur

  • 20 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 20 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 1 DAY AGO

    John Afoa breaks record on return to Super Rugby

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Harry Potter to ‘disapparate’ to Australia

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    Steve Hansen makes statement following Folau selection

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    O'Gara gives honest response on Ireland job in passionate interview

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Australian rugby player banned for 5 years after assaulting referee

View All