So, what predictions for today? France have made an un-enforced change in their half-back pairing as Parra and Trinh-Duc appear to have been deemed too ineffectual against Ireland last week. It's a brave call from Saint-Andre but I'm sure he has his reasons for bringing in DuPuy and Beauxis.
England were unchanged but apparently Strettle has picked up an injury late on so is replaced by Sharples, whom I believe is making his debut.
I hope England can play with the same flair, belief, passion and intensity that they did against Wales last week. France IMHO haven't impressed that much in this campaign, though playing at the Stade de France usually gives them an edge, as it does most home teams.
I like Lancaster, he's obvioulsy got England playing well and playing for each other, to the extent that he has earned a crack at the job full-time. Farrell has been a revelation, nothing appears to faze him and I expect him to have another good game today.
I'm going to stick my neck out and say England by 5 points.
What a fantastic game of rugby and a well deserved victory for England. Oddly enough Farrell didn't quite repeat his form from the Wales game but he was solid none the less.
Best game of the tournament to watch so far, spoiled only by the Ref.
I seem to remember having issues with him last year. He can't ref a scrum, the two "deliberate" knock ons (one from each team) were abysmal.
All that aside, makes for a good three matches for next week.
Wow - missed the middle third as I was at my sister's for lunch and she got a call just after the Foden try that her partner's 96 year old mother had died. He was out at his company and so I cleared out before he got back to give them the space - just in time to see the final 4 minutes of the rearguard action when Sharples was off and to see that sublime Croft try.
A glass of Croft's Port to be raised to the boys in white this evening!
What a prat he is - 'referee superstar' is by definition an oxymoron.
Perhaps someone could point out to Monsieur Rolland that people pay to watch the players, not the referee, and that a good ref is as close to invisible as possible.
When will the IRB recognise that when Alain Rolland referees , he's as good as the French 16th man .... Time after time after time he makes appalling decisions at critical moments of the game. Fortunately today England overcame both the French and Rolland ... His French father will be disappointed in him !
Best side won .. Just , despite Rolland.