France and England are gearing up for an exciting showdown in the Men’s Six Nations tournament this weekend. The highly anticipated match is set to take place on Saturday, 8 February at 16:45 GMT at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham. Fans can catch all the action by tuning in to BBC Radio 5 Live or BBC Sounds, or by following live text commentary and highlights on the BBC Sport website and app.
In a surprising turn of events, France has made some significant changes to their lineup for the upcoming clash against England. Fly-half Matthieu Jalibert has been called up to replace the suspended Romain Ntamack, who was banned after being sent off for a tackle to the head of his opponent in France’s previous match against Wales. Joining Jalibert in the lineup is Damian Penaud, a seasoned player with an impressive record of 36 tries in 53 appearances for his country. Penaud returns to the wing after recovering from a toe injury, and he is just two scores away from breaking Serge Blanco’s France try-scoring record.
Theo Attissogbe, who made a significant impact in the win over Wales, unfortunately drops out of the squad. However, the rest of France’s matchday squad remains unchanged, with captain Antoine Dupont leading the team from the scrum-half position. Emilien Gailleton, a center who has an interesting backstory of being born in Croydon just 15 miles from Twickenham before moving to France as a toddler, is among the replacements for the upcoming match.
France is no stranger to playing without Ntamack, who missed a considerable amount of Test rugby due to a serious knee injury. During his absence, Jalibert stepped up to the plate and showcased his skills at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Despite some lineup changes and adjustments, coach Fabien Galthie remains confident in his team’s abilities and the chemistry among the players.
On the other side of the pitch, England is gearing up to announce their team for the match, with Fin Smith expected to take on the role of fly-half. Marcus Smith, typically a number 10 player, is anticipated to shift to the backfield and play as a full-back. The stage is set for an intense battle between these two rugby powerhouses, and fans are eager to see how the match will unfold.
As the teams prepare to face off on the field, the anticipation and excitement are palpable. With both sides making strategic lineup changes and adjustments, the outcome of the match remains uncertain. One thing is for sure – rugby fans around the world are in for a thrilling showdown between two formidable opponents. Stay tuned for more updates and in-depth coverage of the France vs. England matchup in the upcoming Men’s Six Nations tournament.
