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#360Fans: England vs France Six Nations – UAE Supporters Preview

Andrew Binner and Niall McCague

17:24 19/03/2016

England travel to France in search of a first Grand Slam in 13 years and in their way stand a France side who will provide formidable opponents in Paris.

Dubai-based residents from each country are on hand to provide a preview of each team ahead of ‘le crunch’.

Do you agree or have they missed the mark? Use #360Fans to share with us your thoughts.

MARC BENOISTE (ABU DHABI FRENCH) – FRANCE

THOUGHTS: England may have a Grand Slam in the bag but will still fear travelling to France as there is no team that Les Bleus would rather beat more, regardless of the situation.

I expect France to stick to their usual gameplan of wearing down the opposition with brute physicality before trying to release their dangerous backs, roared on by a partisan home crowd. If England can weather an early onslaught then they will feel confident of winning, but with so much on the line, I have no doubt that France will produce their best performance of the tournament.

FRANCE LINE-UP: 15-Scott Spedding, 14-Wesley Fofana, 13-Gael Fickou, 12-Maxime Mermoz, 11-Virimi Vakatawa, 10-Francois Trinh-Duc, 9-Maxime Machenaud; 1-Jefferson Poirot, 2-Guilhem Guirado (captain), 3-Rabah Slimani, 4-Alexandre Flanquart, 5-Yoann Maestri, 6-Damien Chouly, 7-Bernard Le Roux, 8-Loann Goujon

PREDICTION:
France to win 20-18.

BEN ROTHWELL (DUBAI WASPS) – ENGLAND

ENGLAND LINE-UP: 15-Mike Brown, 14-Anthony Watson, 13-Jonathan Joseph, 12-Owen Farrell, 11-Jack Nowell,10-George Ford, 9-Danny Care; 1-Mako Vunipola, 2-Dylan Hartley (captain), 3-Dan Cole, 4-Maro Itoje, 5-George Kruis, 6-Chris Robshaw, 7-James Haskell, 8-Billy Vunipola

PREDICTION: 36-21 to England.

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