England Vs. France: Key Battles In 2025's 'Le Crunch' Six Nations Showdown
England Vs. France: Key Battles In 2025's 'Le Crunch' Six Nations Showdown
England faces France in the 2025 Six Nations' 'Le Crunch.' Key battles, bold selections and defensive tactics could decide this fierce rugby rivalry.
Dubbed "Le Crunch," the annual showdown between England and France has produced some of rugby's most iconic moments.
Few fixtures in the sport’s history have been as fierce as the 1992 encounter, which saw England dominate its rivals in a bruising 27-13 victory.
But perhaps even more infamous was their Rugby World Cup quarterfinal clash the year prior, a battle that was less about skill and more a reminder of centuries of hostility between the two nations.
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In that 1991 meeting at Parc des Princes, England edged a war of attrition, a contest that saw two red cards, a yellow and winger Nigel Heslop knocked unconscious.
The match bore striking similarities to the Five Nations Grand Slam decider earlier that year, where England had again bested France, before going on to defeat Scotland.
However, their World Cup run ultimately ended in heartbreak against Australia in the final.
Fast forward to 2025, and while the off-the-ball scuffles may have toned down, the intensity between these two sides remains undiminished.
France enters the fixture as a co-favorite for the Six Nations title alongside Ireland, while England still is searching for its identity following a Round 1 loss in Dublin.
The contrast in fortunes since their last meeting at Twickenham in 2023 could not be starker.
That day, France dismantled England 53-10 in what was a historically bad performance from the men in white.
While Les Bleus finished second to Ireland in that year’s Six Nations, England had the last laugh, navigating the easier side of the World Cup draw to claim third place. Ironically, both teams fell one point short against eventual champion South Africa.
Since then, France has recovered from a shaky 2024 campaign - one that saw it lose at home to Ireland, draw with Italy and scrape past England.
A dominant November test series, bolstered by the return of talisman Antoine Dupont, has Les Bleus back in peak form.
England, meanwhile, appears far removed from the side that finished last year’s Six Nations with wins over Ireland and close battles against France and New Zealand.
Yet, in "Le Crunch," nothing is ever certain. Here are three key factors that could decide this weekend’s clash:
Borthwick Rolls The Dice
England head coach Steve Borthwick has made his boldest selection call yet, shifting Marcus Smith from fly-half to fullback to accommodate Northampton’s Fin Smith at No. 10.
On paper, this move offers England more structure in attack, as Fin Smith provides a steady hand at fly-half, while Marcus Smith operates as a second distributor and strike runner.
However, the selection raises defensive concerns.
By removing Freddie Stewart, England loses its most reliable aerial presence, leaving Marcus Smith to deal with the high-ball threat posed by France’s Damian Penaud (6-foot-4) and Louis Bielle-Biarrey (6-foot-1).
Additionally, England’s backline leadership remains a question.
The dynamic between Smith and Farrell at 10 and 12 often led to a stifling of both players’ games, and while Fin Smith is less domineering than Farrell, the pecking order in England’s attack remains unclear.
Perhaps the biggest test for Marcus Smith will be handling the physicality of France’s back three.
While his commitment is unquestionable, his ability to contain the power and pace of Penaud, Pierre-Louis Barassi and others will be tested.
France’s Halfback Shift
France has its own selection dilemmas, most notably at fly-half, where Romain Ntamack’s suspension leaves a void.
Stepping in is Mathieu Jalibert, the mercurial talent who departed the French camp in frustration last November after missing out on selection.
Jalibert’s inclusion alters France’s attacking approach.
Unlike Ntamack, who provides physicality in both attack and defense, Jalibert is a creative playmaker with a weaker defensive presence. This presents England with an opportunity to target him, particularly given the defensive aggression they showed against Ireland.
However, France’s attack still will flow through Antoine Dupont, which raises the question of how much control Jalibert will actually have.
If England can disrupt Dupont’s rhythm at the breakdown, it may be able to limit Jalibert’s influence.
The Defensive Battle
Both teams placed significant emphasis on the breakdown in Round 1, though their strategies differed.
France allowed Wales to make early carries before targeting isolated ball carriers, whereas England took an aggressive approach, deploying three natural poachers in Tom Curry, Ben Curry and Ben Earl.
Borthwick has again opted for two fetchers in Tom Curry and Earl, but he has added Tom Willis at No. 8 for additional ball-carrying power. Managing their defensive energy will be crucial, as England’s breakdown intensity faded in the second half against Ireland.
Another defensive concern for England is its wide-channel coverage.
Against Ireland, the decision to have their halfbacks defending on the wings was exploited by the power of James Lowe and Bundee Aki.
France presents a similar threat, with François Cros, Paul Boudehent and Gregory Alldritt offering physicality and line-out versatility.
England’s strategy of avoiding contesting the French line-out, aside from Maro Itoje’s efforts, could prove costly given France’s ability to move the ball wide quickly.
The Verdict
While France enters as clear favorite, "Le Crunch" has a history of unpredictability.
England’s selection gambles could either unlock a new attacking dimension or expose them to France’s relentless physicality. Meanwhile, France’s reshuffled backline offers England a rare defensive opportunity.
Ultimately, the battle at the breakdown, the aerial duel and the effectiveness of England’s defensive adjustments will determine whether they can spring an upset or if France will continue its dominant form.
For us, France will have too much explosive power for England and likely will get on top at set-piece time. France by 12.
England And France Rosters
England
15 Marcus Smith, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Tom Willis, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Tom Curry, 5 George Martin, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Ben Curry, 22 Henry Randall, 23 Elliot Daly.
France
15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Grégory Alldritt, 7 Paul Boudehent, 6 François Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Alexandre Roumat, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Hugo Auradou, 20 Mickaël Guillard, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Émilien Gailleton
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