Six Nations - Lievremont 'amazed' by England ill discipline

Eurosport - Wed, 11 Mar 16:23:00 2009

France coach Marc Lievremont has said he was amazed by England's lack of discipline under manager Martin Johnson.

RUGBY 2009 6 Nations France Marc Lievremont - 0

"To see England punished by 10 yellow cards in their last four games is something that hasn't been seen before. I'm amazed more so because it's England," Lievremont said after naming his starting side for the England clash in the Six Nations at Twickenham on Sunday.

"I hope (referee) Stuart Dickinson will be as intransigent as Mark Lawrence was in France's victory against Wales on February 27. Referees are already under pressure from the English side and I hope he will not give in to that pressure," he added.

Johnson has threatened to come down hard on the miscreants and Lievremont said he had told his players to beware of an England backlash after consecutive defeats to Wales and Ireland.

"I dread facing an English side whose pride has been hurt. They have lost twice in three games but they competed with the Irish and the Welsh until the end and only lost by a few points," he said.

The French coach said that the return of prop Lionel Faure and lock Jerome Thion and the switch of Sebastien Chabal from second to backrow would give more bulk to his starting line-up to face an English pack "with a lot of density".

"We expect England to play their usual direct and physical game," he said.

"As always we'll have to adapt to the opponent but we have no intention of playing the English way. We want to play our own game."

Reuters

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  1. If the only way you can beat sides is to spoil then­ you'd better be good at it. England aren't and­ that's where the indiscipline comes from. As for­ referrees being under pressure from England, well­ that's just a laughable statement. Both Wales and­ Ireland were keen to point out to their respective­ refferees that the English should be watched for­ attempts to kill the ball. Both sides were told, in no­ uncertain terms, that the games will be reffereed on­ the pitch and not in the refs changing room!! Mind­ games from Lievremont I'm afraid. The French­ lecturing others on discipline? How times have changed.­ C'mon Scotland!!!!!

    From , on Thu 12 Mar 4:23PM

  2. England can only blame themselves for this situation­ and Martin Johnson he is in charge!!!!!!!!

    From , on Thu 12 Mar 11:34AM

  3. I cannot understand the comment by Marc Lievremont, you­ only have to consider who the England coach is to­ realise where the indiscipline comes from, Martin­ Johnson was hardly an angel on the field, only a matter­ of when he played the officials were far more lenient,­ it is no longer acceptable, I even wondered in the­ first half of the Ireland game as to whether the­ offials had been told to 'cool it a little'­ with England. You reap what you sow, England are­ finaly paying the price.

    From , on Thu 12 Mar 11:23AM

  4. Typical pre-match needle

    From , on Wed 11 Mar 6:33PM
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