England v France: Kick-off, 2000 BST LATEST ACTION (all times BST)
To get involved in all the pre-match chat, text us on 81111 (UK users only) or contribute to 606 "Seems a few out there are having pre-match nerves. Me too. I'm at work, the only Englishman in the catering division at Iceland's int'l airport, and getting quietly worked up. Just been watching UB40s version of Swing Low on YouTube which has left a ruddy great lump in the throat. By God I feel isolated! The guys around me can't understand the fuss and keep asking how England are going to do today... against Estonia! Aaaargh. Hope you all have a great game my fellow countrymen."
AlloEccles on 606 "After a steady diet of Tri-nations and Super 14, France vs England is like watching Marcel Marceau vs Frank Spencer."
dingobait on 606
AlloEccles on 606 "After a steady diet of Tri-nations and Super 14, France vs England is like watching Marcel Marceau vs Frank Spencer."
dingobait on 606
"If England think they were physical against the Aussies, they are going to have to step it up in every single department against France. You have to close their space down."
BBC Sport's Matt Dawson 1616: A reminder of the teams - England and France are both unchanged after their shock wins over Australia and New Zealand respectively, meaning the French 'Caveman' Sebastien Chabal will wait for his chance from the bench. England: Robinson; Sackey, Tait, Catt, Lewsey; Wilkinson, Gomarsall; Sheridan, Regan, Vickery (capt), Shaw, Kay, Corry, Moody, Easter.
Replacements: Chuter, Stevens, Dallaglio, Worsley, Richards, Flood, Hipkiss. France: Traille; Clerc, Marty, Jauzion, Heymans; Beauxis, Elissalde; Milloud, Ibanez (capt), De Villiers, Pelous, Thion, Betsen, Dusautoir, Bonnaire.
Replacements: Poux, Szarzewski, Chabal, Harinordoquy, Michalak, Dominici, Poitrenaud. Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa) 1611: "The atmosphere is building down at the Trocadero - they are showing replays of the England-Australia quarter-final on the big screens and that is going down extremely well with the fans out here. The shadow of the Eiffel Tower hangs over the whole thing - this party is about to go off!"
BBC Sport's Tom Fordyce in Paris "We need the pack to perform once more and we need JW to bring his kicking boots ....but how wonderful it would be to see Catt, Tait and the back three running past the French threequarters.To witness big English forwards bursting through a panicked French defence. Oh,to truly show the whole world what we can really do once released from the shackles of self doubt!"
GreenHamstring on 606
BBC Sport's Matt Dawson 1616: A reminder of the teams - England and France are both unchanged after their shock wins over Australia and New Zealand respectively, meaning the French 'Caveman' Sebastien Chabal will wait for his chance from the bench. England: Robinson; Sackey, Tait, Catt, Lewsey; Wilkinson, Gomarsall; Sheridan, Regan, Vickery (capt), Shaw, Kay, Corry, Moody, Easter.
Replacements: Chuter, Stevens, Dallaglio, Worsley, Richards, Flood, Hipkiss. France: Traille; Clerc, Marty, Jauzion, Heymans; Beauxis, Elissalde; Milloud, Ibanez (capt), De Villiers, Pelous, Thion, Betsen, Dusautoir, Bonnaire.
Replacements: Poux, Szarzewski, Chabal, Harinordoquy, Michalak, Dominici, Poitrenaud. Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa) 1611: "The atmosphere is building down at the Trocadero - they are showing replays of the England-Australia quarter-final on the big screens and that is going down extremely well with the fans out here. The shadow of the Eiffel Tower hangs over the whole thing - this party is about to go off!"
BBC Sport's Tom Fordyce in Paris "We need the pack to perform once more and we need JW to bring his kicking boots ....but how wonderful it would be to see Catt, Tait and the back three running past the French threequarters.To witness big English forwards bursting through a panicked French defence. Oh,to truly show the whole world what we can really do once released from the shackles of self doubt!"
GreenHamstring on 606
"The feeling is that England will not be able to dominate up front as they did last week. But will the French be able to resist the temptation to mix it up?"
John Inverdale on BBC Radio 5live "Last week, it became official - I know nothing about rugby. Forecasting humiliation for the northern hemisphere teams, England and France pulled my pants down and proved me wrong. So I have no pre-match prediction. Other than that the streets of Paris will be the greatest place on Earth to be tonight. That's a fact - my cabbie told me."
BBC Sport's Ben Dirs in Paris
John Inverdale on BBC Radio 5live "Last week, it became official - I know nothing about rugby. Forecasting humiliation for the northern hemisphere teams, England and France pulled my pants down and proved me wrong. So I have no pre-match prediction. Other than that the streets of Paris will be the greatest place on Earth to be tonight. That's a fact - my cabbie told me."
BBC Sport's Ben Dirs in Paris
"Four years of disappointment comes down to a semi final match!!! 80 minutes of blood and heart separates us from a second world cup final in a row!! Come on Lads!! Stand up and be counted!!"
RichTownsend on 606 "Whoever wins the semis tonight and gets to the final, this will have been the greatest rugby event in history."
steelweaver on 606 "I had a dream last night that England were defeated by two points, but I have a funny feeling we could pull this off."
Ali on 606 1600: Holy guacamole - what a day huh? Just four hours until England kick off against France with a place in the World Cup final at stake... it does not come much bigger than this. Just travelling in this morning left the hairs on the back of the neck on end - grown men and women clutching their sons and daughters as chorus after chorus of 'Swing Low' rang out around the underground - it was enough to warm even the coldest of hearts I tell thee. Still, this commentary isn't about my experiences - I want to hear from all you boys and girls out there and your plans for the big match tonight. Are you in Paris for the game? Will you be holed up in a pub somewhere in Blighty? Or have you opted for the comfort of your own home just in case your patriotic exclamations offend the masses? As well as trying to get as many of your missives up as possible today, we will be in constant touch with our intrepid reporters braving the white-hot atmosphere of Paris and Le Stade de France. Ben Dirs , Tom Fordyce and Mark Orlovac will be keeping us abreast of the atmosphere and all the latest as England strive to upset the odds for the second time in a fortnight...
RichTownsend on 606 "Whoever wins the semis tonight and gets to the final, this will have been the greatest rugby event in history."
steelweaver on 606 "I had a dream last night that England were defeated by two points, but I have a funny feeling we could pull this off."
Ali on 606 1600: Holy guacamole - what a day huh? Just four hours until England kick off against France with a place in the World Cup final at stake... it does not come much bigger than this. Just travelling in this morning left the hairs on the back of the neck on end - grown men and women clutching their sons and daughters as chorus after chorus of 'Swing Low' rang out around the underground - it was enough to warm even the coldest of hearts I tell thee. Still, this commentary isn't about my experiences - I want to hear from all you boys and girls out there and your plans for the big match tonight. Are you in Paris for the game? Will you be holed up in a pub somewhere in Blighty? Or have you opted for the comfort of your own home just in case your patriotic exclamations offend the masses? As well as trying to get as many of your missives up as possible today, we will be in constant touch with our intrepid reporters braving the white-hot atmosphere of Paris and Le Stade de France. Ben Dirs , Tom Fordyce and Mark Orlovac will be keeping us abreast of the atmosphere and all the latest as England strive to upset the odds for the second time in a fortnight...
Source: BBC Sport
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