Foden: England in the ‘danger zone’

BEN FODEN warned England will be heading into the “danger zone” against France in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final.

France appear to be in a state of disarray following last weekend’s defeat to Tonga, with coach Marc Lievremont openly criticising his players and vice versa.

Comparisons have been drawn between Lievremont’s squad and the French football team, who went on strike at the 2010 World Cup after Nicolas Anelka was sent home.

But Foden believes that internal conflict will only serve to make Les Bleus more dangerous – and England must be ready to meet that ferocity head on or they will be on the first flight home.

“It’s the massive danger zone,” said Foden, who started all four of England’s World Cup group-stage victories.

“France are going to be like a wounded animal. People expect them not to perform that well but that is when they are at their most dangerous.

“They’ve got players who are capable of causing carnage out there. They are a great team who can turn it on.”

England boast the best defensive record in the competition, having conceded only one try in four group-stage victories, and Foden believes those experiences will stand England in good stead in the knockout stages.

“People will look at it and say ‘they need the wake-up call’ but it shows good character that we can win those games,” Foden said.

“Only a few teams have been tested that way in this tournament. That’s what knockout rugby is all about.

“In World Cup rugby no team’s ever lost in the group stage and gone on to win it so we are in the right place at the moment.

Foden has been frustrated for long spells during this World Cup as England have struggled to move the ball wide to exploit the pace available in the back three.

Ashton, still the leading try-scorer in the competition, sealed England’s victory over Scotland last Saturday with just his third touch of the game.

Foden would relish the chance to run at France and match fire with fire, although that would need a radical shift in emphasis.

“We are capable of winning games by using different weapons. I think we are at our best when we play a wide game but sometimes we haven’t had the ball as much as we’d like,” said Foden.

“As a back-three player I want to see the ball going wide and get in the hands of Ash and Cueto as often as possible to cause damage.”