France v Ireland, Sat 13/2, KO: 14.25PM

paulie21

Stade De France, Paris

Referee: Jaco Peyper (RSA)

Live On RTE 2, BBC One & RTE Radio One


Team News:

France

15. Maxime Médard (Toulouse)
14. Teddy Thomas (Racing 92)
13. Maxime Mermoz (Toulon)
12. Jonathan Danty (Stade Français)
11. Virimi Vakatawa (FFR)
10. Jules Plisson (Stade Français)
9. Sébastien Bézy (Toulouse)

1. Jefferson Poirot (Bordeaux-Bègles)
2. Guilhem Guirado (Toulon)
3. Uini Atonio (La Rochelle)
4. Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Français)
5. Yoann Maestri (Toulouse)
6. Wenceslas Lauret (Racing 92)
7. Yacouba Camara (Toulouse)
8. Damien Chouly (Clermont)

Replacements:

16. Camille Chat (Racing 92)
17. Rabah Slimani (Stade Français)
18. Eddy Ben Arous (Racing 92)
19. Paul Jedrasiak (Clermont)
20. Loann Goujon (Bordeaux-Bègles)
21. Maxime Machenaud (Racing 92)
22. Jean-Marc Doussain (Toulouse)
23. Hugo Bonneval (Stade Français)

Ireland

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
13. Jared Payne (Ulster)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
11. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
10. Jonathan Sexton (St Mary’s College/Leinster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (c)
3. Nathan White (Connacht)
4. Mike McCarthy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
6. CJ Stander (Munster)
7. Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) (vc)

Replacements:

16. Richard Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
17. James Cronin (Dolphin/Munster)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)
19. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
20. Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
21. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
23. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

Preview



France will be seeking their first win over the Irish in five years with Ireland getting the upper hand in the last three meetings the most recent been the 24-9 victory in Cardiff in the final pool game of RWC 2015. France come into this after an unconvincing narrow win over Italy last weekend whilst Ireland played out a hard fought draw against Wales at the Aviva but will be bitterly disappointed at blowing a 13 point lead. Ireland will have happy memories of the last time they played in Paris as they lifted the Six Nations trophy in what was to be Brian O'Driscoll's last game in a green jersey.

Verdict

I expect another hard hitting contest with Ireland looking to play a tight game due to a lack of creativity in a depleted back line. France are the ultimate Jekhll and Hyde team whilst they haven't produced a good performance in nearly a year they are more than capable of winning this match and I'm leaning towards them taking the points.

Thelomen Toblackai

I've been hearing this "France might turn up today" for a long time now, it's starting to lose it's threat I think.

They didn't look any different against Italy than they did previously so I don't think Noves is bringing any new life to the team. While it'll be a physical game I can't see them coming out on top. Ireland will be too disciplined and too well organised.

pickarooney

France look to be aiming for a wide game. Hopefully that means a bit of space about the pitch. Chouly back at 8 again is just...

If we don't win this I hope it's because France play good rugby.

stephen_n

Noves says France have been working on their defence. I suppose we will have to wait and see how that shows on Saturday. If they defend as passively as they did against Italy, I'd see us winning this by 20 points particularly with the back row we have. We always hear the you never know what France will turn up. Based on the players they have that's no surprise. There was nothing about the body language or the mindset of the players last week though, that would suggest Noves has them anywhere near the intensity yet to produce a good performance. Apart from worries about White in the scrum, I think we should win this, even though it's Paris.

There is starting to be a good bit of bite to these encounters and France won't need much motivation to front up.

They played their best rugby of the tournament here two years ago against us so I expect a tough tight battle.

molloyjh

France started off really well last week. Their opening quarter was very ominous I thought. Plenty of intent and good execution. But they disappointingly reverted to type after that. They will undoubtedly be better having had more time training with each other and I think they'll show us more respect than Italy. France in Paris is never easy.

That said I'm expecting a win. Our back row and our half backs look too good IMO. Our centres are starting to work well together and with Sexton as well. We just need to get parity at scrum time as well as keep them off the scoreboard in the opening 20 and I reckon we'll have it. Our defence last week I think showed we have it in us to frustrate the hell out of them. And they don't react well to that.

pickarooney

I don't remember any team starting the tournament with two home games before.

WeleaseWoderick

pickarooney wrote: »

I don't remember any team starting the tournament with two home games before.

Did we not do that two years ago with Scotland & Wales first up?

pickarooney

WeleaseWoderick wrote: »

Did we not do that two years ago with Scotland & Wales first up?

So we did... For some reason I thought the teams always alternated home and away games since 2000.

former total

I look at the French backline and think they're going to score tries but concede even more.

That pack is enormous. Could cause problems for our scrum based on sheer ballast. No way McGrath can go 80 minutes this week against Atonio and then Slimani. Can't say I know anything about Poirot.

I'm confident enough. Ireland by 5.

pickarooney

We'd best limit the knock ons.

techdiver

As I said before the World Cup game, the France of old is gone. I don't buy the "which France will show up" line any more. I expect Ireland to put in a professional display and win quite comfortably in the end (similar to the World Cup).

The France Italy game may have been exciting and close, but it was 2 poor teams with very poor shape just going at it. Granted France are working on their defense this week, and no doubt the addition of Mermoz will strengthen their midfield defense, but I can't see them being a completely different side from last week. Add to that the loss of Picamoles that will weaken them further.

I was apprehensive going to the game last weekend, but was happy with the performance overall and the addition of SOB and Kearney back at full back makes this an even stronger team this week. We should expect to win. France are not the France of old to fear. They are behind Ireland, Wales and England and are on par with Scotland and barely ahead of Italy. All I want is to win and get out of Paris unscathed and then focus on the biggest test of the tournament in Twickenham.

vienne86

France's defence was awful last week. And ours was pretty good. I thought at the start of the French game that we were seeing the France of old, but they didn't keep it up and theyir tendancy just fizzled out. They were playing Italy, for heaven's sake, and were made to look moderate. We should win this, but will need to concentrate because France can spring surprises.

Quint2010

Getting very wary of people saying they "expect" Ireland to win. This is France. In Paris. The graveyard of many an optimistic Irish team. Have seen too many scrums shunted back and tries being run in from everywhere to be another other then very nervous about this one.

BTW The weather forecast is:

Overcast, heavy rain in the afternoon, cloudy in the evening, initially rain showers. Highest temperature 7°C.

Losty Dublin

The France team that turns up at matches these day always play worse that the previous game. Last weeks team may well have bucked the trend as they were so bad that Italy were too shocked to take advantage of the situation and actually beat them.

While I can't see France play as poorly again I can't see them play much better and certainly I can't see Ireland letting them away with as poor a performance. Ireland have a team that is close to full strength; the French have as many crepé pies eaten as they have caps. And that's just their back line

I'm reckoning on Ireland by 28-17.

Noopti

If the French pack show the same level of intensity as they did against Italy - Ireland by 15+

If they French match the intensity of Ireland - Ireland by 5

I actually hate being this confident about a game like this, but I just cannot get past the fact that France are very poor. I can see them finishing 2nd from bottom this year.
I can see our forwards dominating the ruck in this game, and the result being France being put on the back foot almost the entire game. I see them giving away lots of penalties, resulting in us ticking up a score and potentially getting a few gilt edge opportunities for lineouts close to their line.
Combined with their potentially porous defence I can see us cutting them open on a number of occasions and if we are clinical with those chances (that is the biggest IF really) then we could actually be out of sight by the 55th minute.

Of course, they could come out all guns blazing and surprise everyone. But it would be exactly that, a surprise, and I can't see it happening.

Podge_irl

Quint2010 wrote: »

Getting very wary of people saying they "expect" Ireland to win. This is France. In Paris. The graveyard of many an optimistic Irish team.

I feel reasonably similar to how I did two years ago. "Graveyard" or not, France are rubbish at the moment.

Of course they managed to come pretty close two years ago all the same.

This thread needs a lot more PTH2009

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

This thread needs a lot more PTH2009

We could easily narrowly lose this match on the smallest of margins. Same with the England match the following week. Which could leave us as low as 5th going into the final two rounds.

Noopti

Deleted User wrote: »

We could easily narrowly lose this match on the smallest of margins. Same with the England match the following week. Which could leave us as low as 5th going into the final two rounds.

The England game is an eminently tougher prospect than this French game.

I feel it is more than fitting that the writeup was done by paulie.

Cheers Paulie.

Opinions still divided on the O'Brien / Pape incident from the World Cup but that aside, it was pretty clear that O'Brien was fairly furious with the outcome and things seemed very salty in the aftermath with Pape going for the jugular in the hearing.

I hope Seanie takes every drop of that anger out on the French this weekend (in a completely legal way).

Opinions still divided on the O'Brien / Pape incident from the World Cup but that aside, it was pretty clear that O'Brien was fairly furious with the outcome and things seemed very salty in the aftermath with Pape going for the jugular in the hearing.

I hope Seanie takes every drop of that anger out on the French this weekend (in a completely legal way).

d2ww

"France will be seeking their first win over the Irish in five years"
Did you ever think you would see the day....:):)

wp_rathead

I like our starting XV
Not to confident about our bench with Cronin, Reddan and McFadden but hopefully we have enough to win

That starting backrow is just ridiculous for Ireland

CMOTDibbler

wp_rathead wrote: »

I like our starting XV
Not to confident about our bench with Cronin, Reddan and McFadden but hopefully we have enough to win

That starting backrow is just ridiculous for Ireland

Reddan being selected seems to indicate that Joe wants a higher tempo in the last quarter or so. Possibly because of the big French pack and the inexperience in the half backs and their bench. Machenaud hasn't played for France in two years? Doussain is no great shakes either.

Be interesting to see when our bench comes on.

leakyboots

Front 5 battle is a concern, excited about the backrow, fireworks guaranteed, fancy us there. We have the edge at half back, our midfield is solid, our back three solid but lacking flair.

9-12 Ireland

CMOTDibbler

Just because...

...every match thread needs a table.

Here are the stats from the France v Italy game:

Stat|France|Italy
Metres|405|426
Carries|122|110
Defenders beaten|17|15
Clean breaks|7|7
Passes|177|123
Offloads|15|8
Turnovers Conceded|19|11
Tackles|102|114
Missed tackles|15|17
Turnovers won|3|7
Possession kicked|34|29
Penalties|9|13


Compared to our 170 tackles, France really didn't have a lot of work to do but still managed to miss 15. Offloads is something to be wary about, but there's a risk that goes with the reward of a successful offload. Italy turned over the French seven times and coincidentally made 7 clean breaks.

The interesting one for me is the 34 kicks. Can we all call for Noves' head for being a boring, conservative, kick-chase oriented coach now? :rolleyes:

lunarhog

d2ww wrote: »

"France will be seeking their first win over the Irish in five years"
Did you ever think you would see the day....:):)

too right, will never forget the amount of titles we missed out on due to them lot!

pickarooney

Some of the comments on French forums are hilarious. The majority think Madigan is not only ahead if Jackson (who nobody has heard of) but should be starting ahead of Sexton. Someone also seriously suggested that AJ McGinty was the best 10 in Ireland and we'd regret letting him go.

Also, we're the worst cheats in the world at the breakdown.

aimee1

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

Just because...

...every match thread needs a table.

Here are the stats from the France v Italy game:

Stat|France|Italy
Metres|405|426
Carries|122|110
Defenders beaten|17|15
Clean breaks|7|7
Passes|177|123
Offloads|15|8
Turnovers Conceded|19|11
Tackles|102|114
Missed tackles|15|17
Turnovers won|3|7
Possession kicked|34|29
Penalties|9|13


Compared to our 170 tackles, France really didn't have a lot of work to do but still managed to miss 15. Offloads is something to be wary about, but there's a risk that goes with the reward of a successful offload. Italy turned over the French seven times and coincidentally made 7 clean breaks.

The interesting one for me is the 34 kicks. Can we all call for Noves' head for being a boring, conservative, kick-chase oriented coach now? :rolleyes:

19 turnovers ...... also would fancy us to force more then the 9 penalties Italy got.

Noopti

aimee1 wrote: »

19 turnovers ...... also would fancy us to force more then the 9 penalties Italy got.

Yep. If our backrow are on song then it could be total annihilation at the breakdown. Can't wait.

Also, I am loving this
http://www.the42.ie/johnny-sexton-ireland-france-personal-2600507-Feb2016/

When Sexton is in one of those moods, good things happen.

aimee1

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/12744080_1039654086092518_3740334331830230287_n.jpg?oh=240582ed0007061c178be23587f28a13&oe=572720D0

Jamie and SOB enjoying valentines weekend in paris

CMOTDibbler

Noopti wrote: »

Yep. If our backrow are on song then it could be total annihilation at the breakdown. Can't wait.

Also, I am loving this
http://www.the42.ie/johnny-sexton-ireland-france-personal-2600507-Feb2016/

When Sexton is in one of those moods, good things happen.

When Sexton's on the pitch good things happen

aimee1

Noopti wrote: »

Yep. If our backrow are on song then it could be total annihilation at the breakdown. Can't wait.

Also, I am loving this
http://www.the42.ie/johnny-sexton-ireland-france-personal-2600507-Feb2016/

When Sexton is in one of those moods, good things happen.

George Hook wont like the footwear on Heaslip

WeleaseWoderick

Really looking forward to the game tomorrow now. The World Cup game was an absolute war, as have been the last few contests between the teams.

I have a feeling we'll see our backline click on a level we haven't seen yet. There were definitely encouraging signs last week in this regard.

Like everyone else, I also can't wait to see our backrow in action too. I can see Heaslip doing a lot of the donkey work while Seanie and CJ are let run riot.

WeleaseWoderick

Really looking forward to the game tomorrow now. The World Cup game was an absolute war, as have been the last few contests between the teams.

I have a feeling we'll see our backline click on a level we haven't seen yet. There were definitely encouraging signs last week in this regard.

Like everyone else, I also can't wait to see our backrow in action too. I can see Heaslip doing a lot of the donkey work while Seanie and CJ are let run riot.

The Black Stags

I saw some really nice back-line threat coming from us vs Wales; who as we all know have one of the best defences in the NH. We should get better room to string some of those moves together this week and I think we could see some lovely tries run in!

The high amount of off loads by them is a worry but we have a better defence than Italy and they managed a large amount of turnovers.

I can't see us losing this - only if the French click more than they have done in recent years or we get a massive injury crises.. but that didn't stop us last time we played them.

CMOTDibbler

So it was the captain's run today

stephen_n

We are screwed Franno gave us the nod on the last word.

Interesting interview with PSA about French rugby and the match in Cardiff before it though.

pickarooney

Healy and Ross are starting tonight?
Why are we playing Nathan White if MR is fit?

rsh118

Can't post links, but Ferris not sounding happy on balls.ie...

CMOTDibbler

pickarooney wrote: »

Healy and Ross are starting tonight?
Why are we playing Nathan White if MR is fit?

His first match back. France in Paris would be a step too far.

UnknownEntity

pickarooney wrote:

Healy and Ross are starting tonight? Why are we playing Nathan White if MR is fit?

Probably wants to save them for the English game.

former total

rsh118 wrote: »

Can't post links, but Ferris not sounding happy on balls.ie...

http://www.balls.ie/rugby/stephen-ferris-is-seriously-critical-of-joe-schmidts-team-selection-for-france/324361

Meh, not much insight there. Pretty poor stuff really.

rsh118

former total wrote: »

http://www.balls.ie/rugby/stephen-ferris-is-seriously-critical-of-joe-schmidts-team-selection-for-france/324361

Meh, not much insight there. Pretty poor stuff really.

He'd be banned off here before he knew what was happening!

CMOTDibbler

To be honest, I'd love to meet Joe face to face and ask him the question: Why are guys like Paddy Jackson and Craig Gilroy not involve? And for him to give me an answer.

I'm not sure if he's thought of this, but why doesn't he talk to the lads concerned? I'm sure they'd tell him what the situation is and it's not as though he doesn't know them.

Then he could tell us

Stephen Ferris

Stephen Ferris wrote:

To be honest, I'd love to meet Joe face to face and ask him the question: Why are guys like Paddy Jackson and Craig Gilroy not involved? And for him to give me an answer.

Seems like Joe owes Stephen Ferris an explanation apparently.

The Rape of Lucretia

pickarooney wrote: »

Some of the comments on French forums are hilarious. The majority think Madigan is not only ahead if Jackson (who nobody has heard of) but should be starting ahead of Sexton. Someone also seriously suggested that AJ McGinty was the best 10 in Ireland and we'd regret letting him go.

Also, we're the worst cheats in the world at the breakdown.

Interesting I find is their worry that their backrow will be blown away by the power of Heaslip, Stander, and, their real fear, O'Brien. They love him more than we do. Their only slim hope as they see it is that their backrow will play loose and fast to avoid taking ours on, but they dont have a lot of faith in succeeding.

(the comments on Mads are spot on though. Jackson not in the same, league, Sexton not the man he was. Thank their lucky stars that Joe isnt starting him. I guess the wounds of the world cup still havent healed for them).

awec

The article is mostly crap IMO and Ferris is just the Ulster version of Horgan touting his mates. He talls a load of balls sometimes. The question by whiff of cordite in the article is an interesting one though. Truth be told neither Kearney or McFadden would get anywhere close to an Ulster 23.

pickarooney

Tell you what I'd love to see is Ireland A against France A with nothing at stake except the chance to get a call up.