Match preview & thread: FRA vs IRE (Sat Feb 3, 1645)

NollagShona · 04-02-2018 6:24am

Christ what a match to be at! Up there with Cardiff ‘09 for sheer intensity for me.

Fair play to the lads, 41 phases in dead time, took some amount of discipline. Sextons cross field kick to Earls, and Earls’ take - sublime!

I was behind the goal when I saw Johnny attempt the drop goal and my first feeling was “it’s too far out!!!” - but to see it just creep over was immense!

Must have stayed for 20 minutes after the final whistle leading chants of “There’s only one Johnny Sexton” and great to give the lads a rousing reception when they came back on the field!

What a game- what a man! What a day!

sullivlo · 04-02-2018 6:35am

NollagShona wrote: »

Christ what a match to be at! Up there with Cardiff ‘09 for sheer intensity for me.

Fair play to the lads, 41 phases in dead time, took some amount of discipline. Sextons cross field kick to Earls, and Earls’ take - sublime!

I was behind the goal when I saw Johnny attempt the drop goal and my first feeling was “it’s too far out!!!” - but to see it just creep over was immense!

Must have stayed for 20 minutes after the final whistle leading chants of “There’s only one Johnny Sexton” and great to give the lads a rousing reception when they came back on the field!

What a game- what a man! What a day!

You were there? You never mentioned it.

NollagShona · 04-02-2018 6:38am

sullivlo wrote: »

You were there? You never mentioned it.

😜

Diabhal Beag · 04-02-2018 6:40am

Cdg is no place to be navigating in this hungover state

NollagShona · 04-02-2018 6:46am

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Cdg is no place to be navigating in this hungover state

You have my sympathies- bus to BVA tomorrow night so I’ll head back to Corcoran’s to watch Italy England with a few beers- the girls flew there from Paris at 5 this morning!

kerrylad1 · 04-02-2018 6:51am

Just watched the last 5 minutes there again on sky plus.Fantastic.Yer all lucky buggers,to have watched that live,in the stadium.

ionadnapokot · 04-02-2018 7:00am

You can relive it again with Murray K
http://www.the42.ie/analysis-41-phase-ireland-sexton-drop-goal-3832894-Feb2018/

ionadnapokot · 04-02-2018 7:12am

penybont exile wrote: »

Keep that thought boyo ... The sub-division one ..... some of the comments on this thread are laughable but that one ..... well has me licking my lips in anticipation.

THE reality is Ireland got lucky at the end of the game today .... poor miss from the penalty by France cost them the match.

I reckon Wales have vgood chance of winning in Dublin.
Ireland are too predictable and Wales have the perfect defensive system to cope.

Ireland were lucky to get the win.
last 5 mins was anything but lucky

razorblunt · 04-02-2018 9:01am

.ak wrote: »

If it's the passage of play I'm thinking of I was going mad at that... for the officials not to award us a penalty for that. You're right, we put ourselves in a bad position there and took a poor option, but the assist tackler latched onto Furlong on the ball and never released when Furlong was brought to ground. He has to release, just like Furlong has to be given the opportunity to present the ball.

I think we could've been in for a try at that point, France were scrambling.

I thought Furlong had that ripped in the tackle I have to say. Guirado was decently a no release situation though.

.ak · 04-02-2018 9:42am

penybont exile wrote: »

Keep that thought boyo ... The sub-division one ..... some of the comments on this thread are laughable but that one ..... well has me licking my lips in anticipation.

THE reality is Ireland got lucky at the end of the game today .... poor miss from the penalty by France cost them the match.

Luck kinda cancels itself out when both teams have a sitter missed. Crap conditions to get a clean strike.

Anyway, at the end of the day if France had won it would’ve been Ireland who were robbed.. We were the better side despite playing no where near our best, France did nothing to deserve their lead.

ionadnapokot · 04-02-2018 9:53am

.ak wrote: »

Luck kinda cancels itself out when both teams have a sitter missed. Crap conditions to get a clean strike.

Anyway, at the end of the day if France had won it would’ve been Ireland who were robbed.. We were the better side despite playing no where near our best, France did nothing to deserve their lead.

France scores a try. Ireland never looked like scoring.
They grasped their opportunity with a quick lineout and heads up rugby.
Credit where credit is due. Fully deserved the lead in fairness.

FrancieBrady · 04-02-2018 10:20am

Anyone got a handy link to that entire last phase of play?

04-02-2018 10:23am

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Anyone got a handy link to that entire last phase of play?

It's up on pornhub

.ak · 04-02-2018 10:45am

ionadnapokot wrote: »

France scores a try. Ireland never looked like scoring.
They grasped their opportunity with a quick lineout and heads up rugby.
Credit where credit is due. Fully deserved the lead in fairness.

A try from nothing is just that. They didn’t do anything to create it, we made the error.

Don’t agree they deserved the lead. They never looked like scoring bar that one moment.

Bazzo · 04-02-2018 10:47am

https://twitter.com/LorcanRK/status/959861046893776899

irishbucsfan · 04-02-2018 10:55am

There must be a word for the emotions that were felt in the moments between the time Sexton shaped up for the kick-pass to Earls and the time Earls went up and won the ball.

.ak · 04-02-2018 10:56am

irishbucsfan wrote: »

There must be a word for the emotions that were felt in the moments between the time Sexton shaped up for the kick-pass to Earls and the time Earls went up and won the ball.

Clenched.

errlloyd · 04-02-2018 11:04am

irishbucsfan wrote: »

There must be a word for the emotions that were felt in the moments between the time Sexton shaped up for the kick-pass to Earls and the time Earls went up and won the ball.

It was cathartic anyway. The guy beside me went from anger / disbelief, to hope, and then to euphoric / disbelief in about 4 seconds. Incredible.

Bazzo · 04-02-2018 11:06am

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Anyone got a handy link to that entire last phase of play?

https://streamable.com/walej

wp_rathead · 04-02-2018 11:19am

.ak wrote: »

A try from nothing is just that. They didn’t do anything to create it, we made the error.

Don’t agree they deserved the lead. They never looked like scoring bar that one moment.

Neither did we to be fair

flatface · 04-02-2018 11:25am

I could watch this all day! drop goal!

.ak · 04-02-2018 11:25am

wp_rathead wrote: »

Neither did we to be fair

Ah I’m not sure about that. Twice we were in their 5m line had looked very likely to go over but twice we were turned over in contact which is very unlike us.

But even ignoring that I wasn’t talking about scoring tries. We were dominate in possession and territory, it looked like we were going to eek out multiple penalties and grind them out. France never really looked like they could get into our 22 and grind out a penalty. The few penalties they did get were very uncharacteristic from us.

flatface · 04-02-2018 11:29am

Very impressed by the French defence yesterday, very quick and intense and didn’t let up once. Expected them to flag and they didn’t.

Bridge93 · 04-02-2018 11:29am

Can talk for days about the game but my last comment on it:

We seem to be slow starters in tournaments for whatever reason, not helped by being away from home three years in a row in game one. As difficult as winning away is we haven’t played well away from home in a while. So, unlike previous years, to be through it with a win having not played well instead of trying to pick up the pieces is enough for me for now. We will improve massively. Loads to work on while still unbeaten is a nice spot to be in, will lead to no complacency.

irishbucsfan · 04-02-2018 11:35am

Bridge93 wrote: »

Can talk for days about the game but my last comment on it:

We seem to be slow starters in tournaments for whatever reason, not helped by being away from home three years in a row in game one. As difficult as winning away is we haven’t played well away from home in a while. So, unlike previous years, to be through it with a win having not played well instead of trying to pick up the pieces is enough for me for now. We will improve massively. Loads to work on while still unbeaten is a nice spot to be in, will lead to no complacency.

Yeah definitely a massive positive to have gotten through a bad performance with the grand slam still on the table.

I hope it is down to us needing to build up momentum. Means we can go to Twickenham expecting a little more out of ourselves.

Our first game in RWC 2019 is Scotland, so there might be a worry if we get hit by the same bug over there. Not winning that group would be... disappointing to say the least.

durkadurka · 04-02-2018 11:36am

My 12 year old (who I hadn’t seen since before the match ) came into my room this morning to wake me up. He just says:

“Dad, Johnny Sexton.“

Nothing else needed to be said.

ionadnapokot · 04-02-2018 11:46am

.ak wrote: »

A try from nothing is just that. They didn’t do anything to create it, we made the error.

Don’t agree they deserved the lead. They never looked like scoring bar that one moment.

They exposed a weakness with ingenuity.
Could you imagine how enthusiastic we would be if Murray, Sexton and Earls did that.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Well done France. Ireland need to deviate from the playbook. France had them sussed.

Edit: & btw it was said France did nothing to deserve the lead. I’m just highlighting that I think they did!

Adamocovic · 04-02-2018 11:46am

Always just been a lurker of the rugby threads on boards, but after yesterday just have to post something. I'm more of a casual watcher of club rugby, only played blitz for a year back in school (lacked the talent), but always watch the Irish matches and go to a few when I can (like a lot of the population).

Recently started working in France so there was a lot of talk about this game during the week. Strolled into my usual Irish bar over here, which happens to be a big rugby bar too, and for the first time I was severely outnumbered there. During the summer there's a lot more Irish. The pub was 90% French rugby fans and of course I was the only Irish guy in our group.

After France got the try around the 73rd minute the place exploded, as you'd expect, they were already coming over to me and the other handful of Irish laughing and saying hard luck. All I could think of was back in 2007 when they beat us with the try at the very end of the game. The cross field kick to Earls was a heart in mouth moment, and when the drop goal left Sextons boot it felt like it was in the air for a lifetime. And god when it went over we erupted. You would have thought it was only Irish in the place.

The mixture of emotions gone through in that game was crazy, by the end of it though it was pure adrenaline. It's early days but I just hope the lads can go on and win it now. Such a brilliant moment that will live in my memory and it would be made even sweeter winning the championship on the back of it. I can only imagine the scenes in Paris.

Rights, apologies, I'll slip back into my lurking nature, and leave the analysis to those with a better knowledge of the game.

The Talking Bread · 04-02-2018 12:08pm

In fairness to TV3, Ryle Nugent has a lot to thank them for. If he was commentating on that game yesterday rather than the women's hammering by France he would have self imploded with his hands down his pants at the end!

durkadurka · 04-02-2018 12:18pm

One can only imagine how Dave Kearney dealt with the situation

FrancieBrady · 04-02-2018 12:20pm

Bazzo wrote: »

https://streamable.com/walej

Cheers. Super quality link.

Gets more awesome with every watch.

connemara man · 04-02-2018 12:21pm

https://twitter.com/ballsdotie/status/959895570621108224?ref_src=twcamp%5Ecopy%7Ctwsrc%5Eandroid%7Ctwgr%5Ecopy%7Ctwcon%5E7090%7Ctwterm%5E2

.ak · 04-02-2018 12:33pm

Just thinking, as if there wasn’t enough pressure on Johnny to make that drop goal, I just remembered he attempted one earlier in the game and that one ended up in the Seine. Massive balls to go for it that far out in wetter conditions and put the earlier miss out of your mind.

Rezident · 04-02-2018 12:54pm

thelad95 wrote: »

Absolutely blessed to win that game.

I’m extremely disappointed with Nigel Owens, that is by far and away the worst I’ve ever seen from him, he had an absolute shocker.

He is one of the best refs in the world, i love watching him ref anyone else, as he is frequently excellent and entertaining and yet every time he refs an irleand game he gets clear calls - massive game changing calls - shockingly wrong. And they always seem to go against ireland. He was doing everything in his power to avoid giving a penalty against france at the end of the game there, no matter what they did. Plus all the other big decisions that would have decided the game, had it not been for that ridiculous kick by sexton at the death.

Watch it again, your eyes will be drawn to sexton's face as he watches the ball fly towards the posts but instead look at the look on nigel owens' face, that is not the look of an independent referee, he had skin in the game. He looks personally invested in it.

Hmmm something to think about. Perhaps its all just a long sequence of unbelievably unlikely coincidences.

The Talking Bread · 04-02-2018 12:57pm

Rezident wrote: »

H
Watch it again, your eyes will be drawn to sexton's face as he watches the ball fly towards the posts but instead look at the look on nigel owens' face, that is not the look of an independent referee, he had skin in the game. He looks personally invested in it.

Hmmm something to think about. Perhaps its all just a long sequence of unbelievably unlikely coincidences.

For goodness sake.

Bridge93 · 04-02-2018 12:57pm

Right once we start questioning the integrity of the referee I'm out. Thread has peaked, probably a while ago. Onto next week. Won't be coming into this thread again

its_phil · 04-02-2018 1:25pm

Rezident wrote: »

He is one of the best refs in the world, i love watching him ref anyone else, as he is frequently excellent and entertaining and yet every time he refs an irleand game he gets clear calls - massive game changing calls - shockingly wrong. And they always seem to go against ireland. He was doing everything in his power to avoid giving a penalty against france at the end of the game there, no matter what they did. Plus all the other big decisions that would have decided the game, had it not been for that ridiculous kick by sexton at the death.

Watch it again, your eyes will be drawn to sexton's face as he watches the ball fly towards the posts but instead look at the look on nigel owens' face, that is not the look of an independent referee, he had skin in the game. He looks personally invested in it.

Hmmm something to think about. Perhaps its all just a long sequence of unbelievably unlikely coincidences.

Probably looks personally invested because he personally has to make the decision about whether it goes over the crossbar or not

Peregrine · 04-02-2018 1:27pm

France's use of HIA protocol under review after 'a number of incidents' in Paris

SIX NATIONS RUGBY Limited (SNRL) has confirmed it is investigating a number of incidents relating to Head Injury Assessments during Ireland’s thrilling victory over France in Paris yesterday.

http://www.the42.ie/ireland-france-six-nations-hia-3833206-Feb2018/

FrancieBrady · 04-02-2018 1:32pm

Rezident wrote: »

He is one of the best refs in the world, i love watching him ref anyone else, as he is frequently excellent and entertaining and yet every time he refs an irleand game he gets clear calls - massive game changing calls - shockingly wrong. And they always seem to go against ireland. He was doing everything in his power to avoid giving a penalty against france at the end of the game there, no matter what they did. Plus all the other big decisions that would have decided the game, had it not been for that ridiculous kick by sexton at the death.

Watch it again, your eyes will be drawn to sexton's face as he watches the ball fly towards the posts but instead look at the look on nigel owens' face, that is not the look of an independent referee, he had skin in the game. He looks personally invested in it.

Hmmm something to think about. Perhaps its all just a long sequence of unbelievably unlikely coincidences.

What clip was that? Jonny kicked and all you see is Owens running off after it to check it goes over.
Where was the cut to his face?

awec · 04-02-2018 1:35pm

Rezident wrote: »

He is one of the best refs in the world, i love watching him ref anyone else, as he is frequently excellent and entertaining and yet every time he refs an irleand game he gets clear calls - massive game changing calls - shockingly wrong. And they always seem to go against ireland. He was doing everything in his power to avoid giving a penalty against france at the end of the game there, no matter what they did. Plus all the other big decisions that would have decided the game, had it not been for that ridiculous kick by sexton at the death.

Watch it again, your eyes will be drawn to sexton's face as he watches the ball fly towards the posts but instead look at the look on nigel owens' face, that is not the look of an independent referee, he had skin in the game. He looks personally invested in it.

Hmmm something to think about. Perhaps its all just a long sequence of unbelievably unlikely coincidences.

Please leave the tin foil hat stuff out of it.

The integrity of referees is not up for discussion on this forum. You can question decisions that they may have made in error and call out a bad day in the office for them, but allegations like this are not acceptable.

swiwi_ · 04-02-2018 1:55pm

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Just off the phone to Johnny Sexton, Swiwi. He says that it was our double headed thread that inspired his drop goal :pac:

I'll have whatever you're smoking

'Twas an excellent last 5 minutes or so by Ireland, and especially Sexton. Didn't think I'd see better than NZ vs Ire in 2013, but given the falling rain, that was probably an even better effort. With 3 home games now, Ireland are a real chance to be heading to Twickenham for a grand slam.

On the downside, I'm not going to hide that I was mighty disappointed by the attack from Ireland in the previous 75 minutes. I genuinely expected better, especially as the game plan played right into France's hands. If the French lock hadn't been so profligate with the penalties, I'm not sure where Ireland's points would have come from. The main area I would look at is the back-row, I don't think in the end that POM or Stander improved on their provincial form. Someone more knowledgable than me suggested 6 Stander 7 Leavy 8 Murphy for Italy.

Still, the last 5 minutes really were top shelf stuff, the DG was a beauty, but my oh my it doesn't take balls of steel, it takes balls of a titanium-tungsten alloy to try that cross-kick to Earls...and nail it.

dublinman1990 · 04-02-2018 3:20pm

Mark Pougatch & the analysis team were discussing last night's win on ITV HD before the Italy vs England match. Both Wilkinson & Di Laggio were both smiling their heads off in the studio when talking about Sexton's DG at their coverage in Rome.

mfceiling · 04-02-2018 3:49pm

Adamocovic wrote: »

Always just been a lurker of the rugby threads on boards, but after yesterday just have to post something.

Rights, apologies, I'll slip back into my lurking nature, and leave the analysis to those with a better knowledge of the game.

Stick around cause to be fair most of us haven't a notion what's going on half the time either!!

Dravokivich · 04-02-2018 4:58pm

Rezident wrote: »

He is one of the best refs in the world, i love watching him ref anyone else, as he is frequently excellent and entertaining and yet every time he refs an irleand game he gets clear calls - massive game changing calls - shockingly wrong. And they always seem to go against ireland. He was doing everything in his power to avoid giving a penalty against france at the end of the game there, no matter what they did. Plus all the other big decisions that would have decided the game, had it not been for that ridiculous kick by sexton at the death.

Watch it again, your eyes will be drawn to sexton's face as he watches the ball fly towards the posts but instead look at the look on nigel owens' face, that is not the look of an independent referee, he had skin in the game. He looks personally invested in it.

Hmmm something to think about. Perhaps its all just a long sequence of unbelievably unlikely coincidences.

He doesn't tend to be bias, but if a team are getting his attention too much, he does show it. Earlier on in the game he did tell Sexton to get away from him. I think he just really loves the game and if anything he showed appreciation for what was needed to lay up that drop goal and get it. He is a fan of the sport after all...

The Rape of Lucretia · 04-02-2018 4:58pm

I wouldnt worry about the integrity of the refs - its an impossible job, and error easily mistaken for bias.

I would worry about the integrity of French rugby though. After last years shenanigans in the Wales game, I would consider them now shameless cheats in their abuse of the Hia. This must be cut out quickly and definitevely. A harsh sanction must be imposed on them for yesterday before it becomes a regular feature of the game and pays of for some tean to win an undeserved game or championship.

pickarooney · 04-02-2018 5:29pm

Some bizarre ratings on Rugbyrama.
Palis gets 2/10. I thought he had a fine game.
Most of the team get between 2 and 4.

gooch2k9 · 04-02-2018 5:32pm

pickarooney wrote: »

Some bizarre ratings on Rugbyrama.
Palis gets 2/10. I thought he had a fine game.
Most of the team get between 2 and 4.

I thought they were a bit harsh aye, and RTE were a bit generous.

Neil3030 · 04-02-2018 5:33pm

Owens is actually quite consistent in interpreting laws against the favour of teams he feels are looking for a penalty, especially at crucial moments of the game. It leaves him sometimes looking inconsistent when you compare isolated calls, but you need to take the broader context of the game into account. You had Ireland needing a penalty to win, and arguably the best 9 in the world engineering things at each ruck. The scope to manufacture a penalty there is huge, and I feel he's right to want a clearer infringement in that situation than he might need earlier on in the game.

Having said that, he really should have carded Vahaamahina at some stage.

Dave_The_Sheep · 04-02-2018 5:54pm

Neil3030 wrote: »

Owens is actually quite consistent in interpreting laws against the favour of teams he feels are looking for a penalty, especially at crucial moments of the game. It leaves him sometimes looking inconsistent when you compare isolated calls, but you need to take the broader context of the game into account. You had Ireland needing a penalty to win, and arguably the best 9 in the world engineering things at each ruck. The scope to manufacture a penalty there is huge, and I feel he's right to want a clearer infringement in that situation than he might need earlier on in the game.

... New Zealand, 2013.

Sean Kinsella · 04-02-2018 7:27pm

MJohnston wrote: »

Nigel basically switched off his 'offside in the breakdown' radar for most of the last 5 minutes.

The French were offside with some regularity TBH.

Do that long enough and you can stifle the All Blacks to some extent.

Match preview & thread: FRA vs IRE (Sat Feb 3, 1645)

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