France v Ireland 6N Thread

[tc27]

Why kick the ball away?

Great game as to be expected from the competitions best sides.

[Ymx]

Absolute nonsense to suggest no part of that ball didn't touch the ground with no evidence to suggest otherwise.

Absolutely. Crazy call. And completely against the benefit to the attacking team principal

[Ymx]

Good couple of matches.

[Ymx]

Are France now the only contenders for the slam?

[JM2K6]

Superb game. A credit to the tournament. Well done both sides. Fuck off Harrison and D'Arcy.

[Blackmac]

Are France now the only contenders for the slam?

Yeah. Script set up fir Scotland to yet again ruin someone's Grand Slam.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Bold call to take Two Bridges off (Deux Ponte). Surprised with that no try call at the end. One of those that would be given 9 times out of 10.

[C69]

For the 5th time, France f**k up the restart. This is why France will NOT win a RWC. A game that should have been won at a canter ends up with the risk of being lost.

France should have won by 30 plus.
Ireland were dire.

[JM2K6]

For the 5th time, France f**k up the restart. This is why France will NOT win a RWC. A game that should have been won at a canter ends up with the risk of being lost.

France should have won by 30 plus.
Ireland were dire.

What match were you watching??

[Blackmac]

Aldritt comes across as a nice lad.

[Ymx]

For the 5th time, France f**k up the restart. This is why France will NOT win a RWC. A game that should have been won at a canter ends up with the risk of being lost.

France should have won by 30 plus.
Ireland were dire.

What match were you watching??

Indeed

[Blackmac]

For the 5th time, France f**k up the restart. This is why France will NOT win a RWC. A game that should have been won at a canter ends up with the risk of being lost.

France should have won by 30 plus.
Ireland were dire.

Eh??

[Flockwitt]

For the 5th time, France f**k up the restart. This is why France will NOT win a RWC. A game that should have been won at a canter ends up with the risk of being lost.

France should have won by 30 plus.
Ireland were dire.

What match were you watching??

Ireland played plenty of good rugby. A tight match like this, it's the additional error that costs a match, doesn't mean they were dire.

What I though was key was the numbers both teams were sending into the breakdown, and both teams made a real contest of it. The days of one or two men rucks are over.

[ASMO]

Full on full blooded game, both teams throwing the kitchen sink at each other, was great to watch, well done to both teams.

[Biffer]

Not happy that POM is still out there. He was sparked, no question.

Yep. Poor show from the Irleand medical team and the TMO / match doctor

[Torquemada 1420]

Aldritt comes across as a nice lad.

Yes. He is a genuinely humble bloke who works harder than any other player except maybe Villiere. He really ought to be the captain but Galthie is so desperate to shoe-horn Jelonch in (hence wasting Woki at lock) that if Ollivon were fit, Aldritt would not even be a starter.

[Torquemada 1420]

Ireland played plenty of good rugby. A tight match like this, it's the additional error that costs a match, doesn't mean they were dire.

What I though was key was the numbers both teams were sending into the breakdown, and both teams made a real contest of it. The days of one or two men rucks are over.

I beg to differ althought it depends what you call "good rugby". They play plenty of effective rugby: probably more effective than any other side in the world. But it's all about ruck to ruck, keep possesion and grind down the opponents. They are superb at it but if refs actually policed the breakdown correctly (rather than giving up on the laws as long as clean ball is available as a result), their effectiveness would be significantly diminished.

[Torquemada 1420]

It’s tough to be a French fan even with a wining team.

Oh and Gardner still is a shit ref.

Hand 14 points to the opposition. Yes, that takes the gloss off severely.

[C69]

It’s tough to be a French fan even with a wining team.

Oh and Gardner still is a shit ref.

Hand 14 points to the opposition. Yes, that takes the gloss off severely.

Yip thats why I think you should have won easily.

You gifted Ireland 14 points

You were far far superior.
The score flatters Ireland

[Uncle fester]

Well done France. That was a cracking game. Deserved winners.

[Uncle fester]

For the 5th time, France f**k up the restart. This is why France will NOT win a RWC. A game that should have been won at a canter ends up with the risk of being lost.

France should have won by 30 plus.
Ireland were dire.

*Sympathy nibble*

[C69]

For the 5th time, France f**k up the restart. This is why France will NOT win a RWC. A game that should have been won at a canter ends up with the risk of being lost.

France should have won by 30 plus.
Ireland were dire.

*Sympathy nibble*

What?

[Grandpa]

Mr Foster were you watching? That's how you play rugby.

[Lady P]

Bold call to take Two Bridges off (Deux Ponte). Surprised with that no try call at the end. One of those that would be given 9 times out of 10.

Tony Bridge. Yeah, weird decision. Were they worried about an injury?

I was raging at how that try was presented to the TMO. Ref saying simultaneously he could not see and also that it wasn’t a try. And the Ireland 4 getting off without even giving a penalty for an obvious block….

[Slick]

Just finished watched, good entertaining match.

Dupont is only really firing on a couple of cylinders at the moment and is still the best player in the world.

That French 11 is a loon, love it.

Who was the fucking Irish commentator on ITV? Jesus Christ. The French players could be flick flacking down the pitch tossing the ball to each other and it wouldn’t raise a comment. Irish player scratches his arse and it’s the finest piece of arse scratching ever seen, done with poise, confidence and skill

[sockwithaticket]

Just finished watched, good entertaining match.

Dupont is only really firing on a couple of cylinders at the moment and is still the best player in the world.

That French 11 is a loon, love it.

Who was the fucking Irish commentator on ITV? Jesus Christ. The French players could be flick flacking down the pitch tossing the ball to each other and it wouldn’t raise a comment. Irish player scratches his arse and it’s the finest piece of arse scratching ever seen, done with poise, confidence and skill

Gordon D'Arcy. Another to file under 'Why the fuck are they paying him to open his mouth?'.

[TheFrog]

Full on full blooded game, both teams throwing the kitchen sink at each other, was great to watch, well done to both teams.

Agree, what a cracking game! French forward stopped up 3 gears from the Italy game and took the game to the Irish in the first half, and Jaminet duly converted the opportunities.

French backrow was immense. Villière is a dog! Edwards is the best signing ever for the French team.

What really has changed for France is that we have a world class placed kicker now (though as a full back, he did worry me at times) and they didn't implode after allowing Ireland back into the game and conceding 14-0 in 10 minutes. They hanged in there, rallied and went on to win.

[TheFrog]

Aldritt comes across as a nice lad.

Must be the Scottish ancestry.

[fishfoodie]

Edwards is the best signing ever for the French team.

Yep !

They fecked up Irelands supply of clean ball from the breakdown, & defended with real structure & intent; & because the ref was letting them away with it, they won.

It's frustrating now; but it's a useful lesson for Ireland; because they need to have a Plan B, & C; if this happens again.

[TheFrog]

Edwards is the best signing ever for the French team.

Yep !

They fecked up Irelands supply of clean ball from the breakdown, & defended with real structure & intent; & because the ref was letting them away with it, they won.

It's frustrating now; but it's a useful lesson for Ireland; because they need to have a Plan B, & C; if this happens again.

Key was to slow down that Irish ball and they did well indeed.

I have to confess though, that when Ireland had that last penalty in front of the posts and didn't go for the corner, I was relieved. The way they scored their try from a maul reminded me the U20 game and had me worried...

[Zig]

What a game. Well done France, deserved winners.

Joey Cadbury earned his chocolate buttons, great performance.

France v England should be a great game too, probably the only NH team who can match them physicaly.

[Dan54]

Bloody enjoyed getting up and watching that this morning. By geez the French have got some big boys in that forward pack. They played game pretty well. Irish weren't mugs by any means, and no shame for anyone losing a match like that! You would actually wonder with the size of French pack whether the need for a real quick game is a priority to try and wear them down or something.
Keeps reminding me why I enjoy this game!

[Guy Smiley]

Mr Foster were you watching? That's how you play rugby.

He’d watch that and ignore it.

[Dan54]

Mr Foster were you watching? That's how you play rugby.

He’d watch that and ignore it.

I doubt whether there much he would do about it anyway, reckon we need to find some big boys if we want to play that rugby. We kind of might get stuck if we try to play that style rugby with the size and of our tighties. I suspect we need someone like PT to come through pretty strong as Sam W and Brodie R may struggle against these young fellas, and much as I hate to say it super rugby isn't bringing through props that will handle these packs. I struggle to think of any props that would scare those packs.
But then again, we might have some come through and prove me wrong. I hope so anyway.

[La soule]

How is Cros in this side ahead of Macalou?

Is that a serious question??

[Torquemada 1420]

Bloody enjoyed getting up and watching that this morning. By geez the French have got some big boys in that forward pack. They played game pretty well. Irish weren't mugs by any means, and no shame for anyone losing a match like that! You would actually wonder with the size of French pack whether the need for a real quick game is a priority to try and wear them down or something.
Keeps reminding me why I enjoy this game!

You say that, but it's misleading because of Atonio and Willemse. Baille and Marchand are quite compact and certainly not out of the ordinary for a loosie and a hooker. Woki is a flanker shoe-horned (incorrectly) at lock and will be one of the lighter ones in world rugby. Aldritt is very light for an 8. Cros I'd guess was middle to light for a flanker. Jelonch is a bit of a lump who I'd guess as being slightly above the average.

You won't wear them down because
- Woki, Aldritt, Cros and Jelonch can go forever. Esp the first two.
- Where France is massively strong now is the number of options they have on the bench for the front row e.g. at hooker, they have Mauvaka, Chat and Bourgarit who'd walk into many other sides.

[Torquemada 1420]

How is Cros in this side ahead of Macalou?

Is that a serious question??

Setting aside the continual dislike for him due to Edinburgh-gate, yes. He came on and changed the game against Cros's team on Friday. There is no better athlete in France: he's even more so than Itoje. No other side would waste him on the whim of politics.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Woki is a flanker shoe-horned (incorrectly) at lock and will be one of the lighter ones in world rugby.

Interesting because for all he seems to have the potential, and he may yet adapt to test rugby and return rather more successfully to the third line, he's so far come across as something of an empty shirt in the backrow. Whereas stepping in at lock, perhaps merely by simplifying the game for him, he's suddenly having a much bigger impact on games and his talent isn't going wasted

[La soule]

How is Cros in this side ahead of Macalou?

Is that a serious question??

Setting aside the continual dislike for him due to Edinburgh-gate, yes. He came on and changed the game against Cros's team on Friday. There is no better athlete in France: he's even more so than Itoje. No other side would waste him on the whim of politics.

He is a supberb athlete, a physicall freak of nature
.

But

He does not have the head in the right place, is not a team player and does not commit to the team. He's had chances in the French team but under delivered every single time. He just does not appear to be able to handle this type of pressure. I don' need my 6 to spend his entire game on the fucking wing.

Cros is the opposite of that and a leader on top.

[Torquemada 1420]

He is a supberb athlete, a physicall freak of nature
.

But

He does not have the head in the right place, is not a team player and does not commit to the team. He's had chances in the French team but under delivered every single time. He just does not appear to be able to handle this type of pressure. I don' need my 6 to spend his entire game on the fucking wing.

Cros is the opposite of that and a leader on top.

He's had chances? 6 caps? 3 of them before 2021 and 2 of those in the meaningless tour to SA. 3 of them against Jap, Ita and a 2nd string Arg side. The one serious cap he was given was in the cheating Brace loss to Eng. I agree he was very poor last time out against Arg but I wonder how much that is down to the pressure of "you get one chance son". He's the odd one out. Fra has persisted in giving players chances time and again over the years (Poitrenaud, Serin for example). Even Thomas can be argued to have had more leeway and worse discipline: Macalou was one incident. And yes, I have some bias since he is (another) Sarcelles lad.

Cros is a separate issue really. You know my view. I thought he looked promising early on but his discipline has regularly been poor: giving away dumb pens for Toulouse regularly. The back row is unbalanced: lacking craft. Cros is too similar to Jelonch. At least Woki being back there (or even Ollivon) provides a Magne type link man. On form, Lauret should be there: he's miles ahead of Cros.

As an aside:

Fabien Galthie will be delighted with the forward effort, less so that of his midfield. For the second week running Romain Ntamack offered little in terms of individual threat or match control and there’s sure to be a heated debate amongst the French supporters whether or not it’s time for Matthieu Jalibert to be reinstated following his injury comeback this week