Win the fight
Win the fight, win the war. That’s the way it used to be in French rugby, at both club and international level, throughout the amateur era. I remember being caught by surprise at the level of violence the first time I played against France at the old Parc de Princes. Let’s just say games against them at Lansdowne Road tended to be a bit different.
Thankfully, with the advent of professionalism, the presence of multiple cameras with a variety of angles, and the addition of a television match official, the game has changed dramatically. That said, be in no doubt that, despite the presence of some incredibly talented players spread across a quality back line spearheaded by the best player in the game in Antoine Dupont, it’s still up front where France will look to lay the ground rules today.
Ireland’s scrum looked extremely vulnerable against Wales in Cardiff, conceding four penalties in the opening half alone. For whatever reason, Andrew Porter appears to have attracted the wrath of English officials. There are times when he appears more sinned against than sinning.
From that perspective, the presence of Christophe Ridley as referee at the Principality Stadium was always going to be an issue. While Australian Angus Gardner is in charge today, Ridley and Matthew Carley will be stationed on the line as assistant referees so Porter will need to be wary.
The fact that Finlay Bealham is back at tighthead from the outset will help matters but the continued absence of Tadhg Furlong from the matchday squad is an issue. The French, with Jean-Baptiste Gros in serious form at loosehead prop, backed up off the bench by the excellent Cyril Baille, will chase every engagement, especially with Ireland having the lowest scrum success rate in the tournament on 88% compared to the second-placed French on 94%.
France are at their best when they not only respect their opponent but know they will have to perform to their absolute best to beat them. They made the fatal mistake of taking England somewhat for granted at Twickenham and, despite being clearly the better side, conspired to lose a game, butchering at least three clear try-scoring opportunities. They will not make that mistake today.
If in any doubt as to where this game sits in the context of their campaign, you only need look back to Dupont’s interview in his capacity as player of the match immediately after France’s astonishing 24-73 dismantling of a decent Italian side. Dupont’s thoughts had already shifted to their next outing at the Aviva Stadium two weeks down the road.
Speaking in perfect English, the French genius said: “Huge assignment in Dublin, probably the main point of the tournament, the main game for us.”
Need I say more?
France’s second juggernaut
Ever since South Africa retained the 2023 World Cup, winning their quarter-final, semi-final, and final against France, England, and New Zealand, respective, by a single point, I’ve come to realise that, more than ever before, it’s the side that carries the greater power impact off the bench that invariably prevails.
France went with a 7/1 split of forwards over backs for the first time in that dismantling of Italy last time out. In my opinion, Fabien Galthie chose to go down that road with two specific targets in mind. The first was to not only beat Italy but to wear them down with unrelenting physicality up front.
That would enable them to rack up a cricket score, thus greatly improving their points differential, a necessity to win the championship given their defeat to England in the previous round. With a current differential of +91 (Ireland are +28), they achieved that first objective.
The second was as a trial run for the tournament showdown against Ireland in Dublin. If proved successful in Rome, which it clearly was, Galthie had every intention of repeating the exercise.
He is also mindful that in three successive Champions Cup finals, Leinster’s heavily laden Irish pack emerged second best against La Rochelle and Toulouse.
His starting pack today features six forwards from those two clubs alone, with another six waiting in reserve on the bench. Against Italy, France unleashed six monstrous forwards en masse on the 48th minute. The departing sextet knew in advance that this was going to happen, which enabled them to go flat out from the outset, knowing they would only play for 50 minutes at most.
Ireland need to prepare in advance for the physical and psychological impact a repeat of this exercise is going to have. I can hear the roars from the stands already. In all likelihood, Ireland will need to be ahead on the scoreboard when the juggernaut French replacement pack arrives.
While that bench is an impressive weapon, especially with four of the Toulouse front five arriving as one cohesive back-up unit, Ireland must be ready to match fire with fire.
In that respect, it’s vital the hardened core of international bench experience Ireland have in Cian Healy, James Ryan, Jack Conan, Rob Herring, and Ryan Baird prove capable of matching their French counterparts.
Stardust and nostalgia
A potent and electrifying mix of stardust and nostalgia awaits us at the Aviva Stadium this afternoon. Moments of individual genius may well be required to separate the two best teams in the tournament. On that front, France hold an ace with the magical Dupont looking to inspire a French back line not only sprinkled with stardust but made up exclusively from the two best attacking Top 14 clubs in Toulouse and Bordeaux.
Then you have the return to arms of the prolific Damian Penaud on one wing, looking to surpass the French try-scoring record held for so long by the great Serge Blanco. He links up with teammates Yoram Moefana in the centre and Louis Bielle-Biarrey on the other wing who, at 21 years of age, already looks destined for greatness.
The return from suspension of Dupont’s regular half-back partner Romain Ntamack not only enables Thomas Ramos to revert to his favoured role at full back, it means that, with Toulouse centre Pierre-Louis Barassi holding on to the No.13 shirt, there’s a familiarity in style and shape given both clubs play with a very similar offloading, counter-attacking style that makes for a lethal combination, especially from broken play.
Today’s contest offers an interesting contrast in style. Ireland now play a more direct game where, in the recent past, they were devoted to a multi-phase game that forced the opposition into conceding penalties, leading to tries, with those penalties leading to Ireland getting a foothold in the opposition 22.
With the tactical awareness and kicking prowess brought to bear by the increasingly more influential half-back pairing of Jamison Gibson-Park and Sam Prendergast, Ireland now spend less time carrying the ball into contact. They are supplemented by two quality left-footed kicking options in Jamie Osborne and James Lowe, also used to generate as many red-zone entries without expending anything like the same energy.
The challenge with this French side is they’re capable of playing both ways. Powerful and direct up front, brilliantly inventive in attack. They created enough chances against England to win at a canter.
To win this intriguing contest today, Ireland need to be flawless at the set piece and dominate the kicking battle in the air and on the ground at the breakdown.
It also marks the last home international for three generational players in Healy, Peter O'Mahony, and Conor Murray. The nostalgia surrounding the last stand of that outstanding trio should help elicit the fervent support so badly needed on days like this to see Ireland over the line.
It’s a big ask, necessitating their best performance of the championship to date to keep Grand Slam hopes alive.
