As I've said elsewhere I think Schmidt will target our wingers heavily. None of them has impressed, none of them seems safe enough under the high ball: see Grosso being shown up by his opposite number in a restart against Canada. That's why I believe he persisted with Dulin on the wing, and why we might see him again there on sunday. It also gives us a good left boot to exit our camp, and PSA loves a percentage game.
I'm sure Schmidt will have kept a few of his pivot Leinster moves up his sleeve. That's where we'll see whether our up-and-hold defence still looks shaky. Apart from the occasional pilfer by Ben Arous or Bastareaud, I expect us to stick to the pattern and prioritize realignment over breakdown work. When well-executed (usually equated with 'when we are not passive because we face a stronger team on paper than us'), that constantly refuelled wall of blue brings about weariness in the attacking team, forcing it to lose its shape, make mistakes, turn the ball over, etc.
Not sure whether I agree with Babyblueelephant on our set-piece looking average. I would rate our scrum as one of the best in the comp, and I can see Healy taking a few steps back against Slimani. Our LO is very dependent on the presence of Chouly though, who as excellent as he is there goes missing in the tight channels.
I really don't know what to expect tbh. We've become a depressingly predictable side under PSA, never losing by many but almost always losing. Yet we've got 5 consecutive wins in the bag for the first time since his appointment, our set-piece is looking stronger than it ever has (thanks to Bru), our goal-kickers are on song (thanks to "robocop" Teulet) and some of our key players are looking damn sharp - the front row, Maestri, Picamoles, Dusautoir, Michalak, Fofana.
Bring on Ireland, let's make that 4 / 4 against the paddies on the world cup stage.
