Ireland and France faced off, in Dublin, knowing that only one of them could keep their 100% record. Schmidt was hoping for an improved performance against one of Ireland’s bogey teams. France never fear traveling to Dublin and they were looking to spoil the party while establishing themselves as England’s main title rivals.
Here is a report on the match by “BabyBlueElephant”
Ireland 18 – France 11
by “BabyBlueElephant””
Boy, this game was physical, if you wouldn’t have already guessed with established names like Sean O’Brien, Cian Healy, Theirry Dusautoir, Matheiu Bastareaud (etc.) going head to head. It even prompted Irish head coach Joe Schmidt to remark the French team consisted of “Some of the biggest humans I’ve ever seen”.
The opening quarter was dominated by the Irish: superb tactical kicking by out half Johnny Sexton meant most of the game would be played in an area between the French 22 and half way mark. The only issue being for the Irish was that the French defence was uncharacteristically stubborn.
What’s more Les Blues were a nuisance at the breakdown: whether this came from outstanding technique or the fact that the French outweighed most of their counterparts, sometimes considerably, is debatable. Certainly Bastareaud (weighing in at 271 lbs himself) won at least two turnovers and played key roles in others.
France earned penalty from all this, and established an attacking lineout just inside the Irish half. The man-mountain made Philipe Saint-Andre’s plans for him obvious as he received first phase ball from the lineout. From this the Irish defence laid down a marker in holding up the giant with their now infamous choke tackle, leading to a collapsed maul and an Irish put into the scrum.
This was perhaps the only aspect of the Irish game that could be given a thorough thumbs up after today. The attack would fail repeatedly in flurries into the French half. A cycle developed of Ireland kicking to the French 22, attacking off the lineout only to be turned over. The French would clear and the Irish would repeat the cycle again. In none of this did the Irish look threatening, and in all of this did the French defence show a maturity that’s not been a feature in recent times.
Although the French breakdown play interfered with Ireland’s best laid plans under their supreme tactician of a coach in Schmidt, it wasn’t without its drawbacks. Perhaps the bulk of the French pack interfered with their technique as they struggled to stay on their feet. The ensuing ruck infringements meant Ireland had enough chances to grab a 12-6 lead at half-time.
Jonathan Sexton – luckily was not concussed
After the break Ireland playmaker Jonathan Sexton collided with Bastareaud, of all people, and heads clashed. The Ireland fans held their breath because the Irish outhalf had recently had a mandatory twelve week absence from the game due to concussions. The resultant scene was like something from a heavyweight boxing bout as the two players had to leave to get a fair amount of stitches. Luckily, Sexton was not concussed again.
The Irish grew into the game in the first ten minutes after the break, to take the lead 15-6, but this seemed to spark the French into life. Sometimes French teams need to have their backs to the wall to start being strong opponents—whether this is against management or opposition. It is also no coincidence that the comeback occurred when Morgan Parra replaced Rory Kockott at scrumhalf, much to the approval of visiting fans.
The French changed their tactics, and employed a more fluid game reminiscent of the French teams we all grew up watching and loving. In a sweeping move they broke out from their own half to offload and batter their way up to the Irish five-metre line—only to get cruelly turned over by Munster captain Peter O’Mahony, who was the pick of the loose forwards on the pitch.
This changed the tide of the game: Les Blues upped their tempo and passing game to put pressure on the much-vaunted Irish defence. Eventually an overlap was created for big bopper reserve forward Taofifenua to score for France with nine minutes left on the clock.
By this stage France had twelve offloads to Ireland’s two. The conversion missed; Ireland 18 – France 11.
It would leave a tense final ten minutes, but the Ireland defence seemed to shut down the French attacks with ease. The game ended with French wing Remi Lamerat running down the touchline before Zebo grabbed him and O’Brien assisted by barging the mercurial Frenchman into touch. This one play underlined how important the returning players are to the side, especially with England coming to the Aviva next week in a mouth-watering showdown.
Vincent Debarty – part of French resistance
The wrap up
France are improving. Their attack has come on leaps and bounds the last few games, its still criticised as one dimensional, but boy they’re on the up and have the personnel.
Ireland are two from two, as are England; whoever wins next week will feel it’s their championship to lose.
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The Game Changer
Ireland’s opening ten minutes in the second half was the difference; they were more clinical in attack and this enabled them to earn the first points after the break.
This made it a two-score game for the French to win, and one try wasn’t enough.
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The G&GR MOTM
Ireland’s inside centre Robbie Henshaw, put in a strong defensive shift topping the Irish tackle charts with 15, but we’ll give this to Johnny Sexton.
In his first game back in three months he dominated the test match; had France had him things could’ve been different. [/one_half]
The Details
Score & Scorers
[one_half last=”no”]Ireland 18
Penalties: Sexton (5/5), Madigan (1/1)[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]France 11
Tries: Taofifenua (71)
Conversions: Lopez (0/1)
Penalties: (2/2)[/one_half]
[one_half last=”no”]
Cards & citings
Yellow cards:
Pascal Pape – (54)
Rory Best – (61)
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[one_half last=”yes”]
Crowd
50,000[/one_half]
The Teams
Ireland
1 Jack McGrath, 2 Rory Best, 3 Mike Ross, 4 Devin Toner, 5 Paul O’Connell (c), 6 Peter O’Mahony, 7 Sean O’Brien, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 9 Conor Murray, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 11 Simon Zebo, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 13 Jared Payne, 14 Tommy Bowe, 15 Rob Kearney
Reserves: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Martin Moore, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Felix Jones
France
1 Eddy Ben Arous, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 3 Rabah Slimani, 4 Pascal Papé, 5 Yoann Maestri, 6 Thierry Dusautoir, 7 Bernard Le Roux, 8 Damien Chouly, 9 Rory Kockott, 10 Camille Lopez, 11 Teddy Thomas, 12 Wesley Fofana, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 14 Yoann Huget, 15 Scott Spedding
Reserves: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Uini Atonio, 18 Vincent Debaty, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Loann Goujon, 21 Morgan Parra, 22 Rémi Talès, 23 Rémi Lamerat.
See next page for a report on Scotland v. Wales by Mike Korolsihin
