Match report: France vs Ireland

I think Dusatoir was the only one who made a contribution to today´s game. The other players just didn´t seem to want to be there. The ref was another source of controversy in this match and I think once again was crucial in deciding the outcome of the match.

My sympathies to Red Stag and all the Irish supporters who travelled to the match. You have to feel for those who made the effort for no result.

Pearce was MOTM wasn't he?

Maybe they will now think about match schedules, 9pm kick off in Feb - nuts.

Feel really sorry for all who made the effort to travel to the "match".

Brian Moore was MOTM for his comment on 5 live about the possible methane under the ground and the old f*rts.

Boo - you can say fart on these boards...

You can fart on the boards as well if you want to...

The game was still more interesting than the Italy England game

Cheers Cari, I don't usually use language like that!! There's enough methane around these boards already.

BOO wrote:Cheers Cari, I don't usually use language like that!! There's enough methane around these boards already.

BOO wrote:Maybe they will now think about match schedules, 9pm kick off in Feb - nuts.

Brass Monkey nuts.

Has there been any comment on when the game might be rescheduled?

J_D wrote:

Was that a reply or another report on Saturday's rugby?

I hope they do it next week... my whole mind and body was conditioned to expect that game last night. It's a strange feeling, when it didn't take place.

I think the players will be feeling that same tightness - as if the energy built up to release in the game needs an outlet sooner rather than later. It really is unfinished business that needs to be dealth with at the earliest. I don't like the idea of weeks of waiting.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Has there been any comment on when the game might be rescheduled?

Yep, Saturday 18 Feb or Friday 2 March

Cheers eirebilly. Is next weekend a rest weekend for the other teams?

I agree SecretFly. Ireland have the ability to build themselves up for the big matches but I wonder if this non-event match will do them psychological damage. No doubt they were well and truly fired up with their loss to Wales the previous weekend. This match is a must win to keep their championship chances alive. So what harm will it do them when having built themselves up into a fever to prepare themselves for the game, that psyching up came to nothing? Of course they are professionals but that is a big mental loss of energy and with still the uncertainty of when the match will happen.

Yes kia, next weekend is or was a rest weekend.

Is there club rugby as it´s a rest weekend? I hope they release the players if that´s the case. This weekend I´ve been unable to watch any rugby so sorry about all the questions.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Is there club rugby as it´s a rest weekend? I hope they release the players if that´s the case. This weekend I´ve been unable to watch any rugby so sorry about all the questions.

There is club rugby and i am not sure that the clubs like Toulous and Clermont will want to release their players......

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Cheers eirebilly. Is next weekend a rest weekend for the other teams?

I agree SecretFly. Ireland have the ability to build themselves up for the big matches but I wonder if this non-event match will do them psychological damage. No doubt they were well and truly fired up with their loss to Wales the previous weekend. This match is a must win to keep their championship chances alive. So what harm will it do them when having built themselves up into a fever to prepare themselves for the game, that psyching up came to nothing? Of course they are professionals but that is a big mental loss of energy and with still the uncertainty of when the match will happen.

The Irish yes - but the French too. Their coach was saying he wanted the game played as his players were in their particular mental zone too. The delay could dilute the intensity of the game for both sides. Don't think it will but I'm just impatient to have it played and that the normal rhythm of 6N can be resumed.

I agree it will disrupt the French as well. But they´re at home and I think the Irish have a more arduous task of getting back into the right frame of mind for this match.

Another situation might be both sides are so amped for the game that when it finally does happen, we get fireworks and a game to remember.

But I feel sorry for the players and supporters in all of this. Hopefully there is a rethink on these night games. I hate how NZ always plays at night now for the TV market. Day games are better for fans and for spectators in my opinion in any event.

Last the Crusaders played at Twickenham when their pitch in New Zealand was destroyed by the earthquake. It was played in the warm sunshine and was spectacular to watch.

Perhaps the favour should be returned and Ireland could play France at Eden Park in the height of the NZ summer, or perhaps South Africa where it's warmer, more likely to actually be sunny, we'd get a decent turn out and still be the in same time zone.

We should take our game to the SH perhaps, seizing the opportunity to do something a bit different. Involve them in our traditions and style. Next weekend is the scheduled break in the tournament anyway.

What both the Irish and the French should worry about is the fact that neither made any line breaks, no defenders beaten and zero offloads.

On the positive side, neither lost a line out, a scrum, no knock ons and no turnovers

Also, O'Gara didn't miss a kick. Great boot on him, that man

eirebilly wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Is there club rugby as it´s a rest weekend? I hope they release the players if that´s the case. This weekend I´ve been unable to watch any rugby so sorry about all the questions.

There is club rugby and i am not sure that the clubs like Toulous and Clermont will want to release their players......

It doesn't matter want they want, IRB regulations mean that they have to release the players. Last night was a fiasco, I was down near the pitch at different times during the day and the night before and it was obvious that there was a high chance of the pitch freezing. Although the problem of expenses is much worse for the Irish people in the crowd, it is a pain for the French as well as the vast majority live in the south of France so will have been staying in Paris for the night.

valjester wrote:it is a pain for the French as well as the vast majority live in the south of France so will have been staying in Paris for the night.

Staying in Paris for the night. You see - every cloud has a silver lining. And on this occasion it's the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris.