France v Ireland, 11 October

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FRANCE v IRELAND
11 October 2015
KO: 16:45
The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Live on [tbc]

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Touch judges:Wayne Barnes (England) & Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)

A. Head to Head

93 Played 93
55 Won 31
7 Drawn 7
31 Lost 55
1508 Points 1084

B. Recent Form

14 February 2015
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
18 – 11 to Ireland

15 March 2014
Stade de France, Saint Denis
20 – 22 to Ireland

9 March 2013
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
13 – 13 Draw

4 March 2012
Stade de France, Saint Denis
17 – 17 Draw

20 August 2011
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
22 – 26 to France

13 August 2011
Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux
19 – 12 to France

C. Teams

FRANCE

15 Scott Spedding, 14 Noa Nakaitaci, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Brice Dulin, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde; 1 Eddy Ben Arous, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 3 Rabah Slimani, 4 Pascal Pape, 5 Yoann Maestri, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 7 Damien Chouly, 8 Louis Picamoles.

Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Nicolas Mas, 19 Alexandre Flanquart, 20 Bernard Le Roux, 21 Morgan Parra, 22 Remi Tales, 23 Alexandre Dumoulin.

IRELAND

15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Robbie Henshaw , 11 Dave Kearney,  10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Cian Healy, 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.

Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Nathan White, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Chris Henry, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Luke Fitzgerald.

BamBam wrote:POM confirmed out for the rest of the tournament

Id imagine thats Conan called up. If SOB gets more than a 1 game ban can we drop him or do they have to be injured?

rodders wrote:

I agree. I don't think Pape dived, I think he was genuinely winded and SOB will be in big trouble.

I think he might get a 3 match ban and then reduced on a previous clean record to 1-2 games going by how Hooper's went but who knows....

How did Hogg's go? I saw him help Scotland get through to the quarters?

If it's solar plexus and you're not expecting it, you drop like a stone. Depends exactly where it caught him, so he could have been milking it, but equally he could have been doubled up in pain. I think the latter more likely

Was it likely to cause serious injury, no, but when they're dishing out bans like confetti for foul play you can't let a blatant punch go.

Well done Ireland, it felt like the French kept shooting themselves in the foot during the game but you have to give credit to Ireland's intensity cresting the pressure on them. A good win and well deserved, the fact that you lose the first two names on your team sheet but look every bit as good afterwards, if not better, is impressive... And reassuring as you're going to have to repeat it.

Being suggested by some bad form by some that Irish supporters should not be criticising Pape

Why not - he milked it and has previous (not talking about Heaslip)

However I don't any sane person can complain about SOB being cited and banned.
He should be both cited and banned

rodders wrote:What might stand to SOB is that he wasn't looking at Pape when he lashed out.

??

"I meant to punch the air in defiance and Pape got in the way"

Jesus Rodders - even I as his well paid legal advisor wouldn't tell him to try that one.

Golden wrote:

BamBam wrote:POM confirmed out for the rest of the tournament

Id imagine thats Conan called up. If SOB gets more than a 1 game ban can we drop him or do they have to be injured?

Bad news but best get these injuries confirmed and move on - Diack might be a better lineout replacement? Would like to see Ruddock come in if he's fit.

Can you drop someone for a suspension though or is it only for injuries?

Murphy and Henry will do fine - trouble is, after them there is a big drop off.

A real pity TOD is injured as well.

When do we know who will replace Payne?

Any chance Ferris and BOD have a couple of games left in them?

Ferris's love-child was playing these last few games. I always smile a little when I see those push backs.... "This is what Daddy used to do"

Ferris only picked up scrum halves, Hendo picks up forwards!

Apparently the word from the Irish camp is that Pape attempted to give SOB an impromptu prostate massage which is why he lashed out

Exiled Gael wrote:Apparently the word from the Irish camp is that Pape attempted to give SOB an impromptu prostate massage which is why he lashed out

The only difference that level of provocation will make is that if it's proven Pape might get banned too. Retaliation is still strictly prohibited and no matter what Pape did we need to plan to be without SOB.

If thats true, I'm disappointed that SOB didn't give him a few more

Exiled Gael wrote:Apparently the word from the Irish camp is that Pape attempted to give SOB an impromptu prostate massage which is why he lashed out

He could have waited till the team bath afterwards

They're trying to clone O'Brien right now in Dublin from tissue taken from his knuckles.... hoping to have some Pape in there too obviously

So fingers crossed that O'Brien Mark2 will be good to go next week

rapidsnowman wrote:Murphy and Henry will do fine - trouble is, after them there is a big drop off.

A real pity TOD is injured as well.

When do we know who will replace Payne?

Mick Kearney seemed to suggest they'll look at the full picture now before making the calls

Pape could have at least bought him dinner

well done paddies, great team, it made me even more proud of our last week performance and helps a lot to kill regrets....

Exiled Gael wrote:Apparently the word from the Irish camp is that Pape attempted to give SOB an impromptu prostate massage which is why he lashed out

In France that's considered romantic. I'm sure I saw Pape chatting his up too.

Marshes wrote:Earls is a better overall player than Payne? It what universe has he proven that at international level?! He is only better in the sense that he is currently not in a fecking moon boot. Aside from that I don't know what evidence you are basing it on. His juggling act today? Solid in defence, a bit headless in attack, better utilised on the wing. Not a hugely controversial opinion.

I don't know what that gibberish about Murphy is related to.

Cant read...or comprehend...about as good as your commentary on rugby players...

Best moment of the match....Chris Henry when possibly injured....Owens asks whats my name...Henry..."Francois"..

I didn't hear his response but knew it was a smart one the way Nigel reacted.

Best moment of the match....Chris Henry when possibly injured....Owens asks whats my name...Henry..."Francois"..

There was nothing wrong with Henry there. He was getting instructions from Joe via the medic. When Owens came over and asked if he needed to go off Henry almost looked embarrassed and was saying 'I'm fine'.

Best moment of the match for me was Henderson standing over our ruck ball protecting it himself. 3 Frenchmen tried to put a drive on to disrupt and from a standing start Henderson drove them back himself.

He doesn't even look that strong, but he has some strength in those legs. Couldn't understand why they didn't pop it to him more when we were within a few metres of the French line.

rapidsnowman wrote:

He doesn't even look that strong, but he has some strength in those legs. Couldn't understand why they didn't pop it to him more when we were within a few metres of the French line.

Don't give him too much to do!!! Save him for a longer spell.

That's actually why we'll miss O'Brien (or hopefully his replacement tries to take over where he left of) because its the division of labour in the driving that made us so powerful in that second half. The French were getting it from all sides and couldn't commit fully to any one player.

Congratulations on a well deserved win which has put you on the right side of the curve, well done Notch, Fly and Eirebilly n Rodders. Now lets not see this as something before the Lord Mayors show just like the ROI footie team - Massive game against a quality Arg team looks like being the game of the 1/4's for me.

Together Standing and Punching Tall

Cheers Guru, hopefully you guys put those pesky South Africans in their place

Lets see............ if Wales climb all over South Africa, scare the schidt out of them with their ferocious intensity stuff, camp on the SA try line for the full second 40 and score the games only two late tries from kicks to touch and lineouts.....

...and Scotland catch the Wallabies napping under the shade of their self-satisfaction at a Pool A well won....

..and if Ireland again beat the bookies who'll say they gonna be beaten up by beatable Argies in the infinitely beatable side of the draw.............

?????


...would that be a record for Nations of the Worst League in Chunky World getting most entries ever into a World Cup semi-final stage?

Gwlad wrote:SOB will get cited for Pape

Sonny O'Bill?
An uppercut or a jab d'you reckon?

SecretFly wrote:Lets see............ if Wales climb all over South Africa, scare the schidt out of them with their ferocious intensity stuff, camp on the SA try line for the full second 40 and score the games only two late tries from kicks to touch and lineouts.....

...and Scotland catch the Wallabies napping under the shade of their self-satisfaction at a Pool A well won....

..and if Ireland again beat the bookies who'll say they gonna be beaten up by beatable Argies in the infinitely beatable side of the draw.............

?????


...would that be a record for Nations of the Worst League in Chunky World getting most entries ever into a World Cup semi-final stage?

Hmm .... put up with Welsh fans if they manage to beat SA, or the delight of old Chunk if the semi finals are made up of NZ, Ireland, Wales and Scotland

Can we have it both ways and have the Welsh go out too?

Rugby World Cup 2015: Ireland's Sean O'Brien cited for striking

Ireland flanker Sean O'Brien could miss Sunday's World Cup quarter-final against Argentina after he was cited for striking in the win over France.
The Leinster player faces a hearing in London on Tuesday after appearing to punch Pascal Pape in Cardiff.
Two weeks is the minimum suspension for striking so the 28-year-old back row would miss at least the quarter-final if the citing is upheld.
O'Brien was man of the match in the 24-9 win over France on Sunday.
The absence of O'Brien would add to back-row difficulties for coach Joe Schmidt after fellow flanker Peter O'Mahony was ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury.
Chris Henry and Jordi Murphy are potential replacements, while the versatile Iain Henderson could make the switch from the second row.

O'Brien is officialy cited for that punch on papee. 2 weeks is the minimum ban.

Should he be banned for the rest of the tournament? and not just two weeks?

BamBam wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Lets see............ if Wales climb all over South Africa, scare the schidt out of them with their ferocious intensity stuff, camp on the SA try line for the full second 40 and score the games only two late tries from kicks to touch and lineouts.....

...and Scotland catch the Wallabies napping under the shade of their self-satisfaction at a Pool A well won....

..and if Ireland again beat the bookies who'll say they gonna be beaten up by beatable Argies in the infinitely beatable side of the draw.............

?????


...would that be a record for Nations of the Worst League in Chunky World getting most entries ever into a World Cup semi-final stage?

Hmm .... put up with Welsh fans if they manage to beat SA, or the delight of old Chunk if the semi finals are made up of NZ, Ireland, Wales and Scotland

Can we have it both ways and have the Welsh go out too?

I don't think Chunky comments on the Internationals to be honest. Let's leave the 'beef' to the club threads.

If SOB apologises on Twitter will they go easy on him??

I reckon he will get a week max. Low end 2weeks for the fist not being closed and provocation and a week knocked off for a good disciplinary record. He also didn't catch him in the gut, as some have been suggesting. He caught the ribs just below Pape's left pectoral. Not that it makes a difference in my view, he should not have struck out.

Can we be seen to support this kind of thing, punching a player for what? just because that player is on the opposing team.

No 2 weeks ins not long enough in my opinion.

We should not tolerate this sort of thing.

'One leads to the other' has always been my opinion so the link between threads is to me natural and appropriate.

And it's 'banter' not 'beef'. These pages are fully stocked with 'banter' over the last few weeks, Griff.

majesticimperialman wrote:Can we be seen to support this kind of thing, punching a player for what? just because that player is on the opposing team.

No 2 weeks ins not long enough in my opinion.

We should not tolerate this sort of thing.

He'll probably get banned from the anthems....

Let's wait and see if it was just a player on an opposing team.  Some say Pape's finger strolled where it wasn't wanted.

SecretFly wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:Can we be seen to support this kind of thing, punching a player for what? just because that player is on the opposing team.

No 2 weeks ins not long enough in my opinion.

We should not tolerate this sort of thing.

He'll probably get banned from the anthems....  

Pocock got detention so I suspect SOB will get the same plus 50 lines.

I'm only joking Dave. I expect him to get one match ban at least. It's too direct a punch. It might have been provoked but it visually doesn't look so. So unless there are angles that the public never see they'll have to act on the visible.

The more I look at it the more concerned I would be that he will get longer than one week.

SecretFly wrote:I'm only joking Dave.  I expect him to get one match ban at least.  It's too direct a punch.  It might have been provoked but it visually doesn't look so.  So unless there are angles that the public never see they'll have to act on the visible.

Aren't we all?

Great picture of James Coughlan and Sean Dougall watching the game in France....along with the whole village... not so sure of the outfits though.

http://www.larepubliquedespyrenees.fr/2015/10/12/en-images-la-joie-de-james-coughlan-devant-france-irlande-a-navarrenx,1281504.php

majesticimperialman wrote:Can we be seen to support this kind of thing, punching a player for what? just because that player is on the opposing team.

No 2 weeks ins not long enough in my opinion.

We should not tolerate this sort of thing.

I don't think he hit him because he was on the opposing team He hit because he was provoked. It's not like Pape is an innocent.

No, I don't support it, but I still want him free to play in the tournament. If not against the Argies, then the semi. If we get that far.

For all it was, two weeks is more than enough.

ME-109 wrote:Great picture of James Coughlan and Sean Dougall watching the game in France....along with the whole village... not so sure of the outfits though.

http://www.larepubliquedespyrenees.fr/2015/10/12/en-images-la-joie-de-james-coughlan-devant-france-irlande-a-navarrenx,1281504.php

A re-imagining of Foster & Allen.

All done in the worst possible taste...

Best case realistic scenario for O'Brien is two weeks, I've got to say. Thats what I would guess is the absolute minimum. Thats what I would say is fair too, if it wasn't a key player in the team I support.

Good news is Marcelo Bosch should also be put on the naughty step for this game. His long-range kicking is always a worry in tight games, and this should be another tight game.

Munchkin wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:Can we be seen to support this kind of thing, punching a player for what? just because that player is on the opposing team.

No 2 weeks ins not long enough in my opinion.

We should not tolerate this sort of thing.

I don't think he hit him because he was on the opposing team  He hit because he was provoked. It's not like Pape is an innocent.

No, I don't support it, but I still want him free to play in the tournament. If not against the Argies, then the semi. If we get that far.

For all it was, two weeks is more than enough.

Any clips of Pape doing something he shouldn't?

Oh, the knee in the back of Heaslip. I didn't mean in this tournament, and I wasn't referring to his shirt pulling. I wouldn't be surprised if he was trying to wind SOB up though, but then that's fair game, and SOB shouldn't have reacted.

Cardiff Dave wrote:Any clips of Pape doing something he shouldn't?

I don't know what he's doing in this picture right before O'Brien cracks him one, but it certainly looks... interesting.

C'mere Luv, show me that booty:

It's a complete red herring of course. Law 10.4 (l) states;

"Retaliation. A player must not retaliate. Even if an opponent is infringing the Laws, a player must not do anything that is dangerous to the opponent."

So whatever deviant, amusing behaviour Pape is engaged in will not save O'Briens skin. He still punched a guy- hard. Whataboutery can't change that fact.

Notch wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:Any clips of Pape doing something he shouldn't?

I don't know what he's doing in this picture right before O'Brien cracks him one, but it certainly looks... interesting.

C'mere Luv, show me that booty:

It's a complete red herring of course. Law 10.4 (l) states;

"Retaliation. A player must not retaliate. Even if an opponent is infringing the Laws, a player must not do anything that is dangerous to the opponent."

So whatever deviant, amusing behaviour Pape is engaged in will not save O'Briens skin. He still punched a guy- hard. Whataboutery can't change that fact.

Haven't seen that before. Interesting o0

Gives some credence to the rumours.

Notch wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:Any clips of Pape doing something he shouldn't?

I don't know what he's doing in this picture right before O'Brien cracks him one, but it certainly looks... interesting.

Mon amis!