France v Ireland Saturday 12th Feb 2022 Match Thread

[Unclear]

First topic message reminder :

France: Jaminet, Penaud, Fickou, Moefana, Villiere, Ntamack, Du Pont: Baille, Marchand, Atonio, Woki, Willemse, Cros, Jelonch, Alldritt

Bench: Mauvaka, Gros, Bamba, Flaminet, Taofeffanua, Cretin, Lucu, Ramos (covering 10 and 15)


Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Andrew Conway, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen; Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong;         Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan; Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Bench: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, Jack Carty, Robbie Henshaw.

Referee : Angus Gardner

Date/time : Saturday 12th February, kick off 16:45 (UK time)

Only enforced changes to both teams, could be the decider on a Grand Slam, could be an exhibition of skills and intensity, could be just another game of rugby.

Definitely is my first go at a new topic.

[BigGee]

Are the French still flakey?

They are still showing signs!

[Pot Hale]

France are just massive. With the exception of Dupont, it's difficult to differentiate the forwards and the backs. They've won the game, they should push for a BP in the second half.

So should Ireland.

[Unclear]

Great try for Gibson-Park, then a terrible box kick.

[Brendan]

Pressure now on France.

French bench still going to turn the tide

[Brendan]

Are the French still flakey?

They are still showing signs!

I think Toulose winning Europe and T14 was a growing experince for DuPont.. Like NZ they just forgot to pay attention and paid the price.

[king_carlos]

Wow. When France get a sniff they are ruthless.

This has been a fantastic match so far.

[miltonkeynesengland]

This game is epic to watch.

[king_carlos]

Some funky camera work going on in this game!

[Brendan]

Poor by Ireland.

Would take to BPs and a close finish if offered now. It's a good test match and will give Ireland plenty to work on

[king_carlos]

Gros, Bamba, Taofifenau, Flament and Cretin are fantastic bench forwards to bring on. Impressive depth for France. They're missing Ollivon as well!

[Brendan]

This game is epic to watch.

It definately has been a good standard. With the benches coming on hopefully the game doesn't go off the boil.

[Unclear]

What happened with O'Mahoney, a very short cameo.

[formerly known as Sam]

France are just massive. With the exception of Dupont, it's difficult to differentiate the forwards and the backs. They've won the game, they should push for a BP in the second half.

Not really, I think the winger Villiere is probably the smallest player on the pitch, Jaminet and Ntamack look willowy they aren't particularly big and no bigger than their Irish counter parts. The French centres look pretty well built but Aki and Ringrose are not exactly small.

I think the power displayed by some of the French backs is them punching above their weight, particularly Villiere who really doesn't look like he should be bumping off forwards.

[Collapse2005]

Ref is calling our advantage very quickly

[Unclear]

How long is the ref going to give at the ruck after calling "use"

[Geordie]

France are just massive. With the exception of Dupont, it's difficult to differentiate the forwards and the backs. They've won the game, they should push for a BP in the second half.

Not really, I think the winger Villiere is probably the smallest player on the pitch, Jaminet and Ntamack look willowy they aren't particularly big and no bigger than their Irish counter parts. The French centres look pretty well built but Aki and Ringrose are not exactly small.

I think the power displayed by some of the French backs is them punching above their weight, particularly Villiere who really doesn't look like he should be bumping off forwards.

Villiere is a cracking player Sam. Defo punches above his weight...but he's aggressive.

Just a great alround winger. They're version of Nowell??

[Collapse2005]

Come on there is no obstruction, get on with it

[Collapse2005]

France have been superb at breakdown which has been the biggest difference

[king_carlos]

Tadhg Bierne... What a kick 

Got to love it.

[formerly known as Sam]

France are just massive. With the exception of Dupont, it's difficult to differentiate the forwards and the backs. They've won the game, they should push for a BP in the second half.

Not really, I think the winger Villiere is probably the smallest player on the pitch, Jaminet and Ntamack look willowy they aren't particularly big and no bigger than their Irish counter parts. The French centres look pretty well built but Aki and Ringrose are not exactly small.

I think the power displayed by some of the French backs is them punching above their weight, particularly Villiere who really doesn't look like he should be bumping off forwards.

Villiere is a cracking player Sam. Defo punches above his weight...but he's aggressive.

Just a great alround winger. They're version of Nowell??

 I remember when Agulla signed for Tigers, we expected a fleet footed winger but he sat so many people down it was ridiculous. Low centre of gravity, lean strength and aggression can go a long way.

[Unclear]

French are jumping across the line out again.

[Collapse2005]

French are jumping across the line out again.

They have been getting away with murder there. Reckon they should have gone down line.

[Unclear]

Don't understand why that isn't a French knock after Ireland concede the penalty at the ruck, but it was also definitely held up over the line.

[Gooseberry]

Next time someone moans about England kicking the ball away Ill bring up that Irish chap at the end there. Oh well!

[formerly known as Sam]

Don't understand why that isn't a French knock after Ireland concede the penalty at the ruck, but it was also definitely held up over the line.

It was a knock on but that looked like a grounding as he initially dives over to me.

[Collapse2005]

Don't understand why that isn't a French knock after Ireland concede the penalty at the ruck, but it was also definitely held up over the line.

Knocked it on twice, anyway Ireland did well to get back into it. Losing bp might be significant.

[Unclear]

Congratulations France, deserved the win, but Ireland did deserve the losing bonus point after that much improved second half.

[formerly known as Sam]

Good game of rugby that. Two good teams slugging it out.

[Brendan]

Well done France.

Madness from Ireland with that kick.

[Duty281]

Fair play to Ireland, that was quality. Good tonic after the first game.

[BigGee]

Well done France who never really looked like loosing but a brave BP for the fighting Irish, who looked like they might get blown away at times!

It's going to take a good side to beat France this year!

[Unclear]

Don't understand why that isn't a French knock after Ireland concede the penalty at the ruck, but it was also definitely held up over the line.

It was a knock on but that looked like a grounding as he initially dives over to me.

In the olden days before the TMO definitely a try (give the benefit of the doubt to the attacker in my view), but the slow motion shows arms under the ball to me.

[majesticimperialman]

A good win by France deserved winners.

With regards to Ireland i did not think they missed Sexton that much to be honest.

So far the best match of the tournament.

[majesticimperialman]

A good  win by France deserved winners.

With regards to Ireland i did not think they missed Sexton that much to be honest.

So far the best match of the tournament.

[Pot Hale]

Well done France who never really looked like loosing but a brave BP for the fighting Irish, who looked like they might get blown away at times!

It's going to take a good side to beat France this year!

Eh they did at the end.

[tigertattie]

Bit bonkers that we’re not even finished week 2 and there’s only one team that are unbeaten

[Collapse2005]

France will slip up at some stage I reckon

[Pete330v2]

Well done France.

Madness from Ireland with that kick.

There were a few kicks that made about 5m in the game by the wonderful JGP but that final, game ending rubbish just rounded things off. Disappointing end but France at home were always a task and a half but lately a bonus point is acceptable.

[Pot Hale]

Kudos to Carberry. Farrell does have his 10 successor in place.

[Brendan]

I think that game gave Ireland enough to think about and work on.  It's a tight game.  Attack under pressure needs to be worked on and how to adapt to the physical team needs to improve.

Wish Carty had been brought on after Ireland's last score to give him a chance to show what he can do.

Also think the scrum has been shown to not be top notch yet which is good to find out now and not get carried away. England away now needs to be a win or the AIs just show we are a great team at home and nothing more.

[Collapse2005]

Kudos to Carberry.   Farrell does have his 10 successor in place.  

Thought he did alright but lots to improve on in particular in attack. He was very deep for much of the game.

[Brendan]

Well done France.

Madness from Ireland with that kick.

There were a few kicks that made about 5m in the game by the wonderful JGP but that final, game ending rubbish just rounded things off. Disappointing end but France at home were always a task and a half but lately a bonus point is acceptable.

We didn't have a great kicking game and the wingers were struggling to compete for ball in the air. JGP has looked off on his kicking game over the two weekends and it was his 5/10m kick that lead to France's first try.

Not letting France getting the BP was important and keeping them to two tries was good.

[tigertattie]

France will slip up at some stage I reckon

It isn’t beyond the realms of belief that Scotland will beat them in 2 weeks time.

We’ll the get rogered by Ireland though

[Geordie]

England could get royally humped by both of these....

[Unclear]

The box kicking and "contestable" kicks were poor. Keenan's clearance kicks were good though. We are going to need a similar or higher level of intensity at Twickenham as England are unlikely to go quietly.

Thought Porter did well even given the early scrum penalty, but today showed we don't have the best front row in the world ..... yet. They are very, very good, but still plenty of improvement possible. Sheehan had a great game, does this mean Ulster can have Herring back now?

[westisbest]

France will slip up at some stage I reckon

I reckon they will win the next 3. A close win and then two convincing wins.

Disappointing result. Did very well to come back into it.
Should have gone for the corner at 27-21.

France looked good. Always a tough place to go.
Back to winking ways against Italy

[majesticimperialman]

Well after todays game their is only one team who could go on and win the Grand Slam that is France.

I know they still have to play England, Scotland, and Wales before they are declared Grand Slam champions. But unless those three teams really up their game i can not see any one stopping them.

[Recwatcher16]

Good game to watch for the neutrals. That pass from Ntamack for Dupont to score was something else.
A lot of unforced errors by France kept Ireland in the game and Ireland didn't play badly but if France tidy that up, they will be a pretty scary prospect for the rest of the tournament and into the next world cup.

[lostinwales]

France still feel like a 60 minute team, although their subs did make a difference

[profitius]

Good game to watch for the neutrals. That pass from Ntamack for Dupont to score was something else.
A lot of unforced errors by France kept Ireland in the game and Ireland didn't play badly but if France tidy that up, they will be a pretty scary prospect for the rest of the tournament and into the next world cup.

I'll have to watch it back but on first viewing it felt like ireland made way more unforced errors than France. That might be my bias but there were some real blunders by ireland.

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