France player ratings vs Ireland | 2023 Guinness Six Nations
France player ratings: Ireland hosted the reigning Grand Slam champions France in Dublin with the aim of securing their 13th consecutive victory and positioning themselves for a shot at the Guinness Six Nations championship title. Head coach Andy Farrell, who has yet to defeat Les Bleus, was forced to make one change from the previous week’s victory in Wales, as Dan Sheehan’s hamstring injury gave backup hooker Rob Herring an opportunity to play.
France is the only team to have won at the Aviva Stadium during Farrell’s tenure and they came to Dublin in excellent form, having won 14 consecutive games. Despite a less than impressive bonus-point win against Italy in the first round, head coach Fabien Galthie opted to stick with an unchanged starting lineup.
Yet when push came to shove, France ran out of wind and didn’t have the leaders to drag them back into the game.
15. Thomas Ramos – 7
After a shaky performance against Italy, the nerves weren’t long surfacing in Dublin, gifted Ireland an attacking lineout on the 5 metres 7 minutes in. He reeled it back in and become a force as the game wore on, a dead duck drop-goalkeeping France in the hunt.
14. Damian Penaud – 8.5
The arch-finisher’s 17th-minute effort was summoned straight out of the French book of Magic Tries. Luckily for Penaud, referee Wayne Barnes did pick up a number of questionable tackles on James Lowe and Johnny Sexton. Potential discipline risks apart, Ireland didn’t have an answer for Penaud.
13. Gael Fickou – 8
Won the first of his individual battles with Garry Ringrose, bumping off the Irishman on first contact. Cast a long shadow over proceeding throughout and stayed in the fight when many of his teammates were flagging.
12. Yoel Moefana – 5
While lacking the razzmatazz of his colleagues, Moefana brings a workmanlike solidity to the French midfield. A helpful onlooker at times here though.
11. Ethan Dumortier – 6
Kept quiet in the first half but fired into life in the second with a crucial breakout relieving pressure for the French. Has that precious ability to ghost defenders like a bad Tinder date.
10. Romain Ntamack – 5.5
Seemed to shepherd Hugo Keenan over the line with little indication that he was interested in tackling the Leinsterman in the opening minutes. A wonderfully skilful player but passed and stepped when he needed to kick France around the pitch. He lost the chess battle with Sexton and Ross Byrne after him.
9. Antoine Dupont – 8.5
The irascible Toulousain ran Ireland ragged with ball in hand and had a handoff for every one of the Irish team. It was his insane defence that set him apart today though. He can’t do it all himself though and this result proves.
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1. Cyril Baille – 6
One of a number of French forwards who didn’t get their own way, with the Irish pack not prepared to rolled over for the proverbial tickle. Didn’t get into Finlay Bealham in the way you imagine the French coaching ticket might have liked.
2. Julian Marchand – 6
Lots of busy work from Marchand even if he struggled to dent Andy Farrell’s greenwall.
3. Uini Atonio – 6.5
Won a penalty after a big carry yielded a lapse in discipline from the Irish. Was incredibly lucky not be sent off for a shoulder-to-head contact on Irish hooker Rob Herring, but it was strong showing from the New Zealand-born behemoth.
4. Thibaud Flament – 6
Struggled for yardage in Dublin and didn’t get to show off his trademark athleticism.
5. Paul Willemse – 5
Didn’t get much change out of Ireland’s defence and again didn’t prove the destructive force of previous campaigns. Replaced shortly after halftime.
6. Anthony Jelonch – 7
Linked up superbly with Penaud for Les Bleus’ first, spellbinding 5-pointer and was the most effective of the French loose forwards.
7. Charles Ollivon – 6
The French really lost their unit battle with the Irish back row. Ollivon reigned supreme in the lineouts but didn’t have any bright ideas in the face of the continual Irish harassment.
8. Gregory Alldritt – 5
Completely outplayed by opposite number Caelan Dorris and had run out of puff in the final quarter. France needed stars like Alldritt to stand up but it never came.
Replacements – 6
The French bench couldn’t divert the Irish steam train as it made its way home. Matthieu Jailbert was the hero last week but that hand-off from Garry Ringrose as the Leinsterman stroled over in the 72nd minute will haunt him.
Comments on RugbyPass
I wouldn’t spend the time on Nawaqanitawase! No point in having him filling in a jersey when he’s committed to leave Union. Give the jersey to a young prospect who will be here in the future.
4 Go to commentsIt was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
4 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to comments