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Ireland v France: Everything you need to know

By Peter Hanson

France must address their away day Bleus ahead of a crucial Six Nations clash against Ireland, who will be boosted by the return of influential fly-half Jonathan Sexton.

Having been narrowly beaten by England at Twickenham in their opening match of the tournament, France defeated Scotland in a full-blooded contest in Paris to get their campaign back on track.

In similar fashion, Ireland lost out to Scotland in round one but trounced Italy last time around.

Both teams can ill afford to lose in Dublin, and France have the added incentive of attempting to avoid a fifth consecutive away loss in the competition, which would represent their worst run of away defeats since the 1950s (when only five teams contested the tournament).

However, Guy Noves – who makes three changes – will be fully aware of the difficulty they face against an Ireland team that has not lost in their past nine Six Nations home games.

Furthermore, Joe Schmidt is boosted by the return of Sexton, who starts despite the impressive displays of understudy Paddy Jackson, following his recovery from a calf injury sustained playing for Leinster last month, while captain Rory Best is back after recovering from an illness.

 

HEAD TO HEAD

Ireland: 32

France: 56

Draw: 7

 

WHAT HAPPENED IN 2016?

Having drawn their opening match with Wales, Ireland were looking to get their title defence up and running but fell short 10-9 in Paris thanks to Maxime Medard’s late try.

However, Ireland were left fuming by ‘cheap shots’ from Les Bleus, with Sexton and Dave Kearney the victims of controversial late tackles from Yoann Maestri and Guilhem Guirado.

By the end of the match, Sean O’Brien and Mike McCarthy had also suffered injuries and the battered Irish were ultimately unable to defend their crown.

 

KEY PLAYERS

Jonathan Sexton (Ireland) 

A calf complaint meant that Sexton, who has well-documented issues with injury, was absent for the opening two rounds. But the number 10 returns at a crucial stage for Ireland and his accuracy off the tee and skill with ball in hand may prove the difference against Les Bleus.

Rabah Slimani (France) 

France have plenty of physicality, but Noves has opted for a more mobile option in Slimani ahead of powerhouse Uini Atonio in the front row.

 

THE LINE-UPS

Ireland: Rob Kearney, Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Simon Zebo, Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack McGrath, Rory Best (captain), Tadhg Furlong, Donnacha Ryan, Devin Toner, CJ Stander, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip. 

France: Scott Spedding, Yoann Huget, Remi Lamerat, Gael Fickou, Noa Nakaitaci, Camille Lopez, Baptiste Serin, Louis Picamoles, Kevin Gourdon, Bernard le Roux, Yoann Maestri, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Rabah Slimani, Guilhem Guirado (captain), Cyril Baille.  

COACH COMMENTS

Joe Schmidt (Ireland): “We have a fair bit of faith in Nigel to make sure things are kept in check and that includes us. We have to make sure that our discipline is good and we don’t transgress.” – With Nigel Owens refereeing, Schmidt is sure there will be no repeat of the ugly challenges that marred last season’s contest.

Guy Noves (France): “This is the most important match in this tournament because it is the one we play on Saturday. But it is no more important than the next match. Ireland, unquestionably, are one of the best nations. They are the only team that beat New Zealand.”

OPTA STATS

– Only one of the last 10 Six Nations games between these teams has been decided by a double-digit margin, including draws in 2012 and 2013.

– France have lost each of their last four games away from home in the Six Nations, the last time they went on a longer such streak in the tournament was in the Five Nations between 1956-1958 (5 games).

– Ireland are unbeaten at home in nine Six Nations matches (W7, D2), giving up just one potential losing bonus point in that run (v France in 2015).

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Jon 9 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 11 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

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