France to have too much for injury-hit Ireland

Colin Newboult
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France will be looking to take another step in the right direction when they face off with Ireland in their Six Nations showdown in Dublin on Sunday.

Les Bleus obliterated Italy in Rome last week to show their title credentials, while Ireland opened the tournament with a defeat to Wales in Cardiff.

The latter’s hopes of getting their Championship back on track rest on them emerging victorious at the Aviva Stadium, but whether they can overcome an impressive French outfit that has lost just two matches and are unbeaten at home since the arrival of Fabien Galthie as head coach remains to be seen.

France have built a squad that is their best since arguably their triumphant Six Nations campaign in 2010. Led by the outstanding Antoine Dupont and the ever-improving Matthieu Jalibert, they enter this fixture in unfamiliar territory as favourites. Sunday will determine whether France can meet expectations.

There’s no doubt the underdog Irish will be fired up, not least because of the midweek doctor comments subplot. But the absence of three of their most experienced personnel on Sunday has hit them hard ahead of a meeting between two fierce rivals. There promises to be no love lost on Valentine’s Day.

Last time they met

The most recent encounter between the two teams was the final game of the 2020 Six Nations, an encounter which could’ve seen Ireland win the Six Nations Championship. However, a blistering performance from Les Bleus denied Andy Farrell’s outfit the coveted title in his first campaign as Ireland head coach. France emerged victorious in a thrilling 35-27 win at Stade de France, where Romain Ntamack starred as he finished with an 18-point showing. Virimi Vakatawa’s late try secured the victory and the try bonus-point for Les Bleus before Jacob Stockdale added a late consolation for the visiting Irish.

What they said

Ireland head coach Farrell is not too concerned about the team’s absentees and has urged their replacements to take their opportunity and stake a claim for a regular place.

“We’re excited about it. We’ve obviously lost a few experienced players during the week but one man’s loss is another man’s opportunity,” he said. “The squad is united in the excitement of the challenge ahead for the weekend.

“You have your fingers crossed along the way that things don’t go this way, but that’s why you pick a squad like you do in the autumn and give people a chance to see what it’s like at international rugby.

“Our squad depth is coming into play at this moment in time. It’s been challenging, but every Test week always presents its own challenges.

“There has been a lot going on this week but we’re a squad and we’ve been a squad since we met up. Everyone has been swapping in and out.

“You always have at the back of your mind the ‘what if’ scenarios and here we are. We will give it our best shot, there is no doubt about that.”

France head honcho Galthie was surprised that Johnny Sexton and James Ryan were absent but insisted that it wouldn’t significantly alter their approach.

“Honestly, we thought he would pass the return-to-play protocol. So obviously they could not pass the levels required,” Galthie told reporters.

“They have changed the half-back partnership, the one that played the last part of the game against Wales. They also played during the Autumn Nations in certain matches.

“We will have to adapt accordingly. But our overall approach with regards to taking on Ireland will not change our style of play.

“The Irish will not be changing their style solely because three players who would have been selected are not playing.”

Players to watch

Sexton’s absence has opened the door for Billy Burns to make a start at fly-half and he will be eager to bounce back after a difficult display last week, which saw him kick the ball dead at the death. His kicking and running game will likely be useful when it comes to breaking down France’s defence, with this a massive opportunity for him to stake his claim for the jersey long term.

As for the visitors, Damian Penaud and Arthur Vincent will be the players to keep an eye on. Penaud, who comes in for Teddy Thomas on the wing, is absolute star quality while Vincent was superb last week, making 15 tackles, 69 metres with ball in hand and also scored a try. Look for him again this weekend.

Main head-to-head

It all comes down to the scrum-half position where the world’s best player, according to many astute observers, Antoine Dupont goes up against the comparatively inexperienced Jamison Gibson-Park. Although the Ireland representative is four years older than his opponent, the Leinster man has only recently arrived on the Test scene. He performed well when given the opportunity at the end of last year and also added spark off the bench against Wales. There were, in fact, calls for him to start this weekend, even if Conor Murray had been fit, and Gibson-Park will look to take his promising start into what will arguably be his biggest challenge.

What more is there to say about Dupont that hasn’t already been said? Les Bleus’ current ‘Le Petit General’ has been utterly spellbinding for both club and country over the past 18 months and began this Six Nations in outstanding fashion, setting up four tries in the 50-10 victory over Italy. The Toulouse playmaker dictates the game superbly from the base, is a significant threat around the fringes and is one of the best support runners in the business. When you add in the fact that he has this uncanny ability to shift play from either the ruck or maul incredibly swiftly and accurately, even when under pressure, it makes him a very difficult player to stop.

Prediction

France enter the game in unfamiliar territory as favourites so unless they get the job done questions about their mentality will continue to persist. However, Les Bleus have better depth than they have had in a long time, a free-flowing attack and one of the best defensive minds in world rugby leading them. They will likely secure the win at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, especially with Ireland missing key players and looking short on confidence. France by eight.

Previous results

2020: France won 35-27 in Paris
2019: Ireland won 26-14 in Dublin
2018: Ireland won 15-13 in Paris
2017: Ireland won 19-9 in Dublin
2016: France won 10-9 in Paris
2015: Ireland won 24-9 in Cardiff (RWC)
2015: Ireland won 18-11 in Dublin
2014: Ireland won 22-20 in Paris

The teams

Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Billy Burns, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 Iain Henderson (c), 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Andrew Porter, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Cian Healy
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Ed Byrne, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Will Connors, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Jordan Larmour

France: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Arthur Vincent, 12 Gael Fickou, 11 Gabin Villiere, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon (c), 6 Anthony Jelonch, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Bernard le Roux, 3 Mohamed Haouas, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille
Replacements: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Hassane Kolingar, 18 Uini Atonio, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Dylan Cretin, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Anthony Bouthier, 23 Teddy Thomas

Date: Sunday, February 14
Venue: Aviva Stadium
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant Referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)

 

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