2014 6 Nations: France vs Ireland (Round 5)

[Leonormous Boozer]

Murphy is the only selection I have problems with, he hasn't shown much at HEC level and shouldn't really be near the 23. Madigan is not going to be used and if he is it'll most likely be 12 which is better than the Jackson/Sexton pairing.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

That's fair enough to be honest and as an Ulster fan I have no real complaints. & I agree I would choose Madigan over Jackson if we have to chase the game.

 

[TheSaffycen]

To the French posters I wanted to know what has happened to the likes of Malzieu, Fall, Rougerie and Andreu ? I guess age with Rougerie but the other guys are pretty decent and on the left wing you have a fullback at the moment and I can't tell why?

 

[Big Ewis]

You're totally right ! and you know why Ireland is so preforming ? because the system of "régions" clubs they have chosen is the nearest to super 15 franchise system. Ireland has not too much players but they play often together, they are not playing only few minutes with their "clubs" because there are not too much clubs too. And more of all, they play for their national jersey with pride.

Schmidt was a coach for the past 3 years or so I believe for Leinster. And Ireland basically have all their int'ls on that team and a few here and there too. They do have some depth actually, more than I can think of in recent years if they'll agree with that...
They do have the absolute perfect system, and being a small nation does have its advantages. They're a lot more focused, centralized, and concentrated in an area rather than all over the place like other bigger nations.
But that's sort of always been there for them. The big change has been Schmidt and that Aussie Les Kiss for them.

To the French posters I wanted to know what has happened to the likes of Malzieu, Fall, Rougerie and Andreu ? I guess age with Rougerie but the other guys are pretty decent and on the left wing you have a fullback at the moment and I can't tell why?

I'm a big fan of Malzieu and Fall personally. You're right about Rougerie, while Andreu has been in contact with Lagisquet (our backs coach) and is somewhat close to this PSA/Lagisquet core. He just never got a chance to play because we've tried out Hugo Bonneval in the absence of Guitoune or more recently Médard at the time.

Fall played for us a bit in the 2013 6N. He's a fantastic winger and I'd have him over Médard in the blink of an eye. Fall is really a winger, not a reconverted fullback, and he can create out of nothing independently of what his team is doing. And since that's exactly how France plays , he would've been a fantastic addition.

Malzieu has had a rather fast reconversion in Clermont after a big injury, where he's got plenty of competition with starting Nalaga and Sivivatu, or even French-Fijian Noa Nakaitaci, but he's scored a couple of tries and looks fine, it's just we can't just start throwing in new wingers too every week although France is swarming with quality ones. We change everything else, might as well keep at least the 11-14 somewhat consistent !

 

[TheSaffycen]

Ahhh I forgot about Guitoune, shame he got injured because the French playing a backline
9.Parra
10.Trinh-Duc
11.Guitoune
12.Fofana
13.Basteraud/Fickou both are scary good
14.Huget
15.Dulin
I remember a couple of years ago seeing Huget at 15 for Toulouse and thinking meh he'll never really do anything on the international stage glad to see I got that one 100% right Damn that is a good backline which is only probably eclipsed by New Zealand and Oz

 

[big ginger 8]

Les Kiss has been coaching Ireland since 2008. Schmidt and Plumtree are the new members of the ticket. All are very good at their specialised injury.

 

[ScrummyRugby]

We've got Ireland to win but not easy pickings... Check out full prediction for this and all the other Six Nation games here http://scrummyrugbyviews.blogspot.co.uk/

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

Yeah, I done goofed.

Regarding Madigan, I reckon he's being brought so that if we're in the situation where we have to chase the game he can make an impact. Whatever about his game management (which has improved over the last 12 months or so) he's a far better attacker than Paddy Jackson, and arguably more dangerous than either of our centres with ball in hand.

I can understand what you're saying about a tight game circumstance, but if we're being honest Sexton wont be coming off barring injury should it be close, regardless of who is the sub outhalf.

To be fair he's making a good case for himself right now vs Scarlets

 

[gaston le gaff]

First blood to France as the Girlies get their Grand Slam beating Ireland 19-15 !!!!!!!!! but well played Ireland the only team to score tries against France. Next on the under 20's.!!!!!!!!!!

 

[B10]

 

[Big Ewis]

Ahhh I forgot about Guitoune, shame he got injured because the French playing a backline
9.Parra
10.Trinh-Duc
11.Guitoune
12.Fofana
13.Basteraud/Fickou both are scary good
14.Huget
15.Dulin
I remember a couple of years ago seeing Huget at 15 for Toulouse and thinking meh he'll never really do anything on the international stage glad to see I got that one 100% right Damn that is a good backline which is only probably eclipsed by New Zealand and Oz

ehm, Florian Fritz at 13, please. In a few years Fickou to start with Fof.
And it's nice of you to give the French backline praise, but this is fantasy sports, don't forget. You mention the NZ and Aus backlines, even with those, France just doesn't know wtf to do on a field, so as long as you have PSA-Lagisquet, it doesn't matter who you play. It does a bit, because Huget for example has got us a few tries on his own. But I'm saying those guys don't know how to play together under the current staff, it's ever so evident now after 3 years.

And yes, strangely enough I thought Huget was a fantastic player in the Top 14 but his ability never really translated at test level. He's proved us all wrong last year playing excellently at FB, and this year being France's best player probably (with Picamoles and Fofana).

 

[Big Ewis]

First blood to France as the Girlies get their Grand Slam beating Ireland 19-15 !!!!!!!!! but well played Ireland the only team to score tries against France. Next on the under 20's.!!!!!!!!!!

holy sht, you're right ! Nice one ladies...

Forget our XV there. Let's send our women tomorrow. Dead srs.

French article:
http://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/tourn...lisent-le-grand-chelem_sto4174021/story.shtml

 

[TheSaffycen]

I mean if they got in Jake White then you have a serious chance of winning a world cup.

obviously not 2015 but 2019 would be a real chance

 

[FrenchFan]

I mean if they got in Jake White then you have a serious chance of winning a world cup.

obviously not 2015 but 2019 would be a real chance

that always reads well in a post. Problem is if Jake White has half of a brain cell as Im sure he does and any inkling about the political nature of the death trap he would be walking in, he would run for his life. Not a hope in hell.

The only foreigner that would have fitted the bill going back a good few years ago would have been Nick Mallet of South Africa. He played few years in France and understands french rugby, i think he might have done some coaching at club level here as well, not sure. He is a fluent speaker and he would have been credible as a foreigner for the job. Dont know where he is now.

 

[gaston le gaff]

and thats no.2!!!!!!!!!!!!! another Grand Slam by the under 20's beating a very valiant Irish team by 23-13, France score a last minute try and conversion. All set for 3 out of 3 will the French spoil BOD's exit from International rugby.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

and thats no.2!!!!!!!!!!!!! another Grand Slam by the under 20's beating a very valiant Irish team by 23-13, France score a last minute try and conversion. All set for 3 out of 3 will the French spoil BOD's exit from International rugby.

I thought we won the big one? No that's just Frankie Sheahan on RTE!

 

[gaston le gaff]

Who's Frankie!!!!!!! and on RTE did that win the Gold Cup this afternoon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[munstermuffin]

Regards Ireland team a lot have selection issues but tomorrow guys that are selected aren't to blame if they're picked for reason A B or C. They just want to represent country so hopefully we can get job done.

 

[KAPman]

TO KAPman...

The problem is that France hasn't a very talentuous flyhalf... Michalak could have been. FTD is surely NOT... He has had many many chances in blue but have never truly been convincing and worse, has been poor sometimes, he lacked constancy, just he did at the beginning of this top14... The fact he is better LATELY with Montpellier doesn't mean he has an international level.
In scrumhalf, we have more choices, Parra, Machenaud, Doussain, Kockott (yes, I put him here, and I would even pick him first). Due to injuries, and many other reasons, we can't blame PSA. Parra red card isn't (for example) cause of PSA, is it ?
All the french team misses many leaders, to begin by its captain, the black destroyer... Fofana... the 1st line misses also many guys.

The most criticisable choice for me is Bastareaud (called bastagros (bastafat) here)... so slow, out of shape...

Despite having the odd poor game in a french shirt Trinh Duc should still be France's first choice 10, he is very talented, a great distributor, he communicates with his players around him (Mostly) and is the best 10 France have available.
Michalak shouldn't be anywhere near the french squad as he is too much of a liability in that position, great talent, but can't live up to the 10 role consistently enough, and mostly looked like a 9 out of position.
Tales is in the role tomorrow, will see how he goes, I expect him to be more efficient than Plisson, he's a good passer and decent out-of-hand kicker but, like majority of 10s France have had, he lacks those bossing skills that a 10 needs.
Kockett isnt eligable for France yet.
N no Im not blaming PSA for Parra's red card, but in hindsight he could have brought him back into the French fold for the welsh game, and he should at least be on the bench for tomorrow.

And agree about Bastereaud, he's too one-dimensional, and despite being a decent defender, he doesn't offer much else but his bash up ball carrying. In future France should look to develop Fickou and Fofana as a pair, and with that pair and likes of Huget outside them, and play tactically to suit their games, I think they could be very dangerous and an exciting team to watch,

 

[Big Ewis]

In future France should look to develop Fickou and Fofana as a pair, and with that pair and likes of Huget outside them, and play tactically to suit their games, I think they could be very dangerous and an exciting team to watch,

oh well thank you very much. I'm glad we have your consent on that.

Talès will actually be a better fit right now for France. He's been with France before, and though he doesn't have a ton of caps, he's 29 and has been around...and he's a whole lot more sound on defense, might be the best defensive 10 we've got in the country, world class there for his position.
Plisson was a complete liability. He's responsible for that second Scottish try for e.g.

We'll likely have a bit more control, but he's less attack-minded than Plisson, although we really haven't seen much of who Plisson is. That France team was a nightmare for him. He's barely 22 and arrives in a group with a bunch of guys counting on him and no fkn solid gameplan. Only a Rugby genius would've shone in his place...

If France can look anything like they've looked against the Blacks last November: brilliant defense, ferocious at the breakdown, conquering in the scrum and keep looking for the tries the entire 80min relentlessly, surely we can get a result.
But it seems we're getting worse and worse every match, and the Blacks game was months ago !