[2015 Six Nations] Ireland vs France (Round 2)

[Jbobo]

By performance do you mean nice rugby or winning rugby? Ireland teams don't beat France without a performance. If we play ugly and win this game that's enough of a performance as far as I'm concerned.

I dont agree with the favourites tag point to be honest. These are professionals and shouldn't be swayed one bit by being favourites, especially considering that most the Leinster players played under Joe Schmidt when they were favourites every time they stepped on a rugby pitch!

That's a good point. I feel that with teams like Wales or England (in the past) we are often tagged as favorites for close call matches when it has not been earned prior (predictions made based on a one off game 3-4 months ago). When this happens, i have found that Wales in particular fail to meet expectations as confidence is high, but momentum and sharpness is not. But with Ireland at the moment, and like Wales were in 2012, they are genuine favorites this year and it has been mightily earned. As you say, Leinster fared alright as favorites when Schmidt was there and i expect this Ireland team to step up just the same for a while at least, as the tag has been placed with merit.

 

[bw245]

By performance do you mean nice rugby or winning rugby? Ireland teams don't beat France without a performance. If we play ugly and win this game that's enough of a performance as far as I'm concerned.

I dont agree with the favourites tag point to be honest. These are professionals and shouldn't be swayed one bit by being favourites, especially considering that most the Leinster players played under Joe Schmidt when they were favourites every time they stepped on a rugby pitch!

No. By performance I mean we play well and are sharp. Obviously this game is going to be ugly and extremely physical. But a performance can still be given. We play like a side who intends on winning and that has a clear game plan in mind. I'm very aware it's going to be an ugly match.

As for the favourite tags, that is true about Leinster, but this isn't Leinster. It's Ireland. Records show we crack under pressure when we're favourites. You just need to go back through the different six nations championships to see that. I'm not saying shifting that tag to england was done purposely but I don't think Joe will be gutted over england going above them in the rankings, as it does take pressure off.

Regardless - we know we are capable of a win this week and playing better than last week. Look at the difference between the Aus and NZ game from 2013. We really don't know what to expect.

 

[Amiga500]

Time to put your reputation at stake.

Ha, reputation? In here? :lol:

 

[Every Time Ref]

I'm not sure England are favourites following one (admittedly very good) win, are we? Perhaps in the crap parts of the English media, but are proper rugby fans really promoting England to favourites after one very good England performance and one uninspiring but ultimately very comfortable Ireland win? It's not like Ireland were rubbish, far too much has been made of Ireland failing to plough through Italy whenever they felt like it, fact is Italy are strong defenders, Ireland were lacking some players (especially big ball carriers) and despite that would probably have scored 2 or 3 more tries if it weren't for a couple of uncharacteristic sloppy errors.

Speaking as an Englishman, who thinks that England were fantastic on Friday, we are still far from likely to beat you in Dublin and have two tough fixtures lined up after that anyway.

 

[Goodey]

I'm not sure England are favourites following one (admittedly very good) win, are we? Perhaps in the crap parts of the English media, but are proper rugby fans really promoting England to favourites after one very good England performance and one uninspiring but ultimately very comfortable Ireland win? It's not like Ireland were rubbish, far too much has been made of Ireland failing to plough through Italy whenever they felt like it, fact is Italy are strong defenders, Ireland were lacking some players (especially big ball carriers) and despite that would probably have scored 2 or 3 more tries if it weren't for a couple of uncharacteristic sloppy errors.

Speaking as an Englishman, who thinks that England were fantastic on Friday, we are still far from likely to beat you in Dublin and have two tough fixtures lined up after that anyway.

Nobody gets to just decide who favourites are. That's not what the word means. England are favourites because they are favourites, not necessarily because they are distinctly the best team.

http://www.oddschecker.com/rugby-union/six-nations
http://www.paddypower.com/bet/rugby-union/the-six-nations-outrights

 

[RedruthRFC]

I was amazed how much England's prices had tumbled with the bookies by Saturday lunch time. Either that means the odds setters are buying the hype, or the weight of money has forced the prices in. I'm with you, one swallow etc. A good performance from Ireland with their big names back might see a more realistic, balanced view. As you say, it's hard to see England being favourites to win in Dublin.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Agree with Every Time Ref about this, maybe the rankings have changed by about 0.01 of a point in the last week but little else has - I think the bookies will still have Ireland as favourites.

I think its fine shifting the favourites tag where possible but even better, surely, is to make your team comfortable with that tag and bear it with pleasure. There should be no reason a confident and well-drilled team of top players should be any poorer on the pitch for being favourites. Imagine if New Zealand bucked under the pressure of being favourites!? Oh wait, bad example...

But in general they don't, none of the southern hemisphere sides have.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Nobody gets to just decide who favourites are. That's not what the word means. England are favourites because they are favourites, not necessarily because they are distinctly the best team.

http://www.oddschecker.com/rugby-union/six-nations
http://www.paddypower.com/bet/rugby-union/the-six-nations-outrights

Well .... paddypower apparently did. There's nothing fundamentally objective about bookmakers' opinions.

Regardless, I'm not talking about "favourites" in the strict bookmakers' sense, the term is also used to talk about the general expectation among the interested / knowledgeable public. Thats what I mean

 

[bw245]

I normally search 'grandslam' on twitter and it'll give you an idea of who people think are going to win the GS. After the three matches last week, people on twitter reckon it's between ire and eng but eng have the edge. It's not a reliable way of measuring this favouritism but it gives an idea.

I thought England were good. But then again, I thought Wales were awful. They were a walkover in the second half and I think Italy wouldve given Wales a run for their money if it were Italy playing against them and not England. This weekend I think will show where teams are at.

 

[profitius]

I see Ireland are 4/11 to beat France. No way should they be that short. I think France have lost only 1 game in Dublin in 12 seasons. France raise their game for Ireland and Ireland usually do their best to help the French. I fancy Ireland to win but you can't ignore the history of this fixture and the mental blockage Ireland have/had. We'll see on sat if that blockage is still there.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I see Ireland are 4/11 to beat France. No way should they be that short. I think France have lost only 1 game in Dublin in 12 seasons. France raise their game for Ireland and Ireland usually do their best to help the French. I fancy Ireland to win but you can't ignore the history of this fixture and the mental blockage Ireland have/had. We'll see on sat if that blockage is still there.

Considering we haven't lost to them since 2011 I really hope not! I think the current crop have more of a block with England, Ireland haven't lost to France since before the last World Cup, the same tournament that they last beat England.

 

[Chistera]

I see Ireland are 4/11 to beat France. No way should they be that short. I think France have lost only 1 game in Dublin in 12 seasons. France raise their game for Ireland and Ireland usually do their best to help the French. I fancy Ireland to win but you can't ignore the history of this fixture and the mental blockage Ireland have/had. We'll see on sat if that blockage is still there.

That's surprisingly right, since 2003 (excluding 2003 6 Nations), France have won 4 games in Dublin, drawn one and lost one (2009).

 

[Peat]

On the subject of favourites...

Assuming each team loses one match - which is quite plausible - England look favourite to win the 6n ahead of Ireland due to Ireland passing up on the chance to greatly inflate their points difference at Italy's expense. We'll know whether that logic plays out fairly shortly by England's victory margin (people are getting ahead of themselves there) but that's the logic I've seen passed around.

 

[Dolittle]

I've said it all along. Ireland have to do the slam to win this tournament. Lose one match and England will win it.

And Peat, Ireland didn't 'pass up the chance to inflate their points difference at Italy'. It rained for the last 10 minutes and Italy were no pushover, as you suggest. If England get cocky, as I fear they are doing, they could come unstuck, if not against Italy, then against Ireland in The Aviva.

Come on Ireland (and Italy)!

I hope Italy stay within 22 points of England, though I very much doubt they will.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Sure if France or Scotland beat us, England simply isn't an option , we'll just hammer the Welsh again like last year!

 

[bw245]

Sexton really cannot get concussed today. Reports saying that if it happens he'll be out for a long time. Not to mention the scrutiny the IRFU will be under.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Ireland are in great form, really looking forward to seeing them Boss the game today.
They are the team to beat on current form.

 

[munstermuffin]

Sexton really cannot get concussed today. Reports saying that if it happens he'll be out for a long time. Not to mention the scrutiny the IRFU will be under.

IF he gets 1 today or 2 between now and RWC he could be forced to stand down by World Rugby for up to 12 months and his Leinster deal could be complicated by insurance etc. but hopefully there no worries on him.
My bigger worry is he has to play for Racing against Clermont and Grenoble on his 2 off weeks and well Racing will flog him it's almost certain.

 

[Conal]

IF he gets 1 today or 2 between now and RWC he could be forced to stand down by World Rugby for up to 12 months and his Leinster deal could be complicated by insurance etc. but hopefully there no worries on him.
My bigger worry is he has to play for Racing against Clermont and Grenoble on his 2 off weeks and well Racing will flog him it's almost certain.

well to me that sounds like he isnt going to the world cup

 

[big ginger 8]

IF he gets 1 today or 2 between now and RWC he could be forced to stand down by World Rugby for up to 12 months and his Leinster deal could be complicated by insurance etc. but hopefully there no worries on him.
My bigger worry is he has to play for Racing against Clermont and Grenoble on his 2 off weeks and well Racing will flog him it's almost certain.

Last year Racing had him on the bench during the 6N, they've actually been pretty good at not flogging him really.