[2016 RBS Six Nations] Round 2: France vs. Ireland (13/02/2016)

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: Stade de France
Time: 14:25 GMT​

 

[AzaMatt]

granted ireland were not on top form for their first game but france were dire, so ireland should win this comfortably in my opinion

 

[munstermuffin]

Paul O'Connell will be speaking to team day before. I wonder given the week that's in it will that serve as motivation

 

[jomjom]

Unless France come flying off the blocks and churn out some master performance, I see nothing other than an Ireland win. I'll be hugely disappointed if it's anything but.

 

[AzaMatt]

Unless France come flying off the blocks and churn out some master performance, I see nothing other than an Ireland win. I'll be hugely disappointed if it's anything but.

a decent performance is well overdue from them but i doubt it'll come this weekend. ireland will be too strong defensively

 

[corny]

I was arguing against Ireland being big underdogs last week, now it seems i'm arguing against them being overwhelming favs this week. Bookmakers have this one off scratch, nothing between them. Can't say i disagree.

Ireland have a six day turnaround to contend with off the back of a brutally attritional 42 mins (in play) against Wales. Won't be straightforward for them to back it up.

France are going to be better this week. How much is the question of course but an extra week in camp is sure to bring them on. They showed promise with ball in hand but their defensive line has to be a concern.

I think it'll be close but i marginally favour Ireland, especially if France pick Fickou at 13. Payne and Sexton on the loop will crucify his uncertainty. Mermoz is a better defender and solely on that he has to be play.

 

[AzaMatt]

I was arguing against Ireland being big underdogs last week, now it seems i'm arguing against them being overwhelming favs this week. Bookmakers have this one off scratch, nothing between them. Can't say i disagree.

Ireland have a six day turnaround to contend with off the back of a brutally attritional 42 mins (in play) against Wales. Won't be straightforward for them to back it up.

France are going to be better this week. How much is the question of course but an extra week in camp is sure to bring them on. They showed promise with ball in hand but their defensive line has to be a concern.

I think it'll be close but i marginally favour Ireland, especially if France pick Fickou at 13. Payne and Sexton on the loop will crucify his uncertainty. Mermoz is a better defender and solely on that he has to be play.

they were ok ball in hand but i think they were made to look better by poor italian defence at times. i dont think your boys will be troubled by them at all

 

[profitius]

Hard to see France being able to fix their weaknesses in a week. Ireland might have had a 6 day turnaround but most of the French players were playing the week before the 6 nations started.

I'd agree about Fickou. Poor defender and poor passer of the ball also.


I don't think Ireland should be too confident of a win in Paris because of our record there but we're unbeaten against France since a world cup warmup match in 2011 and so there should be no mental baggage going into it.

 

[gaston le gaff]

new manager new team mental baggage went out of the window the day PSA retired, and Noves took over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[big ginger 8]

Bealha, Dillane and Marmion all playing for Connacht this week.

 

[munstermuffin]

Bealha, Dillane and Marmion all playing for Connacht this week.

Interesting call is Marmion. I think with Ross back and Ruddock able to cover lock the other 2 were always going to be released to get games

 

[LukeFitzgerald]

Without a doubt, we're going to bomb the **** out of France.

France look very unorganised defensively. Bernard Jackman claimed that they have only spent 45 mins on defensive training in Noves' camps.

Italy put up a few garryowens and almost got a try out of it with Sarto and put another chip in in the first half which should have been scored.

Dave Kearney is considered to be very boring but he has been very dynamic with great feet, hands and power so far this season with Leinster. He probably should have started against Wales. More than likely he will start this week and I feel he will play very well.

Our defence has to be water tight considering how dangerous France were against Italy. Henshaw and Payne have to remain in the centres as they were exemplary in defence against Wales.

I think this will be another tight game which I hope Ireland get the result out of, but could swing either way.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Glad to see some of the Irish posters are confident and that France will make the very same mistakes they made against Italy, thats does not give much respect to Noves, but hell who cares!!!!!! France being very quiet on this won. Could be an awful lot of Irish tears in Guinness come Sat pm.

 

[Groundhog]

Glad to see some of the Irish posters are confident and that France will make the very same mistakes they made against Italy, thats does not give much respect to Noves, but hell who cares!!!!!! France being very quiet on this won. Could be an awful lot of Irish tears in Guinness come Sat pm.

Most people have said they're not that confident of a win bar LukeFitzgerald. I'm really not that confident either. France are definitely capable of doing a job on us at home but not if they play like last week.

 

[jomjom]

Well, I'm only expecting a win based on performances. Going from results from past years and last week, it would seem most logical that Ireland would win. Obviously PSA is gone and a new era has hopefully begun for France, but I'm not sure if 1 week is enough to fix everything that went wrong last week. Though it's very plausible, see: Ireland vs Italy then France WC 2015.

Mind says Ireland. Emotionally I don't know, I don't like calling the shots too much due to the unpredictability of sports. In the event that we do lose to France (a good France too, no flukes/terrible reffing) I think I'd be less upset than if it was against Wales or England (or Italy!), I miss having France in the competition. Our win streak against France has to end someday!

 

[gaston le gaff]

comm on boys!!!!! one comment and you are all on the defensive, where's that Irish fighting spirit, go to France take on the frogs, rape their women and drink all their beers!!!!!! Maybe its not that that clear cut after all, France one game one win, Ireland one game one draw, away from home,and France, new coach, newer younger players, even some real french players, supporters that again believe, Stadium beer too cold for the Irish boys, all french resturants serving only Snails and trotters this weekend, outsung and hopefully out played, is this the end for Ireland, hopefully not!!!!! they can beat England and even maybe Scotland.................
but FRANCE??????????????????

 

[Groundhog]

comm on boys!!!!! one comment and you are all on the defensive, where's that Irish fighting spirit, go to France take on the frogs, rape their women and drink all their beers!!!!!! Maybe its not that that clear cut after all, France one game one win, Ireland one game one draw, away from home,and France, new coach, newer younger players, even some real french players, supporters that again believe, Stadium beer too cold for the Irish boys, all french resturants serving only Snails and trotters this weekend, outsung and hopefully out played, is this the end for Ireland, hopefully not!!!!! they can beat England and even maybe Scotland.................
but FRANCE??????????????????

When you look like this, the women just flock to you, no coercion necessary.

 

[gaston le gaff]

The Irish girls maybe but not much chance in France, Chabal would win hands down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JJFlash]

This is going to be a test for the French, who really should have lost against Italy.
However, I am hoping (forever the optimist) that they will raise their game on Saturday and give a good account of themselves.
It may not be good enough to win the game but it will be more experience of Test rugby for the new players.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I don't think there'll ever be a time that Ireland go to Paris as favourites. The French team named are big and more defensive than last week so expect a different structure and style. Ireland do have superior halfbacks and the front five shouldn't expect to be dominated like last week. Ireland have all the tools to win this game but they need to go out and perform well to do it, which rarely happens the week after an intense battle like they had last week.