[2025 Six Nations] Ireland vs France - 8/3/25

[Flankers' paradise]

Sam should be renamed Penaudgassed after the french winger jogged away from him to score

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Antoine Dupont: Fears over 'serious' knee for France captain in Ireland Six Nations win

France head coach Fabien Galthie fears captain Antoine Dupont has sustained a "serious" knee injury during their Six Nations victory over Ireland.

www.bbc.co.uk

Probably ACL. Shame, if it is.

 

[OllyM97]

Antoine Dupont: Fears over 'serious' knee for France captain in Ireland Six Nations win

France head coach Fabien Galthie fears captain Antoine Dupont has sustained a "serious" knee injury during their Six Nations victory over Ireland.

www.bbc.co.uk

Probably ACL. Shame, if it is.

The more I watch that incident the more angry I get. It was only a matter of time before the way Ireland illegally fly into rucks off their feet at speed was going to seriously injure somebody. If referees actually bothered to referee the breakdown properly then Porter doesn't fly in at speed causing the weight of Beirne to come down on Dupont's standing foot when he's in a vulnerable position. That should be at least a 10 game suspension.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The more I watch that incident the more angry I get. It was only a matter of time before the way Ireland illegally fly into rucks off their feet at speed was going to seriously injure somebody. If referees actually bothered to referee the breakdown properly then Porter doesn't fly in at speed causing the weight of Beirne to come down on Dupont's standing foot when he's in a vulnerable position. That should be at least a 10 game suspension.

 

[munstermuffin]

Bad day at office.
Sad for outgoing players. Have to say Prendergast was terrible. There is alot of hype about him so it is a case of when good it made bigger than it is and when bad knives come out. Not his fault but a mixture of treatment of Crowley, sections of media and fact he was rushed through. I hope he misses the Lions, progresses at a correct rate and does reach his potential but rushing it wrong can destroy a guy. The other big factor is we have a lot of great players wrong side of 30. And some replacing them look good for Leinster but are looking sometimes better than they are as in a great team but when the great lads go the replacements are good not great so we at crossroads. Fact we may finish 3rd and effectively have a deficit of €5m on what was planned won't help either.

 

[corny]

That franked the form of the NZ loss for me. We're in trouble against the top teams.

We lacked dynamism every bit as much as we lacked power. That's normally a dead giveaway that you have an old team. The French were dynamic everywhere on the pitch. Antonio and Cros are the only players in that team over thirty. Cros is thirty. They have a load of lads under 25 too.

Ireland won't be able to compete with them (not just them) in the short term if they don't pivot away from the tried and trusted. They seemingly have no problem allowing Prendergast to learn on the job so why not others.

 

[O’Doyle Rules]

Don't get me wrong, this is a magnificent French team. They literally hold onto 2/3 passes against England and I think we're talking about the best team ever to win a 6N. Don't think I've ever seen a team so dominant in every game.

For Ireland, this just makes me think 2023 was probably the only chance in my lifetime Ireland could and probably should have won a WC. Amazing team with a great coach and tactics which were working. Also foreign born players we will never have again. Think that system has now run out of steam and time for a reset.

Think this is the end of Ireland's period of dominance. It's not because they're a bad team - simply every team has cycles. To do what they have done is such an achievement and I do think Ireland fans are spoilt and increasingly the most arrogant. It's almost a NZ level of hate if they lose a game. I think the Aviva is turning into a graveyard filled with expectant fans who forget good home support is what actually wins most test games - as the team goes through the coming natural dip, a poor crowd will make it worse.

Few specifics on players:

- Ryan is actually our best second row
- Prendergast rushed through but I think this actually been done to blood him so in 2027 we have two top class 10s, and don't get a lead legged sexton situation again.
- Porter and McCarthy need to sort discipline otherwise they will lose us the big games. McCarthy performs well below his level.
- Irish backline needs pace.

I actually have a weird feeling Ireland will go down a bit (Twickenham and Paris next year 100% were 3rd again) but 2027 is the year we make a semi completely out of the blue.

It's sport - Ireland will come good again.

 

[munstermuffin]

Don't get me wrong, this is a magnificent French team. They literally hold onto 2/3 passes against England and I think we're talking about the best team ever to win a 6N. Don't think I've ever seen a team so dominant in every game.

For Ireland, this just makes me think 2023 was probably the only chance in my lifetime Ireland could and probably should have won a WC. Amazing team with a great coach and tactics which were working. Also foreign born players we will never have again. Think that system has now run out of steam and time for a reset.

Think this is the end of Ireland's period of dominance. It's not because they're a bad team - simply every team has cycles. To do what they have done is such an achievement and I do think Ireland fans are spoilt and increasingly the most arrogant. It's almost a NZ level of hate if they lose a game. I think the Aviva is turning into a graveyard filled with expectant fans who forget good home support is what actually wins most test games - as the team goes through the coming natural dip, a poor crowd will make it worse.

Few specifics on players:

- Ryan is actually our best second row
- Prendergast rushed through but I think this actually been done to blood him so in 2027 we have two top class 10s, and don't get a lead legged sexton situation again.
- Porter and McCarthy need to sort discipline otherwise they will lose us the big games. McCarthy performs well below his level.
- Irish backline needs pace.

I actually have a weird feeling Ireland will go down a bit (Twickenham and Paris next year 100% were 3rd again) but 2027 is the year we make a semi completely out of the blue.

It's sport - Ireland will come good again.

On the 10s. The issue is they are not getting Crowley gametime even when it needed so don't think it having 2 10s.

On the backline pace. The thing is most are aging or never had pace. So bit of an issue there. As I said we are at a crossroads and let's add I think IRFU can't afford 3rd places financially.

 

[Flankers' paradise]

Galthie says they have reported Porter Beirne and Nash to the citing commissioner so it could potentially get worse for ireland too.

 

[Amiga500]

I wouldn't be so optimistic to say we're at a cross roads.
That'd infer we've a choice of sorts as to what road we take.

All I see is a single road leading down off the highest mountain we've ever been up.
Hard to see how far down it goes or if there is another mountain on the far side as it descends into mist, but for now, its definitely down... and there is a brave bit of downhill before the mist obscures it too.

Look at the URC. Leinster are 24 points ahead of Munster. Munster are 4 ahead of Connacht and 6 ahead of Ulster.

Yeah, folks can point at the schools in Dublin having the money to be essentially pro from 12 years old. If the school is essential to development and there is no way of rebalancing monies, and the other provinces cannot replicate that, then maybe the solution is for IRFU to offer scholarship boarding to those schools from identified talent in other province with the understanding they'll return to their native province's academy after the leaving cert.

Whatever the reasons for the imbalance - they need identified and then means to drag the others up (and not drag Leinster down!) also need produced.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I remember thinking in 2019 that we were dusht with a big rebuild on our hands, didn'tquite work out that way. Bad day with key injuries against one of the world's best teams who were fired up. As I said earlier, Nash, McCarthy, Prendergast and Osborne, from worst to least worse, were our biggest problems. 30 isn't old anymore.

I do agree pace is an issue, get the O'Briens and Bolton in that squad for when Mack and Lowe are unavailable, if we don't have gamebreakers they should at least be quick. It's also time to break up the Ringrose, Aki, Henshaw monopoly of the midfield and start using Osborne where he's best, don't turn him into a utility player.

TH is a worry but I don't think there are many other issues in the pack.

We were also massively outcoached today, look at how clean and effective France's exits were vs ours, night and day. We exposed their coverage a few times but it was generally fruitless because the chase wasn't hard enough. I'm not convinced by the backroom, O'Connell and Goodman haven't earned their keep lately.

9, 10, 15 are fairly grand too. Lots of talent, just about finding what works best.

Farrell has another big job on his hands after his vanity trip but I don't think en masse changes are required.

 

[AlRums]

Antoine Dupont: Fears over 'serious' knee for France captain in Ireland Six Nations win

France head coach Fabien Galthie fears captain Antoine Dupont has sustained a "serious" knee injury during their Six Nations victory over Ireland.

www.bbc.co.uk

Probably ACL. Shame, if it is.

Judging by the world cup and his face mask.

I wouldn't be surprised if he has a new, fully working knee by next week.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Galthie says they have reported Porter Beirne and Nash to the citing commissioner so it could potentially get worse for ireland too.

He literally can't do that but OK.

French being classless after a victory in Dublin is nothing new.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

France should be favorites in every game yet I expect them most of their games to be coin flips.

Scotland might be a great battle.

 

[AlRums]

He literally can't do that but OK.

French being classless after a victory in Dublin is nothing new.

He can refer them to the citing commission.

Citing Commisioners | Rugby Football Union

www.englandrugby.com

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

He can refer them to the citing commission.

Citing Commisioners | Rugby Football Union

www.englandrugby.com

Fair, thought they got rid of that. Still it was reviewed on field and the commissioner is supposed to support the officiating team. It's not going amywhere.

Still a classless interview from Galthié

 

[O’Doyle Rules]

On the 10s. The issue is they are not getting Crowley gametime even when it needed so don't think it having 2 10s.

On the backline pace. The thing is most are aging or never had pace. So bit of an issue there. As I said we are at a crossroads and let's add I think IRFU can't afford 3rd places financially.

As long as France and England are in your tournament, you need to accept some 3rd place finishes.

I don't know what it is with Ireland. It feels like we really really have to work for a try. Whereas other teams can just score them out of nowhere. Not sure if it's overcoaching or I'm overthinking myself.

God it's amazing to watch a good France team though - game is better for it

 

[O’Doyle Rules]

I also think the Irish fan FB groups are the most toxic places on social media they literally have no idea

 

[IT157]

France should be favorites in every game yet I expect them most of their games to be coin flips.

Scotland might be a great battle.

Comfortable win for France imo.

 

[munstermuffin]

As long as France and England are in your tournament, you need to accept some 3rd place finishes.

I don't know what it is with Ireland. It feels like we really really have to work for a try. Whereas other teams can just score them out of nowhere. Not sure if it's overcoaching or I'm overthinking myself.

God it's amazing to watch a good France team though - game is better for it

I know it will happen but IRFU are reliant more now on 6 Nations money than every before.

And as you said France looked awesome. I was here when France were at lowest and I said after Ireland hammered them one year that it was sad. Rugby needs French flair. Today it was there.

@Leonormous Boozer we may be ok now at 9, 10 and 15 but I'll say what I said for years.
@9 I'm not convinced Casey will make it to a level we want. Ben Murphy is the real hope. And we need JGP to keep form.
@10 I think SP is a good player but unless he sorts defense and speed he will stagnate. Jack can be a great player but has issues too so we are at crossroads there.
@15 Osborne will eventually lose games there and longer he isn't a 15 he is not an option. It is like Henshaw years ago. The body will need to decide if it a centre or 15. And if it a centre then he will lose pace etc for a 15.
Lowe, JGP and Aki could last 1 more year or 4 more years like we need to.be prepared incase their form crashes.
Beirne, VDF, Conan, Bealham/Furlong are same up in pack