[2025 Six Nations] Italy vs France - 23/02/25

[Tooting Carmen]

Italian rugby is like Jaws - just when you think it is safe to go back in the water... (The U20's were equally atrocious last night too).

 

[Toulousain ex French fan]

Big win, but how long did Italy test us for? Did we need a 7-1 split vs Italy?
Real question is FG any closer to knowing his best XV from his right hand? I wonder. We know our players can
play test, it's the coaching I wonder about, not the players.
Five years in the job, does FG still need try three 10s in three games? What's our starting XV for Dublin? Ntamack, Jalibert or Ramos at 10?
Other question, can we come back from behind when tested for 80 minutes as we will be in Dublin? Running in 11 tries is nice but what did FG learn from it? we will know in Dublin...

 

[dirty harry]

Big win, but how long did Italy test us for? Did we need a 7-1 split vs Italy?
Real question is FG any closer to knowing his best XV from his right hand? I wonder. We know our players can
play test, it's the coaching I wonder about, not the players.
Five years in the job, does FG still need try three 10s in three games? What's our starting XV for Dublin? Ntamack, Jalibert or Ramos at 10?
Other question, can we come back from behind when tested for 80 minutes as we will be in Dublin? Running in 11 tries is nice but what did FG learn from it? we will know in Dublin...

He certainly learned that Dupont is a world class 9, poor 10. France attacking structure went AWOL when he moved there. Although to his credit the game had gone

 

[Toulousain ex French fan]

but we absolutely do not need Dupont or Ramos at 10 when we have Ntamack or Jalibert....I hope he learnt more than that!

 

[Gavin]

but we absolutely do not need Dupont or Ramos at 10 when we have Ntamack or Jalibert....I hope he learnt more than that!

What's his beef with Jalibert? It seems personal now.

Or is it Jalibert doesn't work well with Dupont as they are similar players who the club team is based around.

 

[Toulousain ex French fan]

Jalibert is a bit of a hot head but a really good 10. Nothing a bit of man to man coaching won't fix. I thought that's what a coach does.

 

[duncanb]

Big win, but how long did Italy test us for? Did we need a 7-1 split vs Italy?
Real question is FG any closer to knowing his best XV from his right hand? I wonder. We know our players can
play test, it's the coaching I wonder about, not the players.
Five years in the job, does FG still need try three 10s in three games? What's our starting XV for Dublin? Ntamack, Jalibert or Ramos at 10?
Other question, can we come back from behind when tested for 80 minutes as we will be in Dublin? Running in 11 tries is nice but what did FG learn from it? we will know in Dublin...

Very considered, I will say I don't see alot of French Rugby.
Clearly a lot of talent and coaching is generally a high standard.
Your best to me is obviously Ntamak, followed by Jailbert.
Ramos in 23 provides extra cover at 10.
Personally.
If dupont can play 10 , Ramos in 23 Ntamak in 23 Jailbert is kind of not needed.
I agree 7 1 bench split is crazy unless injury or yellow cards HIA fall any teams way.

 

[Toulousain ex French fan]

Very considered, I will say I don't see alot of French Rugby.
Clearly a lot of talent and coaching is generally a high standard.
Your best to me is obviously Ntamak, followed by Jailbert.
Ramos in 23 provides extra cover at 10.
Personally.
If dupont can play 10 , Ramos in 23 Ntamak in 23 Jailbert is kind of not needed.
I agree 7 1 bench split is crazy unless injury or yellow cards HIA fall any teams way.

in principle I'm not opposed to a 7-1 split but not vs Italy.
the 6N is not the comp to be testing three 10s over three games. FG should know by now five years on the job what his best XV is like, i'm no sure he does.
if you heard that Jalibert went home sick during the week, it was BS. Nobody bought it in Bordeaux. He's picked to play tonight vs Clermont. I think he is sick from Galthié and the Marcoussis regime.https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2025/02/23...uivez-le-match-de-la-17e-journee-12530840.php
I'd have Jalibert on bench to cover for Ntamack or start him if NTM is out. The rest is just down to the game plan and coaching Jalibert : backing him even if he doesn't fully deliver. He's a confidence player, he needs to feel the love...

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Thought the days of these turkey shoots had gone.

Pretty much everything sticking today that didn't a couple of weeks ago.

Ita scored a couple of nice tries but have to be doing a lot better than that.

 

[Batsumy]

Big win, but how long did Italy test us for? Did we need a 7-1 split vs Italy?
Real question is FG any closer to knowing his best XV from his right hand? I wonder. We know our players can
play test, it's the coaching I wonder about, not the players.
Five years in the job, does FG still need try three 10s in three games? What's our starting XV for Dublin? Ntamack, Jalibert or Ramos at 10?
Other question, can we come back from behind when tested for 80 minutes as we will be in Dublin? Running in 11 tries is nice but what did FG learn from it? we will know in Dublin...

It was quite obvious that this match was a rehersal for Dublin in FG's head. The pace France has played in first half was an evidence of that, even the bench seems to be a rehersal for Dublin encounter. We tried to constantly let the ball alive, the priority was offloading quick to accelrate as much as we could. Obviously, Ireland wont let us develop this kind of game that easily but clearly, it was a live rehersal. I'm not sure that the choice of players was so hugely important today, waht was important was our ability to accelerate the game collectively and on this perspective, we did rather well.

The main issue of today is the 2 tries we take in first half, too easy, a bit like south africa in world cup, a bit like england 2 weeks ago, we are dominating and playing quick but then, we get caught too easily defensively.

All in all, this is a positive weekend for France mainly because of the 2 bonus points not taken by Ireland and England, we are back a bit more within control of our future (even a small french win with defensive bonus point for ireland would keep us there), which was much less the case after the last weekend and we have increased substanstially our goal average compare to Ireland and England, which could be crucial in case of equal points at the end

Now the toughest step: take on the green men in Dublin

 

[Toulousain ex French fan]

Dublin is going to be an entirely different story. The Irish are going to test us for the full 80 and beyond, they will stay in the game. They are relentless. They're going to throw the kitchen sink and all. Talk about testing...

Our defense has lost a fair bit of its shape, this is an area of concern. We were exposed on Italy's 1st and 2nd tries which were excellent.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Can't wait for the French game. Clash of styles and our varied kicking game will need to be on top form.

I think Galthié and the French set up will be happy with what they saw yesterday. Wales caused a lot of trouble keeping the ball alive and France won't be on the wrong side of so many dominant collisions.

Now, I have no doubt we'll be better and I back us in Dublin against anyone but France have the tools and incentive to beat us.

 

[OllyM97]

Thought the days of these turkey shoots had gone.

Pretty much everything sticking today that didn't a couple of weeks ago.

Ita scored a couple of nice tries but have to be doing a lot better than that.

Italy have gone backwards this year and it's a real shame. You can get beaten but the lack of appetite and stomach for the fight was completely unacceptable. Some of the tries that France scored were a disgrace to concede from a 6 Nations team. That performance from Italy really annoyed me. It was a soft, weak surrender. There's not enough nastiness in this Italy team - they are desperately missing some absolute dogs in the pack. This Italian team won't achieve what they could achieve if they don't improve in the tight. By Italian levels, this is a weak pack. The pack in the Mauro Bergamasco, Zanni and Parisse era would absolutely monster this current one. As good as some of the attacking phases looked, ultimately, against the top teams, you cannot win the game if you're not physical enough and you let them get over the gain-line at will.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

"I'm ancient"

 

[OllyM97]

Can't wait for the French game. Clash of styles and our varied kicking game will need to be on top form.

I think Galthié and the French set up will be happy with what they saw yesterday. Wales caused a lot of trouble keeping the ball alive and France won't be on the wrong side of so many dominant collisions.

Now, I have no doubt we'll be better and I back us in Dublin against anyone but France have the tools and incentive to beat us.

France are serial bottlers, they look great when they're on the front foot with a huge lead but when it comes to the crunch, they go missing. They won't win in Dublin. Ireland will play the occasion better, will be more disciplined and I'd back the Irish coaches to tactically outwit Galthie and Co. That game yesterday was completely meaningless. I think Ireland will start quickly, get a lead and France will wilt. To be honest I think Ireland win by 10-15. France can be brilliant when it doesn't matter, but i would question their mental strength when it starts going against them away from home. Ireland are a relentless machine at home.

 

[Batsumy]

France are serial bottlers, they look great when they're on the front foot with a huge lead but when it comes to the crunch, they go missing. They won't win in Dublin. Ireland will play the occasion better, will be more disciplined and I'd back the Irish coaches to tactically outwit Galthie and Co. That game yesterday was completely meaningless. I think Ireland will start quickly, get a lead and France will wilt. To be honest I think Ireland win by 10-15. France can be brilliant when it doesn't matter, but i would question their mental strength when it starts going against them away from home. Ireland are a relentless machine at home.

As much as I put Ireland in front of us in terms of consistency and I give us 30% chance to win in Dublin, lets not exagerate, France had some great matches with not much of a big lead and under pressure (I'm thinking the opening match of the world cup for example against ABs). We defo bottled our world cup 1/4 final but you have to look back at the circumstances, especially the Dupont incident in the build up of the match.

We do have an issue with our defense, we give away tries too quickly and too easily (a good example was the one that England scored just few minutes after we scored one, this should not happen). Not sure if it is psychological but yeah it seems we have often some not very focused moments after scoring

The game yesterday was not meaningless as it puts us in a rather positive situation for the end of the tournament, in terms of points and goal average

 

[BrokenWing]

when it comes to the crunch, they go missing.

They know nothing of the crunch, they've never even been to the crunch.


That will mean nothing to most people ..

 

[Reiser99]

France are serial bottlers, they look great when they're on the front foot with a huge lead but when it comes to the crunch, they go missing. They won't win in Dublin. Ireland will play the occasion better, will be more disciplined and I'd back the Irish coaches to tactically outwit Galthie and Co. That game yesterday was completely meaningless. I think Ireland will start quickly, get a lead and France will wilt. To be honest I think Ireland win by 10-15. France can be brilliant when it doesn't matter, but i would question their mental strength when it starts going against them away from home. Ireland are a relentless machine at home.

Well...they have got further than a WC QF.

 

[Saintjay]

France are serial bottlers, they look great when they're on the front foot with a huge lead but when it comes to the crunch, they go missing. They won't win in Dublin. Ireland will play the occasion better, will be more disciplined and I'd back the Irish coaches to tactically outwit Galthie and Co. That game yesterday was completely meaningless. I think Ireland will start quickly, get a lead and France will wilt. To be honest I think Ireland win by 10-15. France can be brilliant when it doesn't matter, but i would question their mental strength when it starts going against them away from home. Ireland are a relentless machine at home.

Definitely a better record against the All Blacks at rugby world cups that is for sure

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Irish rugby's tactic of being so bad at world cups that nobody notices we are bottlers for most of the other 3.5 years of a cycle is finally paying off.