France Six Nations squad 2025

[LIONSxv]

If Italy come out of the blocks and put France under pressure early, I can honestly see them making a real game of it at home. I don't know how many French players' hearts are really in it when the going gets tough if I'm being honest - particularly away from home. There's a mental fragility there that I just don't see with Ireland. I used to think @Toulousain ex French fan was really negative on Galthie early in his tenure but now I can see where he's coming from. Toulouse under Mola are so much more fluid and assured in what they're doing it's actually crazy. You might say Galthie doesn't have the time with the players that a club coach does - but he's been the job 5 years and has been given more help from the clubs than a lot of French coaches before him. He's had a lot of things put in place for him to deliver and he really hasn't. One ***le in 6 years with this team?. Give over, that's an absolutely abysmal record. People can say that he's been up against probably the best Irish team ever, which is true. However, I don't care what anyone says on here, France have got better individuals than Ireland in most positions. Alldritt, Dupont, Ntamack, Penaud and Ramos would absolutely walk into a combined team for starters. France on paper should be beating Ireland in Dublin, but they won't because of inferior coachin

France are lacking in areas where Ire are very strong. Notably props , back row and centres. If you were to do a combined team it would be a fairly even split

 

[ShropshireAllBlack]

France are lacking in areas where Ire are very strong. Notably props , back row and centres. If you were to do a combined team it would be a fairly even split

**** me!
What are you smoking?
Our reserve loose head is 63, and we're playing our reserve tighthead as a starter with a 21 year old on the bench.
Discuss…

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I agree it's a fairly even split and that our prop depth is weak. Aldritt was mentioned as a higher caliber player than what Ireland has earlier but I wouldn't swap him for Doris in any scenario. I think Doris has left Aldritt in his dust since getting taught a lesson by him in the 2023 Heineken Cup final.

Kind of interesting exercise picking a combined XV because of the clash of styles. Like Flament and Beirne are the best locks but probably wouldn't be a balanced pairing. LBB v Lowe and Ramos v Keenan is like comparing chalk and cheese, neither side would be interested in swapping (with age as no factor) for the opposition player, and that's not the only example of that.

When you get three or so players into the depth chart France are stronger in most positions with the exception being Ireland having far better midfield options (Frisch has been capped and in and around French squads whereas Ireland have had to move Osborne to 15 to accomodate is fairly stark) and then French depth at prop and options at 9. But none of that really factors into winning a 6n.

In terms of talent alone it's a close contest where the home team will be favourites.

France probably do need to freshen up their coaching team, they've built an exceptional squad but seem to have been unable to take them that extra step to winning trophies. But they shouldn't expect to win this comp every year by just showing up and being competent, they're not out ahead of Ireland and neither are they that far ahead of England. And if last week was the start of England no longer playing with their boots tied together, it'll only het more difficult to win this competition.

I backed them as favourites because they looked fantastic in the autumn whereas Ireland and England needed to find something they didn't have in the autumn, both have. I'll also still be worried about the Dublin game, our defence is better but France only need to create about half the chances they did v England to be right in the fight provided they can catch the ball again.