RBS 6 Nations - France vs Ireland - 04/02/2012, 15:00

[Feicarsinn]

Stade de France (04/02/2012 - 15:00)

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France: Poitrenaud, Clerc, Rougerie, Fofana, Malzieu, Trinh-Duc, Parra, Bonnaire, Harinordoquy, Dusautoir, Mastri, Papé, Mas, Szarzewski, Poux.
Bench: Servat, Debaty, Nallet, Picamoles, Dupuy, Beauxis, Mermoz.

Ireland: Kearney, Bowe, Earls, D'arcy, Trimble, Sexton, Murray, Heaslip, O'Brien, Ferris, O'Connell, O'Callaghan, Ross, Best, Healy.
Bench: Cronin, Court, Ryan, O'Mahony, Reddan, O'Gara, McFadden.

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[SelimNiai]

<img style="-webkit-user-select: none" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_n06stlhIcXg/TUHrsHb2qpI/AAAAAAAAANA/1bgl_s_7Zs0/s220/take3.gif">

 

[Feicarsinn]

Has anyone seen the picture that ESPN are using for this game?

Oh dear.

 

[Conal]

its happening again!

 

[big ginger 8]

Clement Poitrenaud in hopefully it's one of his bad days.

 

[French TommyGun]

I'm really impatient for this game now! Receiving Ireland in Paris is always special. I'm really glad Poitrenaud is back I've always liked him and although he's capable of good things I'm slightly worried that missing the world cup and the begining of the 6 nations might not do him any favoures.

 

[SelimNiai]

An Ireland win would be very, very, very useful for us.

 

[French TommyGun]

It wouldn't be any use to us though buddy! =]

 

[jaunard06]

PSA talking after reviewing the scotland game:
""In the Scottish game we were too tame at the beginning, we lost too many balls in the rucks, especially in the first half-hour, and missed too many tackles. These are the main areas we will work on this week."

Everything is said...

 

[dunney77]

Ireland don't use their big attacking back row to any useful effect, its frustrating. It was good to see Sexton bring his club kicking form to international level on Saturday.

A win for Ireland would also do them a lot of favors for the Championship, I still feel France are more than capable of beating the Welsh if they play to their ability. Those points scored against Italy may come in handy.

 

[monkeypigeon]

Has anyone seen the picture that ESPN are using for this game?

Oh dear.

Apparantly he spends half of training (since the world cup) having Donnocha Ryan running at him fast and hard so he can up his tackling.

Nice to see a bit of dedication but his positioning needs a bit of work too (though that also seems a bit better this season). He'll need Sean O'Brien running at him if he plans to start against man Tualagi though.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Apparantly he spends half of training (since the world cup) having Donnocha Ryan running at him fast and hard so he can up his tackling.

Nice to see a bit of dedication but his positioning needs a bit of work too (though that also seems a bit better this season). He'll need Sean O'Brien running at him if he plans to start against man Tualagi though.

I'm more concerned with his positioning than his tackling truth be told, but as you said it's nice to see him working on the weaknesses in his game. If he improves that area of his game, and looks to pass a bit more than he does at the moment, he could be a handy enough centre. He's still a natural winger though, the poor sod.

 

[SelimNiai]

It wouldn't be any use to us though buddy! =]

Précisément

 

[Feicarsinn]

Actually while we're here, what's everyone's opinion on Paul O'Connell as captain? It's always been my view that he's great as part as a leadership duo, eg. himself and BOD or with ROG at Munster, but he doesn't cut it as a sole leader. He's full of passion and sets a great example yes, but I think his decision making is pretty poor. He's the perfect second in command in my books, but not my choice as captain.

Opinions?

 

[monkeypigeon]

Actually while we're here, what's everyone's opinion on Paul O'Connell as captain? It's always been my view that he's great as part as a leadership duo, eg. himself and BOD or with ROG at Munster, but he doesn't cut it as a sole leader. He's full of passion and sets a great example yes, but I think his decision making is pretty poor. He's the perfect second in command in my books, but not my choice as captain.

Opinions?

There's is some questioble decisions. I'm still marvelling at him letting Sexton kick for the posts instead of playing it down the line with 5 minutes to go against Wales.

And the two times we went for the Corner in the first half against Italy, though they worked out could go badly wrong against France.

That said I think this has been his best stint at captaining Ireland. Or just captaining generally.


On the point of Earls looking to make the pass more often, I think generally he's been better recently, but when he made a break against Italy down the right wing and he had Trimble (I think) on his right. Do you think he should have passed it or that he was right to pass it or go his own and not risk the trickyish pass/intercept? I only saw it the once live, part of me was thinking 'pass' but then Ireland and Munster always seem to throw one pass to many instead of just recycling and keeping the ball and having another go.

 

[Peat]

Monkeypigeon, what minute was that break again? Trying to remember it so I can have another look on iplayer.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

An Ireland win would be very, very, very useful for us.

I don't agree. I think if France lose to Ireland they'll bounce back and beat both England and Wales. They don't regularly lose two games in a season.

 

[SelimNiai]

I don't agree. I think if France lose to Ireland they'll bounce back and beat both England and Wales. They don't regularly lose two games in a season.

But if France do lose to Ireland and if you assume we beat Italy then we can still afford to lose to France and still win it. Either that or my maths is el terriblé

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

But if France do lose to Ireland and if you assume we beat Italy then we can still afford to lose to France and still win it. Either that or my maths is el terriblé

True. But the Slam is what you want.

 

[big ginger 8]

If we win we'll still have a better points difference.