France v Ireland - 6 Nations 2020

[lorcanoworms]

I don't know why Farrell thought Byrne was ready for an international.

[EverReady]

Don't know what was so great about Ryan's performance yesterday - I only really noticed him when he was on his arse wincing at a grassburn while France had possession and on the move.

Oh grrrrrrrr

[Mr. Very Popular]

Don't know what was so great about Ryan's performance yesterday - I only really noticed him when he was on his arse wincing at a grassburn while France had possession and on the move.

Oh grrrrrrrr

He was channeling his inner MoK at that stage.

[EverReady]

Don't know what was so great about Ryan's performance yesterday - I only really noticed him when he was on his arse wincing at a grassburn while France had possession and on the move.

Oh grrrrrrrr

He was channeling his inner MoK at that stage.

Mal was a god. We all agreed that and signed the letter

[MrDominator]

These Irish private schoolboys just aren't hard enough.

[Mr. Very Popular]

Don't know what was so great about Ryan's performance yesterday - I only really noticed him when he was on his arse wincing at a grassburn while France had possession and on the move.

Oh grrrrrrrr

He was channeling his inner MoK at that stage.

Mal was a god. We all agreed that and signed the letter

A god at checking how soft the grass was.

[Mr. Very Popular]

These Irish private schoolboys just aren't hard enough.

That's your own business.

[Floppykid]

These Irish private schoolboys just aren't hard enough.

That's your own business.

Owned.

[shereblue]

Wow! France finishes second of the 6N, having beaten England and Ireland in the process

We now have a pair of half backs who are international standard and our backline is threatening again

We struggled in the rucks battle against Ireland and have much work to do in that area both in defense and on the attack.

Set piece was solid.

That young team is off to a good start, I hope they continue building on that.

As for Ireland, plenty of gritt as usual, deadly in the one pass game but as soon as they had to string together more than 3 passes it became wobbly, saving France on a number of occasions.

Let's roll onto next year.

You should have had a grand slam.
There's a lot more in this team too. The future looks good for France, good bet for 2023

I actually think France missed a big chance of winning a 6N this year.
With england and Ireland away next year for them, can't see them dethroning England unless they suddenly find a world class pack.

As Martin Johnson suggested last night, it may not have been that helpful for a young France team to record a win so early.

They need to stay hungry and humble.

Arguably missing our most able wings (Penaud and Thomas), we still had too much fluidity for Ireland.

The base up front however is still very average and lacking in depth, even if also still mainly young. Hopefully more talent will be found (Leroux was giving away pens in the 1st half but has been a discovery in the 2nd row). Hopefully Raphael (never mentioned in the Brit press) and Shaun will be adding more steel, edge and awareness.

[shereblue]

On reflection, the pack did ok bar maybe Ryan (but that's only because we all hold him to a very high standard).

Sexton and Stockdale can get ta fudge. Keenan probably had potential and Conway did SFA (which is annoying as he can be very good).

It'd be great to never have to see Johnny in green again but I don't think Farrell has the balls to drop him.

Sexton I thought was very good in the first half, at the heart of most of Ireland good plays.

Agreed.

Ireland certainly dominated the first half, lineout and handling errors and French flashes of class apart.

Sexton was bossing it, imo, up until he inexplicably turned down the 3 on the stroke of 1/2 time. Rather a petulant response to his substitution but his side, even defeated, did carry on to the end.

[YOYO]

Would agree. Sexton was pivotal to most of the good things Ireland did in the first half. I can understand though why some Irish supporters would like to see fresh blood come in at 10.

Stocktake can still be a super good winger for Ireland but he’ll need much more game time at 15 for Ulster before he should be considered at 15 for Ireland again.

As aussie come Irish man Mattie Williams said during analysis on Irish TV, David Campese was a rubbish fullback but a great winger. Point being not all world class wingers can be great fullbacks.

[shereblue]

Would agree. Sexton was pivotal to most of the good things Ireland did in the first half. I can understand though why some Irish supporters would like to see fresh blood come in at 10.

Stocktake can still be a super good winger for Ireland but he’ll need much more game time at 15 for Ulster before he should be considered at 15 for Ireland again.

As aussie come Irish man Mattie Williams said during analysis on Irish TV, David Campese was a rubbish fullback but a great winger. Point being not all world class wingers can be great fullbacks.

Some good points on fullbacks and Stockdale. A very promising test level winger, he seems wasted at fb. However he's not the first fb to have had a bit of a mare in wet conditions and I'm not sure whom, in Larmour's absence, Ireland should instead be selecting?

It is no easy task to transition from what has truly been a golden generation of Irish players. Rob Kearney in that particular role is casting shadows.

For me, Sexton past his best, is still a class 10. I just didn't feel his reaction to being substituted, evidenced the leadership I believe a captain needs to show. Leading in a transition can be a poisoned chalice and it is in that role I'd question Sexton. And why not Farrell too.

It risks being a similarly empty stadium next year but the return game will be a significant contest or both sides.

[Flametop]

These Irish private schoolboys just aren't hard enough.

That's your own business.

Owned.

[sewa]

James Ryan is a good athlete, he is far too nice, no hard edge to him. The Irish front five really miss Killer as there is no hard carriers. There should be 3 at least

[PornDog]

These Irish private schoolboys just aren't hard enough.

That's your own business.

On reflection, the pack did ok bar maybe Ryan (but that's only because we all hold him to a very high standard).

Sexton and Stockdale can get ta fudge. Keenan probably had potential and Conway did SFA (which is annoying as he can be very good).

It'd be great to never have to see Johnny in green again but I don't think Farrell has the balls to drop him.

Sexton I thought was very good in the first half, at the heart of most of Ireland good plays.

Agreed.

Ireland certainly dominated the first half, lineout and handling errors and French flashes of class apart.

Sexton was bossing it, imo, up until he inexplicably turned down the 3 on the stroke of 1/2 time. Rather a petulant response to his substitution but his side, even defeated, did carry on to the end.

Sexton was at fault for the first try - rushed up out of the line and got fresh air for his efforts.

[YOYO]

I don't know why Farrell thought Byrne was ready for an international.

Sexton’s distain for being taken off might have been due to his own lack of confidence in R Byrne at that stage in the game.

[quarter2four]

These Irish private schoolboys just aren't hard enough.

That's your own business.

[Conspicuous]

These Irish private schoolboys just aren't hard enough.

That's your own business.

[C69]

These Irish private schoolboys just aren't hard enough.

That's your own business.

Ouch

[Zico]

James Ryan is a good athlete, he is far too nice, no hard edge to him. The Irish front five really miss Killer as there is no hard carriers. There should be 3 at least

Yu nai?

[YOYO]

These Irish private schoolboys just aren't hard enough.

We should put you out to stud around the Pacific Island MrDominator. Imagine the rugby specimens you could help produce for your motherland. Not alone will the offspring make world class beastly rugby players, they would also be top level real estate agents and internet forum trolls.

[Masterji]

It will be interesting how this Fr team develops but unless they develop exponentially, it won't win the WC. The pack is decent but doesn't have the power to dominate in pressure matches and the backs are heavily reliant on Dupont. The best 3 teams at the next WC will still be the same 3 as the last WC. Fr may squeeze into the top 4.

[franch fan]

It will be interesting how this Fr team develops but unless they develop exponentially, it won't win the WC. The pack is decent but doesn't have the power to dominate in pressure matches and the backs are heavily reliant on Dupont. The best 3 teams at the next WC will still be the same 3 as the last WC. Fr may squeeze into the top 4.

If we base on the current french team, I might agree with you but don't forget the RWC is in 3 years and there will be many new French players coming from the 2 u-20 French teams which won 2 U-20 RWCs.
And the French team which played in this 6N is very young overall so many of those players might improve a lot, particularly in the forwards