Does it actually matter who is considered favourites by who at this point? It’s pretty much a 50:50 game with home advantage possibly tipping it our way as it did for France last year. We just have to get out there and do what we can do. France will be formidable and we know them well as they do us. But it’s high time we added another championship to the honours list as our return hasn’t been good enough. France have usually been the team standing in the way that’s cost us. Let’s put that right on Saturday.
As long as we treat this game as a one off we are capable of beating anyone ,it's all on the day & with home advantage we can do it . Fitness is a key factor & not giving away cheap penalties.
There's this nonsense about the favourites tag that's been a talking point in Ireland for the entirety of the professional era. None of the other top tier rugby nations seem to care a jot when they go into a game as favourites but the irish media cling onto this talking point like it matters. It's utterly idiotic. It only really matters cos' they keep talking about. It serves no other purpose than to give talking heads talking points as far as i can tell.
BOD points are logical enough but I think the French pack is still a big issue, Porter gave away a lot of penos on Sat. I'm still not quite sure why Faz picks Beirne as 2nd row rather than at 6? Maybe start Hendo have Baird on the bench, .
I don't agree that Murray had a fantastic game. He slowed down in the second half and if he starts against France and does his aimless kicking to that French back line we will get punished.
Ireland need to be careful. I no France were not great in Rome. But they are going to be a different animal altogether in Dublin. Just not be to cocky, tbh I wud rather if we had a tuff game like they did. We didn't really struggle apart from a few min in the second half in Cardiff. But we have a habit over the year of letting France win when they had no right to. I believe FAZ will put last week's game behind us and bring us down to earth. Come in with a plan and hopefully we just get over the line. I will be happy with a point win never mind the bonus any win I will be happy with.
Ireland are a far better team than they were when they last played France in Paris. The experience and confidence they built beating New Zealand twice in a row on New Zealand soil and the backing it up by beating the world champions in November means that Ireland are a far more ruthless and confident team than the one France experienced last time with a lot more experience built up last season than an Frence team that mostly played in the comfort zone of France did. Unlike Ireland, France have not had a lot of experience playing big team on the road over the last couple of years with all of the top 5 teams they played last year being played in France where they didn't have an opportunity to be pushed out of their comfort zone. Ireland definitely have the advantage here if they don't take the foot off the pedal like they did last week in the 2nd half. Ireland beat South Africa in November without Furlong and were able to control the scrum against the country with the best scrum stats, so we can replicate that without Furlong again.
France has beatean all major world teams in last two years. NZ in 2021 ( what a game !) and SA in november and it was a really brutal game...As a french supporter of the XV de France, I however do agreee with the fact that ireland is favorite for playing at home. And this irish team is a machine and has become fun to watch. the only thing I know is that it will be a tied game ! que le meilleur gagne ! big respects for Ireland From france !
Judging France only with this Italy game with many injured players is a bit of a joke to be honnest ... O'Driscoll can do better ahah We very often struggle in Rome somehow. Ireland game is a different one, last week results are completely irrelevent. I think France will play its bets rugby in Dublin with world class players rising up to the occasion ! I give the edge to the home team here but I have to say France will win by 5 for my peace of mind 😅 Allez les Bleus !
Dumortier's first touch is on 8th minute. His try is on his 4th touch. He beats 2 defenders and gets 1 try on his debut. Not a bad game and not sure why O'Driscoll decided to single him out like this
Maybe O'Driscoll is a tad biased? That said, he makes good points and maybe is right about the game outcome. It would be fun if Dumortier scores a last minute decider just as Penaud did against Australia (or was it SA).
against Italy France was at 50% of its potential. They were all week having a physical preparation to be on top against Ireland. So they played Italy out of breath. Won't be like this vs Ireland
The French pack is bigger compared to last year's Six Nation, Ireland may have a hard time containing them. France will not make the same mistakes twice. Also, two key players are back for France.
You often don't have control over your mistakes. France have shown that when they're put under pressure they make mistakes and I've Ireland and start the game well they can damage them like they did with the All Blacks and force errors. Furlong is going to be a big miss to Ireland and will make our scrums vulnerable but we did well without him against South Africa last year despite them having the best scrummage in the world. France are clearly not as confident playing outside France where they don't have the same record, so that psychology will affect them too. We haven't really seen France lay big teams outside France in two years, this will be the first time they've had to take on a top team outside their turf and they're a very different team then
@@loughrey101 dont get carried away by your enthusiasm!!! Time will tell who’ll be the winner. I think to the contrary if France put more physicality in their game, specially the forwards it could prove difficult for Ireland to play their game as they will be under pressure. If ref is impartial and not like the last one Ireland will also have their bunch of penalties. I think you are a bit in a hurry to say the outcome is already known…
That's fair, think Italy were robbed a bit by some of the decisions and France could easily be going to Dublin on the back of a defeat. The French found a way to win while playing badly .
Fair comment but I think France will be at there very best I mean a grate team doesent become bad team over night perhaps italia have finally found a formula to win at last but having said that I still think irland will win this game possibly fairly comfortably as well these am allblack class
Lads is it really that difficult to use pronunciation?,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,., .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. I get a pain in my head trying to read your word salads.
Brian is a bit overconfident and underestimating the French. Ireland should win because of home advantage. It would be a different story in France in a QF.
😂so what, all teams miss players from game to game. drizer is correctly pointing that the French 🇫🇷 have shown their current attacking plan and huge pack, will not be such an advantage in Lansdowne/Aviva as Ireland 🇮🇪 are now a much more complete side. Ireland tae win by a couple of tries/penos with a much better two half performance 🎭 then last weekend ☘️….
