Ireland v France, Sat, 2:15, Landsdowne Road

First topic message reminder :

Ireland Team:

Gibson Park, Furlong, Sheehan and Healy out for Ireland.

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 26 caps
14. Mack Hansen (Connacht/Corinthians) 10 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 48 caps
12. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 10 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 16 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 110 caps (c)
9. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 101 caps
1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 49 caps
2. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 32 caps
3. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 28 caps
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 37 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 49 caps
6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 90 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 46 caps
8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 24 caps

Replacements: 16. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 18 caps, 17. Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 49 caps, 18. Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 5 caps, 19. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 69 caps, 20. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 34 caps, 21. Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 8 caps, 22. Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 15 caps, 23. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 42 caps

France Team:
Woki, Danty, Villiere out as expected. Only change from the Italy game is with the subs, Thomas Lavault and Nolann Le Garrec drop out of the squad. François Cros and Baptiste Couilloud come in. No one will be surprised by the 6-2 bench split.

1 Baille
2 Marchand
3 Atonio
4 Flament
5 Willemse
6 Jelonch
7 Ollivon
8 Aldrit
9 Dupont (C)
10 Ntamak
11 Dumortier
12 Moefana
13 Fikou
14 Penau
15 Ramos

Subs: Barlot, Wardi, Falatea, Taofifenua, Cros, Macalou, Couilloud, Jalibert.

Ireland to win by 8. Wayne Barnes to ref.

Ohh good job they didn't show that view from behind - looks like toe on the ground from that angle ...

Clear red. Murray butchers a try.

This looks a red, look how much his head snaps back. Not sure I agree with Barnes.

Wow Barnes!

No harm to Wayne Barnes but thats cowpat, thats a red all day

100% red, no doubt whatsoever, no wrap, full force shoulder to head. Terrible.

Eh...that's the clearest red you'll ever see, but Barnes is trying to save the game.

very lucky that. For me its a Red.

The asistant defo didn't look like he agreed so why didn't he say anything

Well, that was or was not a red depending on how much of a sheeitebag you are

Think Barnes didn’t want to give the red. If that happened in the second half a red would have been shown.

Almost have the BP before half time. This is a very entertaining game.

3rd try now though.

tigertattie wrote:Well that was or was not a Try depending what colour glasses yer wearing

Yeah just unlucky for France the home director didn't manage to remember he had another camera angle until after it was given!

What on Earth was DuPont doing there????

He just stopped and passed the ball to no one

Wayne Barnes need to get a hold of France, this is ridiculous

France really are getting away with alot...

Couple of suspect calls in a row there - first colour of card, then Sexton probably should have been pinged for rolling on the ground to avoid the turnover but instead ended up gaining a pen near the line - ended up largely irrelevant due to the earlier tackle pen though, although the 2nd pen which arguably shouldn't have happened was in better position and ended in a try.

The match is certainly living up to expectations though ...

France are being exceptionally dirty today.

Not an excuse but probably because they're rattled ...

Wow. DuPont with a Worldly tackle there.

Ringrose, as good as he is, is missing a lot of tackles.

Amazing strength from Dupont.

How tf is there 3 points in this.

Jeebus we need to start taking out chances, best first half of rugby Ive seen..

France are not looking after the ball. Running down blind channels. Throwing offloads that are not on, chucking the ball to players not expecting it now

What an incredible half that was

What a half of rugby, entertaining stuff.

Ireland guilty of leaving a few opportunities out there for me though. Score line flatters France for me.

Phew ... and relax

eirebilly_01 wrote:What a half of rugby, entertaining stuff.

Ireland guilty of leaving a few opportunities out there for me though. Score line flatters France for me.

Yeah definitely we always bloody struggle to put France away and WTF is Dupont, that guy is not human.

Great first half by both teams,
I was thinking before the game how important will yellow or red cards be iin this game.

I've seen worse halves, I suppose...

France's game management has been poor, but they still have the forwards and the bench to win this. They've got a good maul and a potentially powerful scrum if they ever get the put-in. Ireland have left points out there, which will be hugely frustrating.

Collapse2005 wrote:

eirebilly_01 wrote:What a half of rugby, entertaining stuff.

Ireland guilty of leaving a few opportunities out there for me though. Score line flatters France for me.

Yeah definitely we always bloody struggle to put France away and WTF is Dupont, that guy is not human.

He is some boi but just how good is Lowe, he has been the star for me.

Heaslip reminds me of Ron Burgundy the way he is kitted out. Plonker!

This is the real issue with tmo s. Really relies on the director not being dodgy towards their side.

Also, think that POM has been a monster today. He has been involved in almost all good things Ireland have done.

No 7&1/2 wrote:This is the real issue with tmo s. Really relies on the director not being dodgy towards their side.

Ironic that France hoist by their own petard (if that's the correct spelling) ...

TBH both teams could have different grievances with some of the decisions

Heaf wrote:TBH both teams could have different grievances with some of the decisions

Decisions should be made fairly though by the offcials. To do that tv shots should be available for both equally. And yes it's more than this director but it's getting nearer to when something needs to be done.

Absolutely ...

Barnes deffo wanting the game to go. He’s not getting involved where there is plenty opportunity for him.

It’s like the game is being played in the Wild West, or the thunder dome

Barnes seems to be letting a lot go - crossing, forward passes.  I know we want a fast entertaining game but jeez ...

Getting nervous now. Starting to worry that the points Ireland left out there in the first half may prove pivotal.

Not supporting his own weight in the steal, used the ground to get back up.

eirebilly_01 wrote:Getting nervous now. Starting to worry that the points Ireland left out there in the first half may prove pivotal.

Yeah lets see how the 6-2 split plays out. McCloskey playing well.

Scottrf wrote:Not supporting his own weight in the steal, used the ground to get back up.

Inconsistency again ... think Ireland were lucky to not get pinged for holding on in the passage before their 2nd try (the one where his foot did touch the ground) ... but France lucky to have 15 men on the pitch. It's been a bit of a lottery to be honest.

Ireland really not clinical enough. That could be costly. So many missed opportunities.

Why did Sexton and Murray come off - did they pick up knocks?

Sexton was certainly looking hurt. Wasn’t too happy as if he thinks he’s 6ns is over

Is Barnes afraid to give Ireland penalties?

Thibault Flament is turning into a real quality lock