France v Ireland, 11 October

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FRANCE v IRELAND
11 October 2015
KO: 16:45
The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Live on [tbc]

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Touch judges:Wayne Barnes (England) & Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)

A. Head to Head

93 Played 93
55 Won 31
7 Drawn 7
31 Lost 55
1508 Points 1084

B. Recent Form

14 February 2015
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
18 – 11 to Ireland

15 March 2014
Stade de France, Saint Denis
20 – 22 to Ireland

9 March 2013
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
13 – 13 Draw

4 March 2012
Stade de France, Saint Denis
17 – 17 Draw

20 August 2011
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
22 – 26 to France

13 August 2011
Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux
19 – 12 to France

C. Teams

FRANCE

15 Scott Spedding, 14 Noa Nakaitaci, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Brice Dulin, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde; 1 Eddy Ben Arous, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 3 Rabah Slimani, 4 Pascal Pape, 5 Yoann Maestri, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 7 Damien Chouly, 8 Louis Picamoles.

Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Nicolas Mas, 19 Alexandre Flanquart, 20 Bernard Le Roux, 21 Morgan Parra, 22 Remi Tales, 23 Alexandre Dumoulin.

IRELAND

15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Robbie Henshaw , 11 Dave Kearney,  10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Cian Healy, 2 Rory Best, 3 Mike Ross, 4 Devin Toner, 5 Paul O'Connell (c), 6 Peter O'Mahony, 7 Sean O'Brien, 8 Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Nathan White, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Chris Henry, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Luke Fitzgerald.

Wow, Argentina looked very good there. It may have been Namibia but some of the handling, running lines and general attacking play was outstanding.

Scary thoughts.

If we lose, there might be a bit of heat in this thread.

I will blame billy

Last of four games for Namibia. I wouldn't read too much into the result. In fact, if anything I think it's interesting that Argentina conceded three tries.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:His mistakes are highlighted because they are frequent. When you mention knocking the ball in contact or being easily turned over, are you referring to Earls? These have been elements in his game over the past year that need ironed out. All of the scenarios you have mentioned are equally bad, not something you want to see from an international 13.

Do you not see the hypocrisy in your position, Billy? You have criticised Payne an awful lot on here, despite him doing very well, and when people jumped to his defence and backed it up with evidence that countered yours, you told them they couldn't accept that Payne wasn't perfect and could do no wrong.

Can you honestly not see it?

The difference being Rory, I actually admit Earls short comings and admit he has things to work on. He has done this and has improved greatly over the last few years. Sadly people still see the mistakes he used to make and continue to attribute that to him now. See previous pages comments where I still criticise his tackling style and the fact that he injures himself.

In regards to Payne, I have criticised him based on what I have seen. People did not like that and in feeble attempts tried to paint me out as a hater (which sadly, some of the most gullible posters believed instead of actually reading what I wrote) when all I was saying is that I thought he was a better 15 than 13. I also said on previous pages that I believed that Payne was the best option to start at 13 for this match.

Munchkin wrote:If we lose, there might be a bit of heat in this thread.

I will blame billy

Munchkin wrote:If we lose, there might be a bit of heat in this thread.

I will blame billy

If you play the way you played against Italy. You will lose, and deserve too lose as well.

So it will be no use blaming billy

majesticimperialman wrote:

Munchkin wrote:If we lose, there might be a bit of heat in this thread.

I will blame billy

If you play the way you played against Italy. You will lose, and deserve too lose as well.

So it will be no use blaming billy

Have to blame someone. billy is fair game, I say

Munchkin wrote:

Have to blame someone. billy is fair game, I say

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eirebilly wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

Have to blame someone. billy is fair game, I say

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Very creative, billy

eirebilly wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:His mistakes are highlighted because they are frequent. When you mention knocking the ball in contact or being easily turned over, are you referring to Earls? These have been elements in his game over the past year that need ironed out. All of the scenarios you have mentioned are equally bad, not something you want to see from an international 13.

Do you not see the hypocrisy in your position, Billy? You have criticised Payne an awful lot on here, despite him doing very well, and when people jumped to his defence and backed it up with evidence that countered yours, you told them they couldn't accept that Payne wasn't perfect and could do no wrong.

Can you honestly not see it?

The difference being Rory, I actually admit Earls short comings and admit he has things to work on. He has done this and has improved greatly over the last few years. Sadly people still see the mistakes he used to make and continue to attribute that to him now. See previous pages comments where I still criticise his tackling style and the fact that he injures himself.

In regards to Payne, I have criticised him based on what I have seen. People did not like that and in feeble attempts tried to paint me out as a hater (which sadly, some of the most gullible posters believed instead of actually reading what I wrote) when all I was saying is that I thought he was a better 15 than 13. I also said on previous pages that I believed that Payne was the best option to start at 13 for this match.

No, what I have highlighted is not true, and you know it. We both know that people are talking about things that have happened this year, even in this World Cup. I watch Munster as often as I can, I have been watching Earls in almost every game since he has come back from injury. Everything I have criticised him for are things that have happened this year on his triumphant return. My issue is that he still has some of the same weaknesses that have always held him back.

Are you sure you are as impartial as you claim? I highly doubt it.

Rory, I have no objections to Earls' shortcomings being highlighted, I truly don't and have even highlighted some myself. I have also seen Earls do some great things during this RWC as well as make mistakes but you must acknowledge the good if you are going to highlight the bad for an impartial point of view.

I was accused of wanting Earls at 13 over Payne, simply not true as I have stated on many occasions wanting to see Cave and Henshaw partnership.

If anything, I have been constantly miss-quoted due to some peoples attempt to make out I am a Payne hater or I show Munster bias simply because of my views which is very untrue.

I suspect the ABs prefer to play Ireland in the QF, Looking at France they have looked the best N H team so far and could be too strong for Ireland today. If Ireland can keep it tight they could win out on penalties, good luck should be a good game.

NZ would prefer to play Ireland even if Ireland looked ahead of France, and I'm not convinced France do look ahead. I will be convinced one way or another in the next hour or so, as will we all.

I know who I would like us to meet in the quarters. Argentina. Not that we can't beat NZ. We have a chance, but less of a chance than we would against Argentina. So I'm a wee bit nervous about this game, more so than I was before the news of Payne's injury. Hoping that the team comes out firing on all cylinders. That the big game players have big games, and Earls and Henshaw delight at centre.

COME ON IRRRRRRELAAAAAAAND!!!!!!!!!!

Rory...maybe you could give us some detail on his terrible mistakes this year.

Its interesting that players like Earls get so much attention. For example if he had tried the kick Payne did against Canada he would have been crucified and all the doubters would be nodding I told you so. Someone even tried to criticise him for the pass to Kearney for his try.

Anyway. Earls to score a hat trick within 15 mins and then play like a drain losing 22-21 with a last minute drop goal from Nicholas Mas.

Time for a drink

ME-109 wrote:Anyway. Earls to score a hat trick within 15 mins and then play like a drain losing 22-21 with a last minute drop goal from Nicholas Mas.

Time for a drink

Thinking like that i would stay off the drink if i was you.

Good luck..

This should be the game of the weekend..

Two questions:

1) How have I not noticed their is no sponsor on the Irish shirts before?
2) The rule that gumshields should be plain (ie no branding0 not in place this time?

ireland have never beaten France at RWC?

Promises to be a cracking game but i just can't see how their midfield will live with Bastereaud

Oh excellent work POM

Come on Ireland!!

Great work, Ireland.

Again POM, excellent work.

O'Mahony having a monstrous game so far, great to see!

SOB will get cited for Pape

Gwlad wrote:SOB will get cited for Pape

Did you see it?

We need to watch the penalty count. That's two given away. Lucky not to be 6 points behind.

Good man, Sexton. Ireland 3 up.

Need to watch the discipline. This is not the Frnech side of the past few Six Nations. Our defence around the fringes worries me- the backline could be exposed if we don't watch the weight of numbers

Really poor missed tackle from POC and Ross- can't afford those lapses. Our clearing out needs to be quicker. We are sightly off the pace so far at ruck time

Yes, it was. Cost us three points in the end.

Much more attacking orientated in defence this week which is a good sign but Ireland still are not getting to the breakdown fast enough. POM is doing the work of 3 men out there. This really is the type of game where Henderson would excel.

I wouldn't have left Henderson on the bench, but your man Toner is having a great game.

Good play so far. Earls having a good game up to now.

Munchkin wrote:

Gwlad wrote:SOB will get cited for Pape

Did you see it?

What happened? The TV editting was mince and all you saw was Pape on the ground

Close game this

While the clearing out Eirebilly is an issue, the players are going to ground too quickly and getting slightly isolated.

Ben Arous is a cracking player

Dive!!!

Jeez, these teams are playing with Wales/Aus intensity. Their physio's must be dreading their workload for the next week

Exiled Gael wrote:While the clearing out Eirebilly is an issue, the players are going to ground too quickly and getting slightly isolated.

Ben Arous is a cracking player

That's a good call as well, they have been going to ground easily.

God don't let Sexton be hurt.

Munchkin wrote:Dive!!!

Still high though, pen the right decision imo

Sexton is getting destroyed out there.

Eek, hope he's ok

Sexton down; great defensive read by O'Brien; Ireland absolutely butchered a great chance to run the ball after a turnover.

nathan wrote:

Munchkin wrote:Dive!!!

Still high though, pen the right decision imo

Still a dive. If they were serious about dealing with dives the penalty would have been reversed.

Sexton off.

If Sexton doesn't come back I think we're fecked today tbh.

he's just winded

Hope I'm wrong.