It seems strange to bill the second game of the Six Nations as a title decider… but here we are! Ireland welcome France to the Aviva in what should be a modern classic. Darry Worthington previews.
Ireland v France
Saturday 11 February
Aviva Stadium
14:15
An impressive Irish outfit will welcome a French side that got their Six Nations title defence off to a timid start last weekend in Rome.
The hosts were in fine fettle in the opening round and it will take an almighty effort from Les Bleus to overcome the Irish machine at the Aviva.
Ireland 42/100 | Draw 22/1 | France 9/5
Handicap
Ireland (-7.5) 6/5 | France (+7.5) 4/7
We should be in for an absolute classic here as the two sides sitting top of the pops on the IRB world rankings face off at the Aviva.
Number one-ranked Ireland got their Six Nations campaign off to the perfect start as they put in a polished display against the Welsh this past weekend running out 10-34 victors at the Principality.
The Irish were quick out of the blocks, racing into a 3-24 lead with barely a quarter of the game having been played. Key to their blistering start was their line speed on defence with James Lowe’s intercept try illustrating just how good this aspect of their game was.
While they did lift off the pedal in the final 60 minutes of the game – they only scored a further three points in the first half and a solitary try in the second – they still impressed on defence only allowing the Welsh to score one try.
If they can replicate their intensity on defence here, then there will be a number of emerald-clad rugby fans leaving the Aviva Stadium in very high spirits come the final whistle on Saturday.
To say Les Bleus dodged a bullet last weekend is something of an understatement. They got off to a fast start against Italy with a brilliant charge down from Thibaud Flament seeing the big man cross for a five pointer just four minutes into the fixture. The French would extend their lead on the 19-minute mark, with Thomas Ramos scoring courtesy of a very kind bounce.
The floodgates looked like they would open around the 25-minute mark with Matheui Jalbert dotting down for France’s third try but the Italians managed to hang in the contest and added to their two penalties with a further penalty and a try before the half-time break to ensure there were only five points between the sides when they went into the sheds.
A penalty try and a penalty would see Italy head into the final quarter of the game two points to the good but the French would strike back with a converted try in the 68th minute and then hold out to claim a narrow 24-29 victory.
There’s a lot for the French to work on heading into this one as their option-taking was surprisingly poor, while their forward pack struggled to impose themselves against their opponents at set piece time. The French are a talented side, however, and one would not be surprised to see them up their game tenfold at the Aviva.
Verdict: France (+7.5) 4/7
I reckon we’ll see a much better French outfit this weekend, and while I can’t see them winning this fixture, I can see them giving Ireland a real run for their money.
