France 33 Ireland 10
My goodness, last week I was complaining about the lack of excitement in the opening games of the RBS 6 Nations. This week there was nearly too much excitement for this old man to bear as first Scotland and Wales and then France and Ireland served up two fascinating games.
The Scotland v Wales encounter certainly had thrills, spills, drama and excitement in a pulsating encounter, but the France v Ireland game had all the class. Unfortunately for Ireland the bulk of the class was on the French side as they ripped apart the remnants of Ireland’s Golden Generation.
The pre-match hype was all about cheat gate as a miss translated Morgan Parra was accused of labelling Ireland cheats. Now, while Parra may have that pouty sort of face that you wouldn’t tire of slapping, the young scrum half was stating a basic truth in that Ireland, like all winning sides, were playing the game largely off side and, like Munster and New Zealand, were largely getting away with it due to pre-conceived ideas in the minds of the officials.
Let’s face it, all Parra was doing was stating a fact and a fact that Ireland, and Munster and New Zealand, have worked very hard at mastering over the years. A style of play in that grey and misty area between good tactics and gamesmanship.
Ironically it was two incidents of foul play that swung this game firmly in France’s favour and doubly so that the first offence was committed on Parra, with Cian Healy pulling him back off he ball. An offence that has been creeping too too much into the game and often ignored, so well done to Wayne Barnes for taking the appropriate action and binning the errant prop.
The second incident wasn’t so much cheating but rather an extraordinary exhibition of reckless play by Flannery that should see him sit out the remainder of the 6 Nations. “Reckless play” doesn’t really do justice to the absolute crassness of Flannery’s volley on Alexis Palisson and in an ideal world his act of mindless thuggery should severely hamper his future Ireland ambitions. It should, but I doubt if it will.
While these two incidents gave France the opportunity to score the truth of the matter was that Ireland had already given their best and had come up short. France were on top and the Irish forwards were on the back foot. With little go forward ball the Irish backs had limited chance to shine.
Parra created the headlines with his boot converting tries by Servat, Jauzion and Poitrenaud as well as adding two penalties and a drop goal before Michalak came off the bench to add his own drop. Ireland fought hard to get a try of their own from David Wallace, after good work by O’Driscoll and Ferris to add to an earlier O’Gara penalty, but like Ireland’s forward effort it was too little too late.
This should be a timely warning for Ireland ahead of next years World Cup. If they can’t bully their opponents up front and supply go forward ball into O’Gara’s comfort zone they are going to struggle and let’s face it the more physically imposing sides such as New Zealand, South Africa, France and, god forbid, even England should have their number.
Ireland have absolutely stacks of backs coming through that can work the ball and if Sexton is preferred to O’Gara they should be able to create chances. However they need to look for ball winning back rows and a more mobile front five so they can get some sort of possession when going backwards.
Sometimes it’s better to give the opponents the ball and attack through a ferocious defence and it’s here that maybe Ulster can supply some of the answers with Pollock, Henry, Court and Best all worth an extended look. Court is more mobile than Hayes while Best, Pollock and Henry are all ball winners rather than wing hangers like Flannery , Wallace and Heaslip. (Well at least we know one will start against England!)
Being thoroughly biased I’d also go for the variety of Boss, but Reddan had a good enough game and is worth a look, but let’s face it, no one’s played more back foot rugby than Isaac over the last few seasons!
No need to panic, Ireland are still a good side, they just need a bit more variety and a few options for when they are outmuscled. Exciting times ahead!
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13 Responses to “Ireland can concentrate on World Cup”
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Having watched Italy England I think that we can safely discount a serious English threat next year.
Their forwards may be big but they are quite simply too stupid and too lazy.
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And so it came to pass that wee Decky lost his first 6 nations game. Boo Hoo
It was Paris in the spring and we hadn’t won there since 1999 so what did you expect? As Mrs Raven said if he had pointy ears and a wee red face he wouldn’t look out of place on a toadstool in our garden. So this is his first test, what does he do? If he was EOS it was easy he just blamed whatever Ulsterman did not give a man of the match performance and make him scapegoat be it Bowe, Trimble or Wallace. But guess what the biggest disasters did not come from Ulster and how lucky they are because if Kearney,Earls, Healy or Flannery had been Ulster born the Irish Parliament would be passing a Hanging Bill this morning, how things have changed. To read some of the Southern Hacks you wonder what lily pad they have been watching their rugby on. We will soon see what toadstool wee Decky is on when he announces his next team. It should have considerably more white spots.
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Now, now, back to your raging best I see. You must give those Mexican and Turnipstan bandwagon jumpers time to realise that things are changing!
Thought Earls played OK as did Kearney until he went off injured.
I’m sure Kidney realises that it’s now time to rebuild and we should see plenty of new players coming into the reckoning.
Hope the Raging Cougar is keeping well. Are Cougar Karen and The Silver Fox coming over this weekend?
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I wouldn’t hold my breath ………. I can see Wee Decky turning into a turnip before my eyes.
Friday matches are not good for Karen as she is the only Scouser I know with a real job and works Fridays!
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I hear Silverfox is also working on Friday (yes, he has a real job as well!), so a quick trip over this weekend is unlikely.
Do we know whether the game is on the box (for us exiles)?
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Yes its on BBCwales.
Silverfox has not been recognised as coming from the “Scouser” community.
His work with the Tufty Club has been noted.
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He’ll have you know that he’s a fully paid up member of Scouseland …. and has the scars to prove it.
Keep a look out for Postman Pat …. A copy of the Green Cross Code (you’ll remember that Raven) is winging its way over to you.
Stay safe
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All right chuck !
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Now we have fully paid up Turkish and Greek supporters is there any word that our Mainland Spanish fan (not those vengaboys from Lanzaland!) will be making a trip to Ravers in the near future?
I hear a certain person has been oiling his guns in anticipation of a photo shoot. (That’s the muscle guns, not the bang bang type!)
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Now that Mr. Flannery has been cited and is likely to miss the rest of the 6 nations – whats the chances of the in form hooker in Ireland – Ulsters Nigel Brady, getting a call up ?? Probably a stupid question I know but just had to ask it !! See you all on Fri night.
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You are entirely correct Junty. Brady has been the in form hooker in Ireland and Kyriacou would have been in the top three as well.
Unfortunately like Boss and O’Donoghue their faces do not seem to fit with the lords and masters at D4.
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Yes Junty , Norman Hunter would have been proud of that boot! After Best and Flannery I haven’t seen anyone better than Nigel or Andi. Unfortunately they play for Ulster.
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Flannery out for rest of 7 nations. Saw Dewi out looking for new boots !
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