Comments on: France survive Irish fightback, Wales beat Scots http://www.theroar.com.au/2008/02/10/france-survive-irish-fightback-wales-beat-scots/ The Roar is a sports opinion website. We tackle sports opinion rather than simply sports news. And we embed user-generated content — in the form of articles and comments — into the fabric of the site. Featuring some of the best sports writers in Australia — including the Sydney Morning Herald's Spiro Zavos — The Roar aims to be the leading sports website in Australia. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:16:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Dave in Dublin (or Rome) http://www.theroar.com.au/2008/02/10/france-survive-irish-fightback-wales-beat-scots/#comment-27387 Dave in Dublin (or Rome) Sun, 10 Feb 2008 20:31:43 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/2008/02/10/france-survive-irish-fightback-wales-beat-scots/#comment-27387 On a weekend break in Rome (where england were playing today) and got to watch the ireland france match in an Irish pub with a motley clientele of English, French, Irish, American and even the odd Italian. France were sensational in the first half. Running the ball from everywhere and crafting three tries out of sheer blinding pace. Amazing to think that Vincent Clerc, scorer of all three first half tries, was actually dropped from the team as France continue to experiment post world cup and only got back in when his chosen replacement cried off with injury. France demolished the Irish line out too, but surprisingly, their scrum was pants. They went backwards at a rate of knots, conceding one penalty try after repeated infringements at a 5m scrum and a mauled over try which they were unable to stop. It showed that france could win a grand slam this year, despite throwing in a lot of new young players and experimenting. But the Irish comeback, which left them hammering at the french line while only one score behind also showed that for all their razzle dazzle, if France can't keep it up for 80 minutes, somebody will do them. I fancy the welsh to in cardiff in the last match. On a weekend break in Rome (where england were playing today) and got to watch the ireland france match in an Irish pub with a motley clientele of English, French, Irish, American and even the odd Italian.

France were sensational in the first half. Running the ball from everywhere and crafting three tries out of sheer blinding pace. Amazing to think that Vincent Clerc, scorer of all three first half tries, was actually dropped from the team as France continue to experiment post world cup and only got back in when his chosen replacement cried off with injury.

France demolished the Irish line out too, but surprisingly, their scrum was pants. They went backwards at a rate of knots, conceding one penalty try after repeated infringements at a 5m scrum and a mauled over try which they were unable to stop.

It showed that france could win a grand slam this year, despite throwing in a lot of new young players and experimenting. But the Irish comeback, which left them hammering at the french line while only one score behind also showed that for all their razzle dazzle, if France can’t keep it up for 80 minutes, somebody will do them.

I fancy the welsh to in cardiff in the last match.

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