France v Ireland preview
In the lead up to this World Cup there was something romantic about the idea of France and Ireland being genuine contenders.
It was nice to think that the French flair had been refined enough and the Irish adventure directed enough to match the firepower of the southern hemisphere’s big three. Sadly this romance didn’t last and the rugby world has woken up to a colder reality.
This pool was titled the ‘pool of death’. After this game one of two great rugby nations’ world cup hopes will almost certainly die. France cannot afford to lose a second game and Ireland, on current form, do not look like a team capable of beating the ruthlessly clinical but limited Argentineans. How did the two best teams of the last two Six Nations
tournaments roll over so quickly?
France are certainly not done yet but it has been a long time since they last played the sort of champagne rugby that they so desperately need to start producing. In fact whilst the French have continued their dominance in the Six Nations it has been a long time since they really gave a southern hemisphere team a good run.
Ireland have performed far better in recent years against the southern teams but their fall from grace over the first two weeks of the world cup has been simply amazing. How could a team that pushed New Zealand at home in two games last June struggle to beat Georgia?
With neither side possessing a scrum that you’d write a book about and with both backlines misfiring badly this will be a game of small advantages. Press them home and a win can be forged. Neglect them and you let the game slip from your grip.
With France, as host nation, carrying the weight of an expecting public and government and Ireland fielding by far and away the best on-paper team ever to leave the Emerald Isle neither side needs any more of a burden to carry. Unfortunately they simply cannot get away from the fact that the reputation of the entire northern hemisphere rests on the quality of this game.
It would be hard to see the home countries getting excited about the pointy end of the competition if it’s made up of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina. “Who cares” you ask? Well the man with the cheque book for a start. Just ask the Waratahs how much a loss of interest costs after the low gate takings of the season just passed.
For the sake of the World Cup, France needs to turn it on this Friday and bring back some of the romance.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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