France and Ireland contested the Six Nations this year. It came down to one score between them on a dark night in Paris with the Irish missing their most experienced leader. A kick to the corner instead of taking the three and who knows? Not much separated the Grand Slam and the Triple Crown winner this go around.
Except their statistics and style!
A world apart, they were.
Ireland ran with the ball for 4569 metres; France, 2955. First in the competition and last.
Fullback Hugo Keenan ran the most metres for Ireland (389), followed by Aussie transplant Mack Hansen (329), Josh van der Flier (267) and Caelan Doris (289). Gregory Alldritt was the top metre gainer for France (318), followed by Gabin Villiere (261).
But kicking? Reversed. France kicked the most distance (5423m) and Ireland the least (3457).
Antoine Dupont is feted for his running game and well he can be, but he lapped the field in kick meters (1930m). His teammates Romain Ntamack (1347m) and Melvyn Jaminet (1265m) also kicked more distance than the top metre-gaining Irish kicker, Jamison Gibson-Park (933m).
The Irish carried the most times in the tournament (694 carries), almost a hundred more times than France (496 carries). Once again, Ireland led the field in handling the ball (1702 times) and France lagged everyone (1014 handlings of the ball).
JGP touched the ball 412 times. Dupont trailed him (264 times). Similarly, Johnny Sexton outhandled Ntamack (142-92) despite missing a match.
Antoine Dupont (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Passing? Ireland passed 1047 times and France only 568. However, France led the comp in offloads (50), with Ireland third (39). Cyril Baille, the ‘prop-half’, tied with Dupont for offloads completed (eight each). Alldritt (seven) was on par with Hansen (seven) and nipped Sexton (five).
This translates into the French offloading on ten per cent of their carries; Ireland on 5.6 per cent, a real stylistic difference.
Both score tries on about 3.4 to 3.5 per cent of their carries, but with the Irish carrying so many more times, they scored seven more tries than the French (24-17). In their head-to-head meeting, Ireland scored more tries, too.
The two sides were about the same in breaking tackles (Ireland second, France third), with wing Damian Penaud (13) and Dupont (13) prominent. Garry Ringrose (11 broken tackles) was the Irish buster.
Alldritt was the heavy carrier in the competition (65 carries), whilst Ringrose (55), Keenan (47), Taidgh Beirne (45), van der Flier (44), Dan Sheehan (44), Caelan (43), and Lowe (39) shared the Irish carrying duties with great equality. The second highest carrier for France was Jaminet at 40.
If some of the same names keep coming up, there were three players who were on the field for all 400 minutes: Ntamack, Gael Fickou, and van der Flier.
France was not as good as Ireland in taking care of the passed ball: they had handling errors on 12 per cent of carries, compared to Ireland’s 7.8 per cent, a significant difference.
But France jarred the ball loose from their opponents better, with 5.4 per cent of their tackles ‘dominant’, compared to 2.9 per cent of Irish tackles.
Paul Willemse had seven dominant tackles alone (he missed eight, too).
Busiest tacklers were loose forwards, of course: Anthony Jelonch (64), Francois Cros (58) and Alldritt (53) were a match for van der Flier (58) and Doris (53). Cros had four dominant tackles, and in the end, his type of tackling helped France win 33 turnovers (to Ireland’s 19) and concede 26 fewer turnovers, too.
Players like Alldritt (six turnovers won; six penalties conceded), Beirne (5-5), Doris (4-4), and Jelonch (4-4) were tidy on the ground, but Doris did concede too many turnovers (seven). Stu Hogg was the leader in this stat: eight.
Speaking of bad stats: Ntamack missed 11 tackles (the worst in the comp). Ringrose and Alldritt missed seven each.
But overall, the teams missed about the same rate of tackles: ten per cent or so, the best in the Six Nations.
France broke more tackles per carry (17.5 per cent of their carries led to a tackle bust versus 14.1 per cent for Ireland), but Ireland carried so many more times.
The scrum was a liability for Ireland in this tournament, which is ominous for the World Cup when they play South Africa, and likely, France.
Twenty-six per cent of Irish penalties were for scrummaging issues. They had 13 scrum penalties to France’s four.
But the most equal statistic of all? Cards. Both had zero.
All of this to show rugby remains a sport that is not monolithic. The two top teams played diametrically opposed patterns. Yet they had clarity.
The three teams with only two wins and a disappointing campaign (England, Wales, and Scotland) seemed betwixt and between styles, in search of an overarching game plan.
The Irish setup takes a lot of energy, leaner forwards, on-time cleaners, and a lively 9. They won a bonus point from every match, and fell short in Paris without their on-field coach. France relies more on territory and power, daring teams to take them on at the gainline. They have depth at just about every position, which the Irish do not (second row, 10).
The numbers which may end up mattering most for next year could possibly be players 16-33 rather than 1-15. Depth is king.
DingDongDenny
Roar Rookie
Only mercurial France can lose two pool matches and still progress... I wouldn't be using it as a gameplan lol. DDD
Dale
Roar Rookie
Why is that the case? The ease with which one can substitute players into the system when injuries occur would have something to do with it, right?
Dale
Roar Rookie
What does heavy-clean style mean? They throw resources at keeping ruck times low across the 80m?
Englishbob
Guest
Both very good sides, but I'd only be confident of trophies if I was a France supporter. I do wonder how Irelands constant decoy and pull back pass(the technical name escapes me at the time of writing) would fare against the starchier defences of SA and NZ in a RWC KO scenario. SA are a painfully effective defensive unit and NZ teams play with such quick ball and skill levels that the leinster model won't be anything they haven't had before. For me it's whether Ireland have that extra gear which having several world xv players gives you and I'm not sure you do, and you can't win anything if your scrum doesn't function. France for me
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
It seems that way. If I were to attack France, I will aim to get Dupont, Alldritt and Ntmack to be the primary tacklers. I don’t want them “available”. Dupont tackles a lot but tackling is tiring. If you get Aldritt tackling, he cannot jackal as much. Staying on the 9-10 axis will not tire the big guys much, but once they think it stays there, you can then try opening to the flanks. With Ireland, you have to be patient until you can do some dominant tackles or catch a runner standing and maul them. The more they ruck without advancing, the “easier” it will become to find a vulnerable player…Eventually, they used to kick at you, I’m not sure now. You will know better.
Harry Jones
Expert
The French system is built for a tournament. The Irish plan seems built for an entire cycle.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Doesn't answer the question. I disagree quite a lot with Just, so it doesn't help me one bit.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
So, Harry, now a serious question. Really. Which of the systems is more vulnerable to errors? Which system depends on minimal errors to achieve success? It seems that if you have to have the ball so long, make so many passes, so many rucks, disruptions to any of these steps can put the team in a back foot. Are they fast to get into defensive position? Their tackle error rate appears low. Are thy patient to keep at it without results? The other team. Can it sustain the defensive effort without errors? It seems that backing up defensive errors MAY be easier. But it depends on how fast they can get into attack. Having Dupont, Baille, Alldritt seem to indicate that they can pounce very quickly. If I was playing against France, I would be careful in generating rucks near Alldritt, for example, but they probably can all jackal. I think the defense depends on this. I would run to Ntamack, but once you do this twice, I suppose the French would adjust. So, what do you say? By the way, I thought that lawyers could count billable hours well. Those two numbers should be within the usual range.... :silly:
Pedro
Roar Rookie
True. An area of concern for Ireland.
Harry Jones
Expert
Well, if it’s Sexton, I think he’ll break down
Harry Jones
Expert
If the Irish game is clicking, I think it’s harder to beat. They don’t let you have the ball. But it’s fatiguing. And they may come up a lock/cleaner short. Or two. RWC requires them to beat SA, Scotland, France, then NZ? French game is “easier” to overcome but only if you can blast their pack, kick well, and see how Dupont/Ntamack deal with playing on the back foot. (Tongue in cheek: both v difficult to beat at home; but I think France has a simpler game plan).
Harry Jones
Expert
Yes, the French 2021-22 design is all about efficiency and seeing turnover ball as a “set piece.”
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Lyon :thumbup:
WEST
Roar Guru
Just saying.. I think a loss in a pool round might be good. Let’s be honest we’ll need all the help we can get :laughing:
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Thanks Harry, more good insights. :) My money is on France to go all the way, finally. I think there's enough there to overcome SA or Ireland. Should be riveting viewing. As Italy has demonstrated in soccer, a sign that a sport is truly a world game is that there aren't enough places at the top table for all the top teams!
Tim J
Roar Rookie
It was an England vs SA final which SA won :silly: but I understand what you mean. :stoked:
Carlin
Roar Rookie
Great read Harry. Thanks for sharing some great stats highlighting the contrasting styles between Ireland and France. I was really surprised to see France were low in some attack stats. That does continue on a recent trend that in International Rugby it is better to play with less possession if your defence system is strong. I am loving the way both teams are playing at the moment. Ireland have strong connection in how they link their forwards and backs. This enables them to create a lot of pressure and break down defensives over multiple phases. Gibson-Park is becoming a key figure with his game management and I like what Doris offers. That is a massive effort by Van der Flier to play every minute at openside. France have a powerful and skillful pack. Their defence is disciplined and they are strong over the ball. Danty and Fickou is a well balanced midfield with Danty's size and Fickou's guile. Despite their low attack stats from the 6 Nations their backs can still turn it on when they want. Penaud always looks like he make something happen and Villerie offers a lot on both sides of the ball.
WEST
Roar Guru
Haha I know.. but it might be a blessing in disguise for us. Look at the Boks in 2019, they lost to us. France made the final despite losing to Tonga!! Yes Tonga! Also us in the pool round of 2011. Still nearly won the final.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I am not confident even with an easier pool group with Foster at the helm. Coming second in a pool to get an easier draw is not in our DNA! Now you have me worried even more, Foster better have a good plan going into next year.
WEST
Roar Guru
Worst of all.. I honestly can’t see us turning it around under this leadership. Perhaps once it really hits the fan this year.. I’m starting to think we’ll get out first pool loss against France at the RWC. But, in saying that it sometimes pays to be second in your pool for an easier path through the playoffs.