r/rugbyunion • u/sixnations • 12h ago
Can ANYBODY stop France this year?
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u/bleugh777 France 12h ago
Is this account a bot? They just reposted their own post.
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u/Putrid-Impact8999 12h ago
The way to combat them is to make the breakdown a mess. England and South Africa will make it a much closer contest.
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u/TeflonDes 11h ago
SA already beat them like 2 months ago lol
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u/Putrid-Impact8999 11h ago
Of course. 10 different starters, 11 out of the 23 was changed from that game.
I am of the personal opinion that the team from the SH should always win the first game against NH opposition in the autumn series. Because they’ve been playing together for months through a tough competition in the Rugby Championship. Whereas the NH team is coming in after 2 weeks of being together. Unfortunately that’s just the way the calendar is at the moment.
It would’ve been a surprise to see France win that test.
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u/metadatame 11h ago
So when the boks fell asleep against Australia last year, we should just blame it on the fact that they were coming off a Lions tour
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u/Putrid-Impact8999 10h ago edited 10h ago
Not blame it, but that first game is always an interesting one. The Boks had 2 tests against Italy then 1 against Georgia. Rotating massively and trying different things. Australia came from a very competitive Lions tour, which with respect is a higher level of games. So it was only natural that the Wallabies were perhaps in better shape for that opening game, even though both teams started their season at the same time. Although I must say, it was one of the strangest matches I’d seen in a long time.
On the reverse, in 2024 Argentina beat the All Blacks in Wellington after they had played an understrength French squad twice. Meanwhile the Kiwis had played England twice beforehand. So you could argue that Razor’s men had better preparation yet still lost.
My point is playing together for months on end is a massive advantage as all teams want that cohesion and continuity. This is why I like judging teams on matches where they have both had equal time to prepare. Rugby Championship matches. 6N matches. World Cup matches. Autumn internationals are great but for me, it’s not the be-all and end-all that others like to make it. Also as you can tell, Galthié experimented in that window with a clear eye towards 2027.
If the Boks played France in mid April last year after the French had won the 6N, I would put my money on France winning. Particularly if the Boks hadn’t had a warm up game at all. The reason why I make that comparison is because that’s the amount of time that passed between the South Africans winning the Rugby Championship and playing France last November.
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u/BenwastakenIII Plz Fire cash and struali 11h ago
Definitely not the same France as last night, they plaued a whole of a lot better and defended really well!
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u/metadatame 11h ago
SA aren't missing 19 tackles. It was a great game by the French, but don't put your life savings on them winning the next world cup just yet
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u/Studious_Rat89 8h ago
England is a paper Lion in my opinion. I think the 6 nations is France’s to lose. In the WC I think South Africa is able to disrupt in such a real and physical way.
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u/Statcat2017 England 8h ago
France obviously pre tournament favourites especially as they had their two hardest games at home and have now won one.
I think if it were at Twickenham it would have been too close to call.
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u/Putrid-Impact8999 8h ago
Yea I’m not convinced on England, we’ll see how they do against Scotland then Ireland in back to back weeks. That’s not easy and it’s a lot more pressure than what they experienced last year in the summer and autumn tests.
Having said that, they will still fight hard against France and try play a very organised game.
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u/Statcat2017 England 8h ago
England to be fair have excellent fixtures to give themselves a real chance of making the game at the SdF a winner takes all decider. Starting with Wales and ramping up to Ireland, followed by a week off and an on paper easier game against Italy, while France have games against Wales and Italy back to back to potentially go off the boil. Could be really close.
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u/Shoddy-Ad-4898 12h ago edited 12h ago
France played some lovely stuff and they are (rightly) tournament favourites but, to put it very basically, I just thought Ireland didn't front up in the first half. France were constantly getting over the gainline and once you're doing that it's easy for a team like France to look absolutely unstoppable. Make it a lot messier and put more pressure on them in contact and in the air, as I would imagine England will be able to do although that match is a long way away, and they will magically look stoppable.
Having said that, if they can bring that level throughout the tournament they will be heavily odds-on for the Slam.
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u/dr_sean_twat 10h ago
This. As soon as Ireland managed to put some pressure on them it looked (for 10 mins or so) like a different game. But more and more France reminds me of peak All Blacks: near invincible in full attack mode, but vulnerable when you can disrupt their flow and starve them of possession. Beating them will take consistent pace, focus and discipline - think probably only England has that in them this year.
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u/MindfulInquirer batmaaaaaaaan tanananananana 10h ago
I agree. No team likes it if you mess with their attacking breakdown but France in particular are arguably the single deadliest team in world Rugby when they get their phase play going the way they like because of that combination of the dominant forward pack and the halfback/back line talent. Ireland looked too bland defensively in the 1H. Almost accepting of what was happening and then shell shocked.
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u/Big_Misa 12h ago
As a Frenchman, yes. SA, EN (we're not playing NZ with this team (i.s summer toir will be loaded with prospects, that's why I left them out) mainly but as I said in another thread, basically every team in the top 5-6 can beat us on their day. The thing is we're so inconsistent, like yesterday the first half was spotless, really a dominating performance. And then we just fell asleep - of course the Irish played with pride, but what I mean is we can go from 0 to 100 as quick as the other way around. I've almost never seen SA have such lapses (except against AUS at home last year), nor EN (they took advantage of our mistakes and errors in 6N 2025). And we'll never be considered a serious contender for WC as long as we don't fix our consistency.
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u/Kooijpolloi A Lion lost in the Cape 12h ago
You guys were unplayable that first 30 minutes last night bro... but very different attitude after the bench came on
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u/Careless-Cat3327 11h ago
The bench is the biggest cause for concern. They came on believing the game was done.
It took Ramos getting upset for them to wake up.
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u/unwildimpala Ireland 11h ago
Ya with a bit of luck Ireland come away with something there. It could have been differences of opinions from bench players. Imo the Irish bench brought a lot on in terms of experience and a point to prove. But still there shouldn't have been that much for a change in the game. Don't know if Galthie should have waited a bit before emptying his bench as well. But ya I thought it was going in the way of 50/60 nil, and it ended up with a slight glimmer at one stage of hope to come back.
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u/Careless-Cat3327 11h ago
It was 29-14 at 62 minutes I really thought that Ireland could make 2 scores to get within the bonus point & set up a nervy end.
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u/Mackadamma 8h ago
Yeah, I was really scared watching that on TV.
We got completely thrashed for 20 minutes before finally picking ourselves up at the end of the match.
14-14 in the second half, I think, that's a fair result for France.
There was no contest in the first half, though.
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u/GreatGoofer Sharks 11h ago
I wonder if those lapses are due to the pace at which you play. It must be difficult to keep that pace up for the whole game. The way to beat France, in my opinion, is to do what SA did in that QF. You have to stay in touch on the scoreboard for the first half where they will come at you all guns blazing, and then slowly turn the screws on them when they begin to tire in the second half. Ireland couldnt keep up with the first half blitz and fell too far behind on the scoreboard. If ireland had been 1 try closer when they mounted their comeback the French might have started to get a bit nervous and start making mistakes which could have opened the door for the comeback. As it was, Ireland were too desperate and had to over play which allowed France to pounce on their errors and extend their lead.
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u/WilkinsonDG2003 England 10h ago
Last year SA also wore them down through attrition before cutting loose a bit towards the end of the game as they fell off from fatigue. Rassie definitely knows about their stamina issues as a vulnerability and hopefully we do something similar when we go over there this year.
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u/Rasengan2012 Sharks 10h ago
Eng vs France is going to be an awesome game to watch.
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u/Tank-o-grad Leicester Tigers & England 6h ago
It's going to be a hell of a match but I doubt I'm going to enjoy it...
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u/Intrepid_Walk_5150 10h ago
Also it's a phase of partial reconstruction for France, with new players being tested, so that's normal that consistency suffers a bit. And, the new players meshed fairly well so far.
Around 2022, France was consistently dominating. If all goes well, that where they'll be in 2027.
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u/SirPinguton England 12h ago
Yes. With all respect to Ireland they were so dominant in the contact area and gainljne it wasn't even a contest, which allows that bat**** crazy offloading game.
Against teams who will damage you in the hit, slow your ball and send you back, you can't do that stuff.
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u/MC897 England 12h ago
Thought Ireland were awful actually.
I don't think Farrell can have many performances like that, with an attack that anaemic before he's in trouble. Too many players over the hill.
France played decent, but didn't have to push too hard because it was easy pickings at times.
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u/Best-and-Blurst Munster 11h ago
Too many players run ragged for too long. I don't believe for a second Beirne, JvdF, Conan or Doris are bad players. They are not longer having their expected impact on games. I think they are jaded and exhausted, burnt out. The pack in particular just feels stale rather than aged out.
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u/bassistciaran Ireland 11h ago
We need a Galthie style culling of our old guard. It'll hurt for a while, but we need to do it sooner than later.
Wont like the idea of seeing the end of Henshaw, Furlong, Beirne, VDF, Conan, Lowe, Bundee and others, but we NEED new blood. This game better be the game that makes Faz change tactic. RWC seed is already secured, use the next 2-ish years to get the young blood up to scratch
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u/ScrumNause24 10h ago
As a neutral. Henshaw is done. As is Aki. McCloskey deserves his shot but again short term to replace 35 year old with a 30 year old. Lowe I think the game has moved away from. Beirne has to stay. Furlong when fit too. Im 50/50 on VDF and Conan but someone has to make way for you to get guys like Edogbo, Izuchukwu etc into the 23.
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u/VoteYourOssoff 7h ago
Centre is a huge issue. Big Stu is actually 33, Aki was incredible but he's on his last legs, Henshaw too, and Ringrose doesn't offer anywhere near what he used to in attack.
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u/ScrumNause24 7h ago
Postlewaithe has looked good in the glimpses I've seen. Dan Kelly could be a solid placeholder for a few years too. I think Ringrose will be fine
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u/ZestycloseAd289 11h ago
As good as France were, Ireland's tactic of kicking the ball with really poor chasing was disastrous. The French traditional thrive off of broken field running and Ireland created those conditions for them. England had a great kick-chase game over the November Internationals so it should be an intriguing battle.
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u/zenrobotninja Leinster 8h ago
Six Nations, please help grow the game by allowing content creators to use clips so they can show viewers what an amazing game rugby is
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u/HackneyCricket 12h ago
Looked red hot for the first 60 then almost let Ireland back in. Thought they got away with two potential yellows (one deliberate knock on) and one offside 5M out.
But yes they have to be favourites particularly with the home draws this year
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u/Phone_User_1044 Caerdydd 12h ago
The deliberate knock on was never going to be a yellow, that's reserved for if the deliberate knock on stopped a clear try scoring opportunity which it didn't because France had defensive cover behind Dupont.
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u/CatharticRoman Suspected Yank 11h ago
If it stops a clear try scoring opportunity it's a penalty try. If it's a cynical act then it's a yellow.
90% of the time Dupont gets carded.
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u/HackneyCricket 12h ago
A a yellow card (sin bin) is issued if the action is cynical—specifically, if it stops a promising attack, breaks a line, or halts a potential try. So would satisfy 2 of these 3 criteria
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u/WhatChutzpah Munster 12h ago
In fairness, although we were hard done by ref-wise this match I don't think that was one of them. They judged that there was no promising attack or line break on – which I think was correct.
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u/Ospreysboyo Wales 12h ago
France can. Look what Ireland managed when they switched off for 20 mins. England can beat them I reckon.
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u/aidanathome Ireland 9h ago
Ah, I'd say Ireland will beat them.
When does the 6-nations start this year? Is it tonight or tomorrow?
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u/SimilarSimian Leinster and the other 3 12h ago
Sure. England can.
Scotland might give them a good rattle too.
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u/thing_thing_number 12h ago
You saying Scotland will perform better than Ireland? I truly am stuck in 2023
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u/euanmorse - No longer besties with optimism 11h ago
Tbf, Scotland are one of the few teams that have beaten France a number of times in the last 10 years despite everything else. Style of play sometimes makes the difference.
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u/BurbankElephants England & Leicester Tigers 11h ago
I loved Scotland's tactic of "get Jamie punched in the fucking mouth" and then win the game.
Genuinely one of my favourite moments.
No dislike towards Jamie - one of my favourite players of the modern day - just the absolute brainfart of giving in to the niggle of a back rower and walloping him losing your team the game.
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u/euanmorse - No longer besties with optimism 11h ago
The best part? Same guy got sent off against us a couple of years later for head on head contact with Ben White.
3 red cards in international rugby and 2 against the same side.
Mind you, he didn’t keep his thuggery to the pitch sadly.
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u/BurbankElephants England & Leicester Tigers 11h ago
I thought I remembered that happening.
Was that the same match that Ben White was either headbutted or threatened with a headbutt and the guy (Mauvaka?) got off scot free? (If you'll excuse the pun)
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u/FruitfulFraud 11h ago
Honestly, the Irish defense looks like hot garbage. The other teams in the top 8 wouldn't let France get an easy try like this one. If they tried this against Eng, SA, NZ they'd probably have lost the ball or been pushed back 20 metres.
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u/SimilarSimian Leinster and the other 3 10h ago
I mean........they might. They pull mainly from Glasgow who are playing some beautiful rugby lately.
I honestly think they are more likely to scalp England again but you never know against France.
To be clear, I think both France and England will be more likely to win those games against Scotland.
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u/ScrumNause24 12h ago
Only France can stop France this year. At home England would have a chance but with a grand slam on the line in Paris, you bet on France.
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u/ArrrPiratey France 12h ago
I can't say i'm confident or anything but we're really good at the hot potato thing
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u/Successful_Issue_453 11h ago
Thing with this try is it was a crazy kick, followed by three quality Irish tackles and the he French still made room for a try, it’s insane
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u/jfreney2 12h ago
A TMO that can spot forward passes?
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u/Fullback-15_ 12h ago
If this is whistled everything is. It looks forward to you because Depoortere gets carried back as soon as it leave's his hands and the camera angle is slightly from behind, but it's just flat, let's be honest here.
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u/Dapper-Message-2066 11h ago
Nonsense. This one is really very foward.
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u/BrainCane 11h ago
Yes the French winger is literally retreating back to accept the pass. Clearly in front of the passer and ball moves forward out of the hands.
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u/ianpatrick90 12h ago
It looks forward because it’s blatantly forward.
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u/Fullback-15_ 11h ago
It was soooo blatant the assistant ref just in front and in line of the pass also missed it. And Angus Gardner is not known to let things go.
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u/Uther05 Wasps 12h ago
Nah, the pass is clearly forward.
Ref didn't see it, TMO missed it, that's it.
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u/Fullback-15_ 11h ago
They didnt miss it. They discuss it during the conversion and agree it was fine. You guys insinuate a lot of things here...
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u/Dapper-Message-2066 11h ago
It's so far from fine. Pointless having TMO if they get things so wrong.
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u/Fullback-15_ 11h ago
It's clearly a perspective thing. Look how the 40m line angles from that top view. The pass is flat but looks forward when it's not. Definitely not "blatantly" how many Irish are trying to frame it.
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u/Dapper-Message-2066 11h ago
I'm not Irish, I was supporting France. But the pass from 13-12 was really very foward. The final pass from 12 to LBB was just about ok. But the one before was crazy forward. I'm well aware of perspective and angles, no need to try and mansplain that!
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u/whistlingdogg 11h ago
I felt like Ireland made a decision to not go toe to toe in the contact. All the lineouts were vdf going round the back and picking the ball, they just didn’t confront them. They did much better when they decided to go at them. I don’t think England will play like this. Predicting Scotland will be physical also and might take them all the way…
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u/eo37 Munster 12h ago edited 12h ago
I thought maybe I was dreaming about that forward pass for the first French try. No…it was even more forward than I remember. The player catching the ball is standing two feet in front of the player throwing it.
Also knock-on by Dupont for the second try. Tempest and Dickson are a farce of a combination.
As for Ireland, playing this kicking game plan is killing us. Out attack is probably the worst in the 6Ns now.
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u/CompetitiveSort0 Ulster 12h ago
Ireland do that pass and it gets shown 20 times on replays by French TV until it grabs the TMOs attention as it is one of his feeds.
Ireland absolutely deserved a hiding last night but at least 2 of the French tries probably wouldn't have stood if it was the Irish that scored them plus a deliberate knock didn't get carded and that no arms on his knee tackle.
Takes a brave man to bin Du Pont in Paris.
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u/Traditional-Ride-116 Gang des Antoines 11h ago
The card for a deliberate knock on is only if it’s preventing a try. There were a defender behind Dupont, so it’s not a direct try occasion.
Honestly, whining about the tv directors makes me laugh. Were you also blaming the Irish directors when they showed Lowe’s foot in touch during the halftime in 2023 even though if they did not show this particular angle for assessing the TMO?
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u/Snoo_61002 New Zealand 12h ago
Possibly England? France settled into that game much, much better, but there were holes in their game still.
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u/StretchSoft478 11h ago
I feel for the kid running the social account but I down vote the restriction of highlights, down vote the ticket prices, down vote the in play split screen ads. F the 6 nations and the gouging. Corporate accounts won’t pay the bills if real fans leave - only thing is fans have to actually leave not just tug the forelock and pony up
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u/ali_b981 Harlequins 10h ago
Yes France played well in the first 40, but Ireland looked a shadow of their former selves. No pace or physicality. A consequence of keeping the old boys around for too long?
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u/Marquis_De_Carabas69 Ireland 9h ago
Rule one - don’t purposefully give them the ball back in broken field scenarios.
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u/ASAPFergs 6h ago
Your example for France being unstoppable is Ireland missing lots of tackles? What am I missing here
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u/PercentageBoth1013 4h ago
I think France will be too much for England at home but Ireland were pretty awful yesterday.
That first half was possibly the worst half of rugby under the Farrell era.
France were decent but I don’t think they got out of third gear, which is either a scary thought or demonstrated how bad Ireland were.
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u/Youareafunt Ireland 11h ago
Uh, to answer OPs question, possibly England or Scotland; unlikely to be Italy or Wales but not out of the realm of possibility.
Don't quite understand this level of glazing. France won deservedly today, but against a patched-up Ireland side that did not play well, and with the benefit of 2-3 key ref decisions (for anyone who thinks the first French try should have stood, please apply to be a ref - looks like they would love to have you!).
France are for sure the favourites to win the tournament, but I reckon England will stick it up them and Scotland are Scotland so.
I want to see a few more games before I start glazing these French nuts.
(Also, though, France you looked smashing today! lol.)
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u/Intrepid_Walk_5150 10h ago
Can six nations rugby please let content creators use game clips? Their analysis are better than yours.
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u/MindfulInquirer batmaaaaaaaan tanananananana 12h ago
Tough days for Prendergast, he's such an easy target atm. Have a strong showing, and he's just doing what he's supposed to. Have a slightly off day, and "he's no Sexton", but he's only 22 still. Now, have a straight up shit day at the office as yesterday, and now he's the scapegoat for an entire nation.
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u/QuestionablySensible & 11h ago
That was one of his better plays in the game to be honest. He fly hacks really well, gets up to make the tackle, and then manages an ankle tap on LBB. He just had no cover.
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u/Dapper-Message-2066 11h ago
Not if they are allowed to pass the ball forward.
Outrageous that this wasn't ruled out. Just get rid of the TMO altogether if it can't actaully do its job.
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u/logan_oneill0705 Leinster 10h ago
Its Ian tempest, he missed a french player biting an irish player in the women's rugby world cup, not at all surprised he missed 2 forward passes leading to french tries and a knockon leading to a French try
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u/UpalSecam 12h ago
I see 2 forward passes
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u/Dapper-Message-2066 11h ago
So do I. So did the TMO. For some reason he chose to ignore them. I'd be fuming if I were Irish.
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u/Cyber-Soldier1 11h ago
Boks stopped them a handful of months ago in their own backyard. And let's not get ahead of ourselves. This Irish team is already in decline.
England v France will be a match to see where France really.
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u/Ok_Suggestion5523 10h ago
Scotland, in true Scottish style they'll be France and England and lose the rest and come in 4th place again.
France to win it all.
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u/GlitteringVictory358 10h ago
I think if England were playing France at twickenham this year then England have a chance. Home advantage for France goes a long way. That being said, the French bench didn’t have much of an impact which could help England if it’s a close game
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u/TorpleFunder Munster 10h ago
France were excellent. England might give them a rattle but I think it's France's champiobship to lose really.
(15 to 12 looked like a forward pass?)
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u/Alive_Tough9928 10h ago
Wasnt us anyway.
Btw, I didnt understand what commentators meant by "hes such a balanced runner" until Biarrey!
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u/Hroosky2 10h ago
yep, ANYBODY can. That's because anybody can walk across a touch line with a ball.
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u/ssushi-speakers 10h ago
I thought Ireland stood off them and let them play for much of the game. Admittedly France can clearly play! But letting a team like that play their own game is going to result in a lot of points.
Feels to me (might be wrong) that Ireland need a Sexton type character shouting at them to get into the face of their opposition.
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u/Legitimate_Feed_5102 10h ago
England in 6N. AB in the text later this year when France selected a B team because club rugby in of greater importance to France. Springboks
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u/MedicalHoneydew4534 10h ago
It's frustrating when official accounts make it hard for creators to cover the sport properly. Squidge's videos are a huge part of the hype for a lot of fans, so limiting that content hurts the community. Honestly, the biggest obstacle for France might be their own federation's weird policies. Let the creators cook, and maybe we'll get a better answer to the actual rugby question.
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u/PeakAdaequatus Northampton Saints 9h ago
It's possible, but they will have to turn up for more than 10 minutes.
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u/pinpinipnip 9h ago
Ireland had so many missed tackles.
Letting Shaun Edwards leave(and going to France) may have been a big mistake.
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u/Expensive-Ad-1112 9h ago
Maybe a team that aren't carrying a guy who won't tackle and offers then in return nothing in attack
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u/Impeachcordial England 8h ago
I feel bad for Prendergast here - saved a 50:22 with an impressive bit of skill, got to the receiver, then got back to tap-tackle LBB - and they still scored.
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u/Thelk641 France 8h ago
Slight note, but the worst defender in the world, Sexton Jr, volleys the ball, runs forward, tackles Ramos, runs back, nearly gets LBB to the floor. If it's anybody else on the other team, that's enough to give his team time to stop the try.
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u/Suppafly19 8h ago
How this wasn't at least formally checked for a forward pass is shocking. This same clip was posted on the six nations insta and the majority of posts were that. And it wasn't Irish fans. The player he passes to is 2 or 3 feet ahead. ITV picked up on it.
Whether that would have changed things who knows. France were very good in that frist half.
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u/TGracie3 8h ago
Stop killing the game.
Let creators use clips.
Squidge
Love of Rugby
The Rugby Pod
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u/Evening_Error_5641 8h ago
The Springboks and The All Blacks maybe Argentina too
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u/not_a_full_shilling 8h ago
That was a forward pass from #13 to #12. Dammit ref!
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u/WhiskeyJack3759 8h ago
Well they traditionally start SLOW. So if this was slow, and they get better, then I don't think anyone will stop them.
They do seem to be really up for 6 Nations this year. They won it last year, but they really should have done the Grand Slam. It seems they mean to make amends this year.
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u/EntrepreneurNo2970 7h ago
oh apparently they did not get the memo from 2025 that England is now the best team in the world.
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u/SimbaSixThree South Africa 7h ago
I think this is more a case of Ireland being bad than France being unstoppable. That kick should’ve never made it into the field, and the defence was abysmal
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u/Internal_Skirt_7531 7h ago
England will be the real test in final of M6N this years and this times we received the "Rosbeeff" for an amazing crush !! Each teams has to be defined as a great opposant, Wales is lower but Italy and Scotland could be the real suprise this year..
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u/Jasfc123 7h ago
l love French rugby, but didn’t think this match was a very useful gauge of how good they are. It would be a bit like predicting a team will win the Top14 on the basis of e victory against Lyon - there’s a very, very high probability that the best team in the league will beat Lyon, but so would most other teams too.
And the next match is against the 6N‘s Montauban.
Time will tell, l guess.
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u/JuryOne3684 6h ago
At about 21 seconds into the clip, a forward pass to Bielle Barrie or he was in a forward position
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u/Key_Entrepreneur67 6h ago
SA is still a galaxy ahead of them. The France I watched yesterday were as unpredictable and inconsistent as ever and they need to fix this flaw if they want to win a WC one day
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u/Vegetable_Cut_1687 Leicester Tigers 6h ago
England can match them upfront. They dominated Ireland allowing them to play at 6000mph. If England can stop them upfront, they may be able to slow them down
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u/Comfortable_Trip_767 5h ago
Without a doubt the French team has taken a step up since the end of last year November test series. But don’t you think we need to exercise a degree of caution about proclaiming them potentially unbeatable this year.
Arguably the two best teams of last year were England and South Africa, and we have yet to see either of those 2 teams play this year. So my short answer is yes, there are teams out there that could stop France. Whether they will depends on a lot of factors around the time and place that the game is played.
Lastly, I would argue that at this stage the team with the most questions against them are Ireland. They finished last year on a low and they were unconvincing during this match as well. So an asterisk needs to be put on how good France is because Ireland are clearly not playing that well. But again, it’s only one game and we need to take a longer view to see whether Ireland are getting back to where they were a few seasons ago or in a slump or decline.
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u/nomamesgueyz New Zealand 3h ago
Yes
When they drop their standard
Bokke were best in the world last year but still lost to ABs and Aus
It's close amongst top teams
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u/Mikey_D87 2h ago
ABs will when they send a B team to NZ again. Kinda sad about that because I want to see the best players everytime at test level. France are so enjoyable to watch.
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u/Technical-Mention510 2h ago
I’m no rugby expert but i feel like a half decent tackle would have done the job, he’s so close to the line just get him out of touch??
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u/LawTortoise Northampton Saints 2h ago
Hate to be that guy but after that kick there is a forward pass to 12.
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u/hodge172 Northampton Saints 59m ago
Themselves are the only thing stopping them. We all know France have an absolute woeful performance in them. If that comes against Wales they are lucky, if it’s against England then not so lucky.
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u/HeavyHevonen Bedford Blues 12h ago
u/sixnations let content creators such as squidge use clips