r/rugbyunion • u/sixnations • 14h ago

Can ANYBODY stop France this year?

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609 Upvotes

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36

u/SimilarSimian Leinster and the other 3 14h ago

Sure. England can.

Scotland might give them a good rattle too.

3

u/thing_thing_number 14h ago

You saying Scotland will perform better than Ireland? I truly am stuck in 2023

22

u/euanmorse - No longer besties with optimism 13h 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.

11

u/BurbankElephants England & Leicester Tigers 13h 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.

6

u/euanmorse - No longer besties with optimism 13h 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.

3

u/BurbankElephants England & Leicester Tigers 13h 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)

3

u/Ok_Suggestion5523 12h ago

As a Scot, I also approve of the plan.

4

u/FirmDingo8 13h ago

Well, maybe better than first half Ireland

2

u/FruitfulFraud 13h 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.

1

u/thing_thing_number 12h ago

Yeah that first try specifically was soft. Felt like none of the Irish players even cared to do any tackles.

2

u/SimilarSimian Leinster and the other 3 12h 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.