Ireland on a wind and a prayer
While the French traditionally like a dry ball and a firm pitch, they will be upset if the wind plays tricks with the already unpredictable nature of the rugby ball.
Gone, too, are the days when Ireland liked the weather to be on its worst behaviour. Even without the luckless Gordon D’Arcy, they have a back line capable of prising open the most resolute of defences in the restricted space currently available on the international arena. It is the kind of stage made for line breakers of the calibre of skipper Brian O’Driscoll and Geordan Murphy.
It would be a pity, accordingly, if the weather spoiled the afternoon.
Ireland and France have played some splendid rugby so far in the campaign, with Les Bleus turning on a first-half display against Wales fit to rival anything we have seen for a long time. As Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan commented yesterday: “We all accept it was best rugby of the Six Nations. Every team would aspire to play like that. We have to expect that they will come here and play as well for the full 80 minutes. And if they do, we’ve still got to defend and create opportunities that will enable us to get back and win the game.”
That’s just what Wales did in Paris and what Ireland may well have to do on this occasion. Thankfully, they have the men to pull it off. After too many quiet games for both Munster and Ireland, John Hayes demonstrated against England that he is far from a spent force. Fabien Pelous may be arguably one of the greatest of all French second-rows and winning his 100th cap today but he will know he’s been in a match after coming up against the potential Lions Test second-row in Paul O’Connell and Malcolm O’Kelly.
Anthony Foley is the heartbeat of a well balanced, seriously hardworking back-row, there are few more effective half-back partnerships than O’Gara and Stringer, not many more dynamic runners than O’Driscoll, Murphy and Denis Hickie or more committed defenders for that matter than O’Driscoll, Hickey and Kevin Maggs. Which isn’t to suggest that France don’t also possess match winners. It’s just that this Irish team has discovered the trick of winning tight matches, a point well made by O’Sullivan when he suggested that “if we win, it will be by one score.”
Furthermore, just about everybody is bewildered at the way Bernard Laporte has preferred Yann Delaigue to Frederik Michalak at out-half, Bruno to the outstanding William Servat at hooker and the complete omission from the squad of the richly talented number eight Imanol Harinordoquy. On top of that, outstanding three-quarters Aurelien Rougerie and Damien Traille are ruled out by injury.
As always, the referee will have a vital role to play, especially now that Jonathan Kaplan’s handling of the Ireland-England game has been viewed in many quarters, including Monsieur Laporte, as more than helpful to the Irish cause.
O’Sullivan ruefully accepts that these mind games are now part and parcel of Six Nations and international rugby in general. Trouble is that today’s referee, Tony Spreadbury, often seems to believe he is more important than the teams and players and has been so vociferous on occasions that things were happening around him that he was unaware of. If he takes his eye off people like Serge Betsen, Sylvain Marconnet and a few of their French teammates, then it could be a matter for major concern.
However, when Betsen’s propensity for overstepping the mark when dealing with his opponents was raised with Ireland skipper Brian O’Driscoll he responded in a way that suggested he was being coached off the field as well as on it by Eddie O’Sullivan.
“I don’t think you can go out on the pitch worrying about these kinds of things”, insisted the Irish captain. “That’s not a concern for the players. If that kind of situation arises, it’s a matter for the referee and citing commissioner to deal with. The mindset we go out with is that we play hard and as fair as possible.”
It will also be fascinating to see whether this Ireland side - with six straight victories this season under their belts - can pull off another huge win and set up the mother of all deciders in Cardiff next Saturday.
The consensus seems to be that they will, although it’s not easy to see why that should be the case, other than they are playing at home and France are not good travellers.
O’Sullivan accepts that Ireland will have to hold onto the ball longer against the French. “Let’s win first and then discuss the aesthetic value of the performance,” he suggested.
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