Can we end the year of the French?

The general impression seems to be that Ireland are in danger of a hiding on Friday when they take on France in the Rugby World Cup in Paris. Michael Moynihan looked for reasons to be cheerful. And in the interests of balance, reasons to be fearful.

PRESSURE FROM WITHOUT

WHERE do you start? At the top. Bernard Lapasset, President of the French rugby union, spoke last week of a sense of “betrayal”. Trouble is brewing between the French team and broadcasters TF1, who have been persuaded to stop screening behind-the-scenes clips of the team, despite their €440,000 contract guaranteeing access. The French public are reeling from defeats suffered by their footballers (1-0 to Scotland) and basketballers (75-71 to Russia) — and demanding their rugby players avenge those losses. At every press conference, coach Bernard Laporte is hounded about his website selling replica French jerseys for €149, when they’re available for €70 in the shops. So far Laporte’s weak referral of inquiries to his business manager isn’t easing the pressure any.