Looking for a French renaissance
New coaches Warren Gatland and Marc Lievremont made the perfect start to their respective jobs. Gatland, in particular, has reason to be happy having presided over a first Welsh victory in Twickenham since 1988. It will buy him the time he needs to revamp this Welsh team.
However at times last Saturday Wales were way off the pace. If two unforced errors from Jonny Wilkinson and Iain Balshaw were central to the Welsh revival in the second half, the feelgood factor which Gatland has instilled in the squad over the past few weeks was central to enabling them to hang in and deliver the most unlikely of results. At half time they looked dead and buried.
Likewise France travelled to Edinburgh to face a Scottish side harbouring genuine hopes of challenging for honours. The French, with a team that was unrecognisable from their World Cup exploits only four months ago, were heading into uncharted waters.
What unfolded from the kickoff was a throwback to a bygone era when the French played without inhibition or structure, allowing their innate running skills to take over. The playbook favoured by Bernard Laporte for the last eight years was shredded in a matter of minutes as previously unheralded young French talent took centre stage. Without question, Lady Luck had a part in their three tries but in such circumstances, fortune favours the brave.
After years of conservatism this French side has the potential to light up the Six Nations. The purists in the south of the country had become sick of the style favoured by the national team under Laporte. Even if they run with the reckless abandon of Murrayfield, they will find favour with their kindred spirits in the Stade de France next Saturday.
Given the circumstances of Ireland’s sub-par performance against Italy and the refreshing exuberance showed by Lievremont’s charges, France will start as strong favourites. With Ireland’s record in Paris, this will hardly come as a shock.
However, despite the hype, there is sufficient evidence from their Murrayfield display to suggest that France are far from the finished article, hardly a revelation since six of their squad were awarded their first caps while two more started a Six Nations game for the first time.
Under pressure, the last place you want to go is Paris. Yet history has shown that some of Ireland’s most competitive performances in the French capital have been produced when little was expected.
Ten years ago an Irish side travelled without a coach as Brian Ashton was forced to withdraw due to a bout of shingles. Warren Gatland was given temporary charge and in the end, after a heroic display, Ireland lost by two points having squandered a try scoring opportunity in the last minute. Those were the days when Ireland specialised in glorious defeat.
Much has changed in Irish rugby since that game in 1998. Despite vast improvements, Brian O’Driscoll’s virtuoso performance in 2000 which inspired a famous victory remains the only success in France since 1972. While Ireland have conceded an average of 36 points in their four games in Paris since then, I have a feeling this contest will be a lot closer than many expect.
France excelled in Edinburgh because Scotland kicked so much ball to an excellent back three without placing any pressure on the receiver. It suited their new counter-attacking policy. The Toulouse combination of Cedric Heymans and Vincent Clerc were electric as they will always be when offered space.
Heymans was starting at fullback in an international for the first time since his nightmare experience in the opening game of the World Cup against Argentina. However Dan Parks lacked the kicking game to expose Heymans in the manner that Ignacio Corleto did. Ireland and Ronan O’Gara in particular will learn from this.
Ireland will also attack this French side at source at the set piece. The French scrum was ordinary last Sunday and I would be more than surprised if Lievremont doesn’t introduce Nicolas Mas at tighthead for Julien Brugnaut when he announces his starting 15 this morning. He made a big impact when introduced in the second half on Sunday.
While the French were productive out of touch against Scotland, incredibly eight of their 10 throws went to new wing forward Fulgence Ouedraogo. Their lineout does lack experience and therefore Julien Bonnaire could be re-introduced. Donncha O’Callaghan, who has been excellent of late, and Malcolm O’Kelly must adopt a policy of attacking their throw in the air.
Bernard Jackman has finally been rewarded for honest endeavour this season in a Leinster shirt and must seize his opportunity. The Clontarf man has been knocking on the door for 10 years having travelled on the tour to South Africa in 1998.
His throwing style has been a major drawback but he has been consistent in this department all season. The question now is whether this most crucial technical aspect of his game will stand the test in the international arena.
His inclusion along with Jamie Heaslip will add additional ball carriers to supplement the efforts of Denis Leamy and David Wallace. These are welcome changes but I would have gone one further and included Alan Quinlan on the bench.
The key player in this French side is Toulouse scrumhalf John Baptiste Elissalde. He is their main playmaker and managed to deflect pressure from the young outhalf Francois Trinh-Duc on his debut. For good measure, he has the additional responsibility of first choice place kicker.
Elissalde has a suspect ankle and would be a huge loss to this team especially as 19-year-old reserve scrumhalf Morgan Parra looked completely overawed when introduced at Murrayfield. If he is passed fit to play, restricting the influence of Ellisalde is the key to stopping France from generating momentum.
Brian O’Driscoll’s team have a great opportunity to reverse the recent downward spiral in form and re-ignite the spark for the rest of the championship. Two years ago and behind 43-3 early in the second half, this side threw caution to the wind and broke free. Scoring four unanswered tries and 28 points in total the team, despite defeat, was reborn. Now is the time to demonstrate whether that creativity is still part of the make-up.
The opportunities are fading fast.
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