Five reasons to fear France: A 'jouez' battle cry, chips on shoulders and curtain call distractions

Ireland be warned — time and again, France have reached within to find their true selves and Fabien Galthie’s men arrive in Dublin needing to deliver

GONE IN A BLUR: France's Antoine Dupont runs with the ball during the Six Nations rugby union match between England and France at Twickenham in London, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

1: They’re French

And only the French can do this – score 33 unanswered second-half points to stun the All Blacks and the watching rugby world as they rolled back the stone from the seeming dead to beat New Zealand in the 1999 World Cup semi-final. Or run from behind the posts at Twickenham to score one of the greatest tries ever seen there. Likewise at Eden Park in 1994, Jean-Luc Sadourny’s ‘try from the end of the world,’ helping claim victory for France and defeat the All Blacks, the last time they were beaten at that stadium.