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My thoughts on #IREvFRA yesterday.
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Ireland enjoyed a lot of early possession and painted a picture that was far more flattering that the reality.
Take away Kelleher's fortuitous try and we really didn't look like creating one for the majority of the game.
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Take away Kelleher's fortuitous try and we really didn't look like creating one for the majority of the game.
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The lineout numbers show the kind of game Ireland played.
Ireland had two second half lineouts, ironically scoring off their only malfunctioning lineout of the game.
France had 17 in total.
Their sixth lineout, only the second one they won, led to Ollivon's try.
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Ireland had two second half lineouts, ironically scoring off their only malfunctioning lineout of the game.
France had 17 in total.
Their sixth lineout, only the second one they won, led to Ollivon's try.
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How happy were Ireland to kick the ball back to France when they were trailing for most of the game?
People complain about the box kick, but up and unders, as a repetitive tactic, was frustrating.
Especially when Dulin was happy to deal with them.
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People complain about the box kick, but up and unders, as a repetitive tactic, was frustrating.
Especially when Dulin was happy to deal with them.
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Turnover ball from a lineout on the halfway line is a free play.
67 seconds in, in the middle of the pitch, with space and a huge overlap, Ireland kick from a lineout steal.
Given that opportunity, France would have been 7-0 up.
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67 seconds in, in the middle of the pitch, with space and a huge overlap, Ireland kick from a lineout steal.
Given that opportunity, France would have been 7-0 up.
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International rugby, for a large part, is about not making mistakes.
Ireland wanted to play in the French half, and I understand that.
But if you're offered that opportunity, with backs like Ringrose, Earls, and Keenan on the counter, you have to take it.
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Ireland wanted to play in the French half, and I understand that.
But if you're offered that opportunity, with backs like Ringrose, Earls, and Keenan on the counter, you have to take it.
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Shaun Edwards is the best defensive coach in the world.
That's it; that's the tweet.
I've nothing else to add to this so here's a shameless plug of a podcast I did with him a few weeks ago.
7/ https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Pefcu6od6GRz8nuzHxHRG?si=ZE6BYHIdSZSuQA1kcrqs9g&utm_source=copy-link
That's it; that's the tweet.
I've nothing else to add to this so here's a shameless plug of a podcast I did with him a few weeks ago.
7/ https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Pefcu6od6GRz8nuzHxHRG?si=ZE6BYHIdSZSuQA1kcrqs9g&utm_source=copy-link
I thought Gael Fickou was outstanding.
A player who is thriving under Galthié, his dotting down of Lowe's foot was excellent to deny him a try.
He knew he had camera angles and a TMO, so maybe don't try it in junior rugby, but he's the defensive captain for a reason.
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A player who is thriving under Galthié, his dotting down of Lowe's foot was excellent to deny him a try.
He knew he had camera angles and a TMO, so maybe don't try it in junior rugby, but he's the defensive captain for a reason.
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It comes down to such fine margins. Ireland's defence blipped twice for 2 tries.
JGP chased in after seeing a poor pass, but France recovered excellently; he didn't just bite in.
But Lowe needs to do better.
Simple as.
That's man and ball territory and he got neither.
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JGP chased in after seeing a poor pass, but France recovered excellently; he didn't just bite in.
But Lowe needs to do better.
Simple as.
That's man and ball territory and he got neither.
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CJ Stander was excellent. He does so much to give Ireland a platform.
Earls was very good, and taking him off for Larmour was a way of keeping Lowe's boot on the field, but why take him off at all?
He was doing everything well.
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Earls was very good, and taking him off for Larmour was a way of keeping Lowe's boot on the field, but why take him off at all?
He was doing everything well.
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Ruddock was outstanding.
If you get a chance, rewatch the 72nd minute after Jalibert hits the post.
Ruddock's clearout, at that stage of the game after losing the shoulder battle, typified his performance.
Did all he was asked and then some.
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If you get a chance, rewatch the 72nd minute after Jalibert hits the post.
Ruddock's clearout, at that stage of the game after losing the shoulder battle, typified his performance.
Did all he was asked and then some.
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Fickou I've mentioned already, but it's worth doing so again.
Most of us can only imagine the difficulty of marshaling a defensive structure at that level for 80 minutes, the lungs screaming and the mind asking for a rest.
He did it excellently.
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Most of us can only imagine the difficulty of marshaling a defensive structure at that level for 80 minutes, the lungs screaming and the mind asking for a rest.
He did it excellently.
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But, from both sides, Charles Ollivon was the star.
He leads by example and the platform created by him and his forwards is the reason France get to do what they do in attack.
He is a superstar.
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He leads by example and the platform created by him and his forwards is the reason France get to do what they do in attack.
He is a superstar.
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I would have liked to see Casey introduced in the final minutes.
His spark would have been welcomed.
If Ireland were going for a drop goal, his pass is on the money.
A chance missed, I feel, regardless of outcome.
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His spark would have been welcomed.
If Ireland were going for a drop goal, his pass is on the money.
A chance missed, I feel, regardless of outcome.
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Overall, I think the scoreline flattered Ireland yesterday thanks to a lucky bounce.
No shortage of effort, but that's a given at this level.
The first 27m was all Ireland, but France were 3-7 after 30m.
Therein lies the problem.
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No shortage of effort, but that's a given at this level.
The first 27m was all Ireland, but France were 3-7 after 30m.
Therein lies the problem.
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