Ironically, pitchside at the Aviva for ITV, I cannot see the game properly. I watch, for the most part, on a monitor. Andrew Conway, on the right wing, will know what I mean.
Andrew and I had similar views for Hugo Keenan’s dream debut on the left wing.
I really should climb the stone steps up to level seven where my media colleagues are socially distanced and working away with an eagle eye’s view, although I am not sure this is allowed under Covid protocols.
Either way, it remains a privilege to be going to rugby matches while the public must stay away. All of us are missing out on a trip to Paris. That does not lessen the anticipation.
I was fascinated to see how Keenan would go against Teddy Thomas, but injury has intervened. Thomas was fantastic against the Welsh on Saturday night (that chip and catch alone). He is a significant loss to France, but they wield so many weapons, especially his Racing 92 team-mate Virimi Vakatawa, that it is very hard to visualise an Irish victory. The removal of Garry Ringrose never comes with a silver lining, but Henshaw and Aki will go straight after the big Fijian.
Keenan was a breath of fresh air against Italy. I was wondering where I'd seen that all-action style before. When he popped up at first receiver – unheard of by an Ireland winger in days gone by – it hit me: he moves like Jeff Wilson, the former All Black who currently anchors the lead rugby show on New Zealand television.
That’s some praise to heap on a man with one cap, but the energy and composure he instantly brought to international rugby seemed almost casual, like he’s been doing it all his life.
Saturday night comes with a grand finale and France in full knowledge of the margin of victory they'll need to lump on Andy Farrell's Ireland
And sure, while I'm at it, Will Connors reminds me of the openside I had the misfortune of meeting on my first visit to Stade de France. Again, I am throwing out an unnecessary comparison for a first capper heading to Paris, but Connors has all the characteristics that made Serge Betsen such an outstanding tearaway.
The French will put the Jeff Wilson and Serge Betsen comparisons under a microscope.
Masterful
France were stunning in patches against Wales, with Antoine Dupont as masterful as any of the majestic scrumhalves we have seen for les Bleus down through the decades. I read veteran rugby writer Peter Jackson reaching for "Berbizier, Gallion and Fouroux" to describe Dupont's vision.
But that game was only a warm-up for what promises to be a “Super Saturday” comparable with 2007 and 2015.
Scotland and Wales want to avoid the old Five Nations wooden spoon before England's expected 50-plus points win at an empty Stadio Olimpico. New Italian coach Franco Smith injected some talent into his team, like young outhalf Paolo Garbisi, but, after 20 years of trying to compete in the Six Nations, the Azzurri are unable to hold pace with anyone. We all love a weekend in Rome so their ineptitude has been allowed to continue unchecked, but CVC Capital Partners may insist on seeing commercial proof for their continued inclusion.
Saturday night comes with a grand finale and France in full knowledge of the margin of victory they'll need to lump on Andy Farrell's Ireland. The Wigan subplot, Farrell's attack versus Shaun Edwards's defence, will dictate the game's flow.
Ireland will win the championship with a four-try victory. We clocked up a bonus point at Stade de France in 2006. I remember that wild match only too well because I got among the scorers and I had a hand in a few of France’s six tries.
That’s the fear about going to Paris (it beats the fear of common assault our predecessors had to swallow). We racked up 31 points in a swashbuckling performance, only to concede 43.
Have no doubt about it, this French side are capable of posting 40 on Ireland if we engage in a “you score, we score” battle of wills. But how else can Johnny Sexton’s team go about this task? The Six Nations trophy is for sale to the highest bidder in 2020. To go into the match with a patient, take-the-points attitude will result in Ireland finishing second in the table, at best.
They have no choice but to pursue a strategy that scores them tries. Lots of them.
We rarely see that attitude from an Ireland team. In contrast, England and France – especially their magnificent backrow of Cros, Ollivon and Alldritt – can go out there and do what they do best.
Elegant beasts
I’m worried and excited at the same time. I remember the days when elegant beasts like Olivier Magne and Aurélien Rougerie were upright and charging through a clutter of green jerseys.
France in 2020 can wreak the same damage. In particular, watch how they targeted Wales from Ntamack's floating restart on 43 minutes. The ball was re-gathered by Charles Ollivon before Dupont sent Cyril Baille over the gainline.
Suddenly, they were 10 metres from the Welsh try line with all sorts of options. This single attack perfectly captures the difference between French creativity and Irish creativity.
Irish ball carriers appear to react off the actions of Conor Murray, while Dupont is guided by running lines selected by his largest teammates.
See François Cros, the openside, running from outside to in, which prompted a slick long pass by Dupont that fixed the defence. It appeared to be a pre-planned move but if this was off-the-cuff then this French team are on the cusp of something special.
Their approach is not to be confused with Springboks attaching 120kg to 120kg and rumbling over people. I never enjoyed the sight of Schalk Burger’s knees propelling towards my face.
This is different. We always said how much trouble the rest of the rugby world would be in if France ever got their act together on the coaching front. In Edwards, Laurent Labit, William Servat, Karim Ghezal and Thibault Giroud, it appears that Fabien Galthié – another of those gifted scrumhalves – has done just that.
Back to the 44th minute in Paris last Saturday night; the next thunderous carry came from Vakatawa. The Welsh defence was in tatters when Greg Alldritt fumbled the ball over the line.
Atonement
The score didn't come but it was a glimpse into how France can win their own World Cup in 2023. Make no mistake, Bernard Laporte seeks atonement for 2007.
No defence can move forward until the opposition scrumhalf touches the ball. These massive French runners are coming from 15 metres, picking specific gaps between targeted defenders, and for the most part they are taking the ball before the gainline so their stride need not be checked.
To be fair, this is extremely hard to coach; it is usually reflective of a team that are comfortable around each other. These heavyweight ball carriers force Dupont to feed them the ball at pace and, importantly, they trust him to deliver. Everyone seemed to know what they were doing. I have never written that about the French national side.
Ireland need to make themselves heard in the concrete jungle of Saint-Denis or face a torturous 80 minutes.
All three title contenders are seeking a truckload of tries, so “jouez, jouez” will be the order of the day. Unfortunately, the sensible approach of dragging France into a territorial arm-wrestle is to hand England another championship. And nobody wants that.
It’s set up to be an offloading spectacular. This is how rugby should be played and thankfully circumstances are forcing it to happen.
The focus in the Ireland camp appears to centre around making players more tactically astute. For example, CJ Stander passed the ball four times in open play, a leap on the one pass in his previous three caps.
Ireland need to frighten France into mistakes. This comes down to attitude. It is about creating emotional safety for the players to go after a victory
The overriding criticism from the 2019 World Cup was a failure by Ireland to evolve tactically – reiterated by IRFU CEO Philip Browne in his annual report last week – so pushing Stander out of his comfort zone of just bulldozing into opponents is a clear sign of growth.
That also represents a change in the team’s philosophy. There is more to come from Stander and others.
Farrell, I have no doubt, will draw upon all his motivational powers when speaking to the group this week. Think about the way the Lions responded to defeat to New Zealand in 2017. Think about how they embraced the challenge of out-foxing the All Blacks while shifting into a more expansive approach, when the opportunities presented themselves.
Ireland need to frighten France into mistakes. This comes down to attitude. It is about creating emotional safety for the players to go after a victory. Paradoxically, they must do this without being concerned about the result, the scoreline or what France do.
The definition of success this weekend is not scoring four tries and beating France to lift the title in Paris. That would represent a perfect return, but I would focus on how we exploit France’s constant need to chase tries and catch England. That’s where the opportunities will arise, in transition.
Last Saturday, for Keenan’s second try, Caelan Doris’s clean turnover and rapid pass to Bundee Aki led to Conor Murray’s nicely weighted kick for an 80-metre score. That proves the necessary mindset for Paris is already embedded in the team. When the opportunities come they must take them.
Focusing on the outcome will not deliver victory. It never has. Just “play, play” and let Sexton manage the game. You aren’t going to win at Stade de France by mauling and box-kicking.
Actually, I’m more excited than worried.
Zebre win signals second regeneration for Leinster
Penny for David Nucifora's thoughts watching Dan Sheehan's debut for Leinster on Friday night. If the IRFU decides that Rónan Kelleher and Sheehan cannot exist in the same provincial squad then we can expect the cold war to continue.
Tadhg Furlong's presence has enabled the slow and steady exposure of Andrew Porter at tighthead and I would question whether Jack McGrath moving to Ulster has benefitted anyone other than Ed Byrne.
Zebre (like Italy, they were atrocious) force us to take some impressive individual performances at the RDS with a pinch of salt, but it did signal Leo Cullen’s second regeneration of his Leinster squad. The mass turnover of senior players forced this to happen in 2015 and once again in 2020. Friday’s starting XV is the bones of the side Cullen will field throughout the winter months and we will have to see if the quality exists for them to eventually dislodge players currently up in the Ireland camp.
Speaking of "jouez, jouez" rugby, Munster's next generation threw 17 offloads in a narrow victory over Cardiff on Monday night. Fourteen of the starting team were local lads. Long may it continue. Keep the head up.
