6N - France v Ireland

[Duluth]

France name Six Nations team with five changes from World Cup exit

Fabien Galthie has named his France team for this Friday’s Guinness Six Nations opener versus Ireland, a selection that has five changes from the starting XV beaten by South Africa in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.

15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Yoram Moefana, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu, 8 Gregory Alldritt (c), 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Paul Gabrillagues, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Cyril Baille
Reserves: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Paul Boudehent, 21 Cameron Woki, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Louis Bielle-Biarrey

[Duluth]

Four changes for Ireland who also go with a six/two bench split

Andy Farrell has unveiled an Ireland team to take on France in the Guinness Six Nations that has four changes from the starting XV eliminated at the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.

15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony (c), 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Reserves: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 James Ryan, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Jack Conan, 22 Conor Murray, 23 Ciaran Frawley

[Bovidae]

Both 6:2 benches.

[akan004]

Very average looking Irish backline.

[Machpants]

@akan004 said in 6N - France v Ireland:

Very average looking Irish backline.

Harsh
15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park

[Duluth]

How much of a step down is Crowley? I haven't paid much attention to him

[mariner4life]

@Machpants said in 6N - France v Ireland:

@akan004 said in 6N - France v Ireland:

Very average looking Irish backline.

Harsh
15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park

Keenan is really good fullback and IMO their most dangerous back. Calling it average is really strange.

[mariner4life]

this is a pretty decent introduction to rugby for 2024 for M4L

[akan004]

@Machpants said in 6N - France v Ireland:

@akan004 said in 6N - France v Ireland:

Very average looking Irish backline.

Harsh
15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park

Henshaw hasn't been good in a long time, Crowley is a huge step down from Sexton and Nash is unproven. Keenan, Aki and Gibson-Park are class of course. Perhaps not average but definitely weaker than what they have been fielding over the last few years.

[booboo]

No Mack Hansen?

[Catogrande]

@booboo

Injured

[booboo]

@Catogrande ta

[sparky]

Pumped for this. France to win by a single score.

[sparky]

Ireland with a lively start. Penalty right in front. 3-0 after 7 minutes.

[sparky]

Yellow card for Willemse and it's going to the bunker. That could easily be upgraded to a Red.

[sparky]

Game over after 8 minutes. Marseille crowd left silent.

[akan004]

Rugby sucks these days. Another yellow/red for an innocuous rugby incident.

[stodders]

@sparky Cane got a red for less. In a World Cup final.

[sparky]

@sparky said in 6N - France v Ireland:

Game over after 8 minutes. Marseilles crowd left silent.

@akan004 said in 6N - France v Ireland:

Rugby sucks these days. Another yellow/red for an innocuous rugby incident.

There needs to be something in between a Red and a Yellow Card. Otherwise no one will watch this game in ten years time.

[stodders]

@sparky there is. Red card, 20 mins without the player, then allow a new player to come on.