France v Ireland - teams and predictions
SIX NATIONS ROUND TWO: Former Ireland flyhalf Ronan Gara said France are “building something special” ahead of next year’s World Cup.
He was talking ahead of Ireland’s trip to Paris for a showdown with the French this weekend.
O’Gara, 44, retired in 2013 and now coaches La Rochelle in the French Top 14.
On the Atlantic coast, he is in charge of two Les Bleus squad members, No.8 Gregory Alldritt and prop Uini Atonio, who were also present for November’s impressive victory over New Zealand.
They are set to be key figures for their country before hosting the tournament in a little over 18 months’ time.
“France is building something special for the World Cup,” O’Gara told AFP while on a break in the Pyrenees.
“The two very important players to La Rochelle and it’s the biggest compliment is that when they’re not in the team, we’re a different team.
“It will be interesting to see how the game pans out,” he added.
The former Munster playmaker, Ireland’s highest point scorer, sandwiched two Super Rugby titles at the Crusaders between his role at La Rochelle and coaching Racing 92’s backs to the Top 14 in 2016.
Last season he took his current side to the European Champions Cup and Top 14 finals, losing both to Toulouse.
He is among a crop of Irish coaches working in the French top-flight including Mike Prendergast at Racing, Jeremy Davidson with Brive and James Coughlan at Toulon.
“It’s the fact there are four provinces in Ireland,” O’Gara said.
“Usually, when you play for those provinces you don’t have a huge liking for the others. You couldn’t just go to the other provinces because the coaching staff are pretty locked up.
“To go to coach in Ireland you have a high very standard because of the quality of the teams,” he added.
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‘Dangerous’ Dupont
Captaining France this weekend will be world player of the year, Antoine Dupont, who helped guide Toulouse to the European and domestic double over O’Gara’s outfit.
“I’ve lost two finals to him so I haven’t stopped him,” O’Gara said.
“I actually think he’s the most dangerous player around as he thrives in structured play and unstructured.
“There’s never a moment you can switch off against him,” he added.
This weekend, O’Gara’s successor in the Ireland No. 10 shirt, Johnny Sexton, will miss the fixture due to a hamstring injury.
Munster’s Joey Carbery will start at outside-half to make just his 29th Test appearance in a young career disturbed by various injuries.
“It accelerates the development of the team as you’re going to a big game without him,” O’Gara said.
“I was shocked to hear that it’s Joey Carbery’s first Six Nations start so that’s tough and he hasn’t had much rugby this season so it’s difficult for him.
“He’s a guy with exceptional talent. Nothing beats minutes in the saddle at that age.”
Players to watch
For France: Coach Fabien Galthie made two changes to his side. The hosts will be missing centre Jonathan Danty for the match at the Stade de France, after he suffered an ankle injury. Bordeaux-Begles’ 21-year-old Yoram Moefana replaces the injured Danty in the midfield. Toulouse flank Francois Cros comes in for Lyon’s Dylan Cretin, who drops to the bench to host the side third in the world rankings. Moefana made the first of his three Test appearances in November 2020. Toulouse’s Thibaud Flament is among the substitutes as Galthie prefers an extra forward among his replacements.
For Ireland: The visitors will be without talismanic captain Johnny Sexton due to a hamstring injury. Joey Carbery, who has only himself returned to action recently, steps in for Sexton at flyhalf for his first Six Nations start. He will partner scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park. Sexton’s Leinster teammate second row forward James Ryan replaces him as captain as has been the case in the past couple of years when he has been injured. Aside from Sexton’s absence head coach Andy Farrell has selected the same starting lineup that dominated Wales. The other personnel changes see the recall of fit-again British and Irish Lions duo lock Iain Henderson and centre Robbie Henshaw onto the replacements bench.
Head to head
Prediction
@rugby365ed: Ireland by three points
Teams
France: 15 Melvyn Jaminet, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Gabin Villiere, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Anthony Jelonch, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Cameron Woki, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille.
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18 Demba Bamba, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Thibaud Flament, 21 Dylan Cretin, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Thomas Ramos.
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Mack Hansen, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Caelan Doris, 5 James Ryan (captain), 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Andrew Porter, 1 Ronan Kelleher.
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Peter O’Mahony, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Carty, 23 Robbie Henshaw.
Date: Saturday, February 12
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 17.45 (16.45 UK & Ireland time; 16.45 GMT)
Expected weather: Partly sunny and fresh. Very little chance of precipitation. High of 7°C and low of 0°C
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Craig Evans (Wales)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
