21.09.2007

France 25, Ireland 3 in Paris (World Cup, Pool D)

France won by 22 points. I predicted France by 16.

Reviews

http://worldcup.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,21043,13088_2746691,00.html

The IRON FIST has stats

Previews

This will be a huge match for both teams but no more so than Ireland. They really have performed poorly. Ireland will need to play well above what they have so far produced to match it with the French. France showed enough against Namibia that they are on the way back from their horror start to this tournament.

http://worldcup.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,21043,13088_2743922,00.html

http://www.rugby.ie/news/story/?jp=MHCWIDQLGBSN&s=worldcup&d=new

Teams

France

15 Clément Poitrenaud, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 David Marty, 12 Damien Traille, 11 Cédric Heymans, 10 Frédéric Michalak, 9 Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 8 Julien Bonnaire, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 Serge Betsen, 5 Jérôme Thion, 4 Sébastien Chabal, 3 Pieter de Villiers, 2 Raphaël Ibañez (Capt.), 1 Olivier Milloud.

Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Lionel Nallet, 19 Yannick Nyanga, 20 Lionel Beauxis, 21 Yannick Jauzion, 22 Aurélien Rougerie.

Coach: Bernard Laporte

Ireland

15 Girvan Dempsey, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (Capt.), 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Denis Leamy, 7 David Wallace, 6 Simon Easterby, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Jerry Flannery, 1 Marcus Horan.

Replacements: 16 Frankie Sheahan, 17 Simon Best, 18 Malcolm O'Kelly, 19 Neil Best, 20 Isaac Boss, 21 Paddy Wallace, 22 Gavin Duffy.

Coach: Eddie O’Sullivan

GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-France 4^th, Ireland 8^th

Prediction: France by 16 points