Num. | Nombre | |
---|---|---|
15Maxime Médard, - | ||
14Teddy Thomas, - | ||
13Maxime Mermoz, - | ||
12Jonathan Danty, - | ||
11Virimi Vakatawa, - | ||
10Jules Plisson, - | ||
9Sebastien Bezy, - | ||
1Jefferson Poirot, - | ||
2Guilhem Guirado, - | ||
3Uini Atonio, - | ||
4Alexandre Flanquart, - | ||
5Yoann Maestri, - | ||
6Wenceslas Lauret, - | ||
7Yacouba Camara, - | ||
8Damien Chouly, - | ||
Cambios | ||
16Camille Chat, - | ||
17Rabah Slimani, - | ||
18Eddy Ben Arous, - | ||
19Paul Jedrasiak, - | ||
20Loann Goujon, - | ||
21Maxime Machenaud, - | ||
22Jean-Marc Doussain, - | ||
23Hugo Bonneval, - |
*Los jugadores actualmente en la cancha se muestran en negritas
Comentario de partido
The sky over the Stade de France cleared and the rain stopped as Maxime Medard darted around the back of the scrum and over the line to keep French grand slam hopes alive. The crowd erupted into a sea of blue, white and red tricolor as Plisson added the extras to give France the lead - how on earth they managed it is a mystery. For much of the match, Guy Noves' men were second best but a six-day turnaround and host of injuries - O'Brien, McCarthy and Sexton to name a few - meant it was too much for Ireland. By no means a classic, but France's love for rugby may have just been reignited on Valentine's weekend.
FINALLY! Medard is at the rear of the scrum and in space, darts forward from the offload from Goujan and plants the ball down. Such a hard one to defend but great play from France. Sexton's also come off for an injury.
It hasn't been ruled a try -- even though you probably think Chouly did ground it -- but you really can't see anything. France scrum from 5m.
However, it needs resetting...
The outcome of the next scrum: Ireland's pack push hard and well, forcing the ball out the back and now they can pounce. Let's see if they can build something substantial for the first time this half...
"A case of drab weather and even drabber rugby at a saturated Stade de France. While France and Ireland have tried to play expansive rugby, the pouring rain and slippery conditions have made that a near impossibility. Ireland's cause has been hampered by two injuries - first, the returning Sean O'Brien limped off badly with an apparent knee injury before Dave Kearney was almost left in two by French captain Guilhem Guirado. Referee Jaco Peyper has been constantly booed by the frustrated French crowd and may need an escort out of Paris tonight. A tale of two boots so far - Sexton with three penalties and Plisson with one - but nothing more. "
FULL TIME!
Our half time analysis is just moments away...
...and, ofcourse, he makes it. 9-3 Ireland.
Must admit, not sure they're the right decisions and so far the execution from the French No.10 has been poor.
Right now though, France have been penalised for a knock on and we're awaiting Sexton's recovery to take the kick...
...and Bezy clears it but another poor, poor kick which doesn't gain much ground. Rain clearly playing a part.
Or not. Sexton kicks for the lineout from five metres. Daring adventure from Schmidt's side, they're oozing confidence right now.
Bizarrely, only France and England -- the two teams that disappointed most at last year's World Cup -- are still on for the Grand Slam following the opening weekend of Six Nations action.
Guy Noves' new-look side laboured past Italy in Paris and now face a tougher test against Ireland. But, following their draw against Wales last week, Joe Schmidt's side has been ravaged by injury, meaning today's clash in the French capital will likely be closer than expected.
IRELAN D XV: R Kearney, Trimble, Payne, Henshaw, D Kearney, Sexton, Murray; McGrath, Best (captain), White, Toner, McCarthy, Stander, O'Brien, Heaslip.
Replacements: Strauss, Cronin, Furlong, Ryan, O'Donnell, Reddan, Madigan, McFadden.
FRANCE XV: Medard, Thomas, Mermoz, Danty, Vakatawa, Plisson, Bezy; Poirot, Guirado (captain), Atonio, Flanquart, Maestri, Lauret, Camara, Chouly.
Replacements: Chat, Slimani, Ben Arous, Jedrasiak, Goujon, Machenaud, Doussain, Bonneval.
You can follow our man on the ground, Rob Bartlett (@RobBartlettESPN), who'll be giving us his live updates straight from the Stade de France. His preview can be read HERE.
And, if you're still thirsty for more rugby...