The locals are concerned, and with good reason.
Ireland face off against France in Paris on Saturday evening and there is an odd mood in the city of lights.
Having been at Carton House, on Thursday, for Ireland’s team announcement and media rotations, I arrived in Paris on SportsJOE duty this afternoon. The dispatches from earlier this week are true – France consider Ireland the favourites and they are anticipating a rough time of it at Stade de France tomorrow.
L’Equipe and Midi Olympique are hoping for the best – talking up young outhalf Matthieu Jalibert and No.8 Kevin Gourdon – but they are wary of Ireland’s settled team packed with players who showed their best in the November internationals and in the Champions Cup.
The five Irish surnames that are showing up across the French media are Best, Ryan, Stockdale, Sexton and Stander. The panel of rugby pundits on popular show ‘Le Journal Du Rugby’ highlighted Johnny Sexton and CJ Stander as the two Ireland stars France need to shut down if they have any chance of success.
While many Irish fans would talk up the likes of Keith Earls, Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson or Conor Murray, Sexton and Stander were centre of attention. Some of Stander’s barnstorming ball-carries were shown and the return of former Racing 92 outhalf Sexton to Paris appears to be anticipated as much in 2016 as it was in February 2016.
Jalibert vs. Sexton. The French media are all about this battle tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/nMOnYcUcmM
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) February 2, 2018
The Canal+ rugby show reserved a good chunk of their evening broadcast to what they believed would be a key battle, between hookers and captains Guilhelm Guirado and Rory Best.
The Ireland captain was praised for his leadership qualities, with the away victories over New Zealand and South Africa mentioned as well as Best’s two tours of duty with the British & Irish Lions. Guirado, at 56 caps, is Les Bleus most experienced player and by some distance. No-one else in the starting XV has more than 40 international outings.
Pierre Rabadan from Infosport discussed the upcoming match with Nicolas Souchon and Adrien Toubiana of Canal+ and the young Ireland pair of James Ryan and Jacob Stockdale both got positive mentions.
The battle between Best and Guirado was the focus on Rugbyrama, with the site noting the Ireland No.2 has a better winning percentage than his opposite number when leading his team – 60% as opposed to 39%.
The statistic just about every French media outlet is focusing on ahead of the match is a worrying one for Saturday’s match hosts – Ireland are on a seven-game winnining streak while France have lost the last seven.
Add in a slew of in-form Irish players, including Best, Stockdale, Stander and Sexton, coming to town and the locals have every reason to be concerned.
