How Ireland can use France’s teenage fly-half Matthieu Jalibert to their advantage

The 19-year-old made into the Les Bleus line-up despite having only made 15 appearances for Bordeaux.

As a side packed with power, speed and athleticism, France were always going to be a handful for Ireland in their Six Nations opener. However, the inclusion of Matthieu Jalibert, the 19-year-old prodigy who has been playing professional rugby for three months, has potentially thrown a spanner in the works.

Although the Bordeaux starlet is untested at this level, Ireland’s back row will have to keep their wits about them to keep the teenage sensation under wraps inside the Stade de France.

Having impressed for the U20 side, Jalibert has been given a huge chance to prove himself in Jacques Brunel’s first game in charge. With Jalibert’s inclusion, the lads on The Hard Yards discussed what he will bring to this France side and, pertinently, how Ireland can stop him.

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“The last teenage fly-half in the Six Nations was Billy McCombe for Ireland in January 1968,” Andy McGeady said, highlighting how rare it is to see a player this young in this position starting a Six Nations game.

Considering his inexperience, James Downey added that he’s the type of player Ireland want to see France pick.

“You want to take someone there on their debut and really get into them. He’s great going forward and they’re going to test him out in other ways and they have a good balance there with a lot of kickers and a running 10.”

Mike Prendergast said that the French public’s relatively low expectations of Jalibert and the France side as a whole makes them a dangerous animal, while SportsJOE’s rugby correspondent Pat McCarry explained how Ireland can use the tactical inexperience of Jalibert to their advantage.

“When Ireland played Argentina they went after Sanchez, their number 10 and Bundee Aki was used to drive him at angles out of the way and make gaps through the middle, so keep an eye out for that one at the weekend,” McCarry said. 

Below you can see how Ireland targeted Sanchez of Argentina.

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