French pundits must have been worried about Ireland’s form after their first two World Cup games. However, an Irish stumble or three against Italy has perked them up.
A 16-9 win for Joe Schmidt’s men over the Italians, on Sunday, confirmed quarter final berths for the victors and for France.
Now, with both sides tied at 14 points in Pool D, next Sunday’s meeting at the Millennium Stadium will determine who tops the standings and who will be facing the All Blacks in the last eight.
Match reports, and reactions, across the French media, this morning, suggest they were far from impressed with Ireland’s latest win.
Writing for Midi Olympique, Clement Mazella suggests Ireland’s performance shows France have nothing to fear next Sunday.
‘Ireland clearly disappointed in their much anticipated but narrow victory over Italy,’ he declares. ‘Uninspired in attack, the result has not lifted Irish spirits before their decisive game against France.’
Mazella believes Ireland were out-fought at the breakdown and surprised by the aggressive defence of Sergio Parisse and his Italian teammates.
He writes that Iain Henderson and Rory Best were the stand-out Irish players in a ‘mediocre game’ and suggests that Conor Murray was a “disappointment” behind the Irish pack.
L’Equipe argue that Ireland were “embarrassed” by the Italians, who were inspired by flanker Simone Favaro.
They believe the French squad will have enjoyed watching Ireland huff and puff to their 16-9 win.
‘Only once, in the 19th minute, did the men in green, supported by all the Olympic Stadium, exploited an Italian flaw. A perfect movement started with O’Mahony’s lineout steal, featured Henderson and Sexton before Henshaw made the break and set up Earls for his try.’
Soon after the final whistle, Rahael Saint André, brother of French coach Philippe, tweeted this:
@PSaintAndre si vous aviez fait le même match contre Italie… Qu est ce que tu aurais pris dans la gueule. #soutienslexv #IRLvITA
— Saint Andre Raphael (@Rsa_Standre) October 4, 2015
Roughly translated, his tweet declares that had France played as badly as Ireland did against Italy, PSA would have copped a heap of flak.
In Le Parisien, meanwhile, notes that Keith Earls’ try was the only bright spot for the 53,187 fans – 99% who were dressed in green – at the Olympic Stadium.
The paper believes that Saint-André will have been given reason to hope he can inflict his first defeat on Ireland since he became head coach of France.
