The little French guy's record against Ireland is actually quite 'meh' by the standards he has set at Test level elsewhere and at club level. The teams meet in a Six Nations-defining game in Dublin on Saturday
Antoine Dupont is a stunningly exciting no9, strong, smart and visionary, every time he breaks a tackle there is static electricity in play. He is the greatest entertainer in the modern game but, great and all as the 28 year-old is at times, the yakety-yak this week has reached call-a-halt proportions.
Stop. The little French guy's record against Ireland is actually quite 'meh' by the standards he has set at Test level elsewhere and at club level. READ MORE: Leinster boss Leo Cullen blasts Garry Ringrose ban decision - claims a World Rugby 'disconnect' about red, yellow-red and red cardsAnd because Josh van der Flier is the year in, year out, answer to Antoine Dupont, Ireland fans should look to Patsy Kensit's best line and not be afraid. Kensit came off set from acting opposite David Bowie in Absolute Beginners - media headlines every day during shooting - with a ready-to-go song written by the Pet Shop Boys knowing she was on a winner: 'J'ai Pas Peur' But then Ireland are not absolute beginners, they are back-to-back Six Nations champions, three times winners of the last seven.The French scrum-half has played Ireland five times . He has won three, lost two; JVDF has started four tests against Dupont winning two, losing two. Moreover, the French scrum-half has never been Man of Match against Ireland, James Ryan, Gregory Alldritt, Brice Dulin, Alldritt again and Caelan Doris picked up those accolades 2019-23And hile Dupont's try-scoring feats at the top level, 15 tries from 58 France caps, is reasonable. His return of 30 percent is short of, say, Brian O'Driscoll's close to 40 percent from a similar amount of caps, Tommy Bowe's crossing for 30 tries in 69 caps or, indeed, Dan Sheehan's 11 tries already from 30 caps. Still, accepting that giving JVDF credit in keeping manners on Dupont in previous games, there was a certain glibness in ignoring the fact rugby is a team game. There is, for instance, a section of the France support who believe they have the best player in the world - but that Six Nations and World Cup titles are being lost by the national coaching staff's continued inability to identify the right no10 for him. Half-back combinations are accepted as adding to the mix, here in Ireland those such as Stringer-O'Gara, Gibson-Park-Sexton, even Whitaker-Contepomi back at a crucial time for Leinster, were treasured. Yet France have settled for Dupont's Toulouse half-back partner Romain Ntamack who blows hot but also remarkably freezing and, at times, moving Toulouse full-back Thomas Ramos to no10. Fabien Galthie tried Bordeaux's Matthieu Jalibert but the general agreement is that they don't gel as a partnership simply because Dupont calls all the shots at Toulouse, something that has not encouraged Galthie looking further afield to no10s at other clubs. Meanwhile Simon Easterby will reveal his Ireland team this lunchtime and JVDF will, of course, be at open-side. Tactically it is the no7 first-up job to close down the no9 and our guy - World Rugby Player of the Year 2022 - does it superbly. If France are intent on moving Dupont away from JVDF's orbit by times they will try and work the blindside more. Which will make blindside selection all the more interesting for who Easterby, a former blindside himself, places at blindside flanker. Like the half-back couplet, no6 and no7 should be a pair. Ryan Baird opened Ireland's 2025 Six Nations at no6 but Peter O'Mahony took over for Scotland and was sensational against Wales. The emphasis in Cardiff, and what kept Ireland on top, was the defensive contribution of Tadhg Beirne , O'Mahony and van der Flier . There is no reason to change O'Mahony - at all. Part of this trio's blockade was helping out Sam Prendergast who was also being protected by rock-solid Robbie Henshaw . And given Caelan Doris, who is an excellent defender too, is expected to be in place that should ensure the Leinster out-half will be at no10. Both Hugo Keenan and Tadhg Furlong were looking to return and reported to be in 'light' training but the Ireland M.O. is to normally use the side that is working together all week rather than rush someone back. ONE F's IRELAND : Osborne; Hansen, Henshaw, Aki, Lowe; Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Bealham, McCarthy, Beirne, O'Mahony, van der Flier, Doris -The Irish Mirror has a rugby WhatsApp group where you can get breaking new and top stories on Ireland's Six Nations campaign straight to your phone. Click here to join. You can leave our group at any time if you don't like it.
Please follow us on Google to support us Ireland Rugby Union Team France Rugby Union Team Josh Van Der Flier Simon Easterby Jamie Osborne Sam Prendergast Tadhg Furlong Finlay Bealham Joe Mccarthy Peter O'mahony Caelan Doris Andy Farrell Bundee Aki
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