By Lucky Vince Pienaar
When the French click into top gear, there is no team in the world that can stop them. They showed that in their Six Nations match against Ireland at Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Friday night.
Twice they turned on the afterburners and twice they scored tries, one before halftime, the second ten minutes into the second half. Both tries were magnificent as the Irish were left snatching at fresh air as Les Bleus put on a display of ball handling and movement, as good as any seen in the last twelve months including the World Cup.
But test matches are not won ten minutes before halftime and ten minutes after halftime.
For most of the match, Ireland were striking at the French defences with fierce attacks and well-planned moves down the flanks. France, however, seemed to be tentative at times.
Enjoying more than two thirds of the territorial advantage, Ireland scored two tries in the first half, another two in the second half, securing the bonus point. When their fifth try came close to fulltime, the French were literally out on their feet as they lay sprawled on the ground.
Unfortunately, the absurdity of the card was once again on full display.
Referee Karl Dickson scored the match exactly right, including the two yellow cards shown to Paul Willemse with the second automatically being upgraded to a red. In both cases, Dickson was decisive and he was right both times. What it meant, however, was that France played without the big lock for at least 60 minutes of the match. Dickson is not to blame. It’s the entire card system that needs to be banished.
It seems that there is life for Ireland after Johnny Sexton. Whether there is life for France after Antoine Dupont remans to be seen.
France (2 tries) 17-38 (5 tries) Ireland.
Tries France: Damian Penaud, Paul Gabrillagues
Tries Ireland: Jamison Gibson-Park, Tadhg Beirne, Calvin Nash, Dan Sheehan, Ronan Kelleher
Image: James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park starred for Ireland.
Source: Newshub
