By Lucky Vince Pienaar
The Rugby World Cup 2023 final, many of the experts predicted, was going to be between Ireland and host nation France.
“The first fully Northern Hemisphere final,” they called it.
But then, along came South Africa and New Zealand and spoiled that little party, and in the process left a question hanging.
When push comes to shove, who will walk away with the honours, France or Ireland?
As the luck of the draw would have it, that match is happening on Friday night in the Six Nations championship.
Of course, it is not quite the same thing, but it comes pretty close.
Ireland travel to France for the opening match of the championship. It will be played in Marseille and not the Stade de France in Paris where the World Cup final was played, but the same abrasive French crowd will be there, the weather will be about the same and the teams – with notable exceptions – will be very similar.
Both sides have lost iconic star players. Johnny Sexton has retired and Antoine Dupont has chosen to play Sevens this year.
Flanker Peter O’Mahony takes over as Ireland captain. He does not have Sexton’s dramatic flair, but he does have a leadership style that fits in with coach Andy Farrell’s no-nonsense approach to the game.
France, being without their brilliant flyhalf Romain Ntamack, will bank on Matthieu Jalibert who is proving to be as good if not better than Ntamack.
Baptiste Couilloud and Maxime Lucu have to do the scrumhalf job in place of Dupont. Quite a challenge.
There is another incentive that both sides will be aware of. The team that wins this match will have one hand on the Six Nations trophy – and the possibility of a grand slam is on the cards.
If the French are at their best, they’ll win, but they will have to be brilliant. Ireland will be good. They are never bad. In a match this close, hometown advantage and that French crowd may just make the difference.
Calendar: France vs Ireland, Friday at 22:00 on DStv channel 211.
Pictured above: France taking on Ireland.
Image source: X
