Antoine Dupont scored a attempt in France’s Six Nations win over Eire final October
Eire will attempt to put final weekend’s defeat to Wales behind them once they face an in-form France in Dublin on Sunday.
Andy Farrell’s males are already enjoying catch-up within the Six Nations after their Cardiff setback, whereas France will try and construct on a convincing win over Italy.
It’s 10 years since France final received in Dublin however they fancy their possibilities of ending that winless streak towards their injury-ravaged hosts.
Important absentees
0:59 Eire head coach Andy Farrell shall be with out captain Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray and James Ryan for Sunday’s recreation
Head coach Farrell was maybe placing it mildly when he referred to the previous week as a “difficult” one.
Peter O’Mahony’s early pink card within the Cardiff defeat contributed closely to a nightmare begin to the championship and the lack of the flanker by suspension has since been compounded by the harm absences of skipper Johnny Sexton, vice-captain James Ryan and skilled scrum-half Conor Murray.
Farrell, who was already with out Jacob Stockdale and Caelan Doris, remained upbeat concerning the disruption however the scenario has left appreciable holes and is way from perfect for a must-win match.
Gulf in expertise
Leinster ahead Rhys Ruddock makes his first Six Nations begin
“One man’s loss is one other man’s alternative,” was Farrell’s optimistic evaluation of his choice predicament.
Fly-half Billy Burns, who made a pricey late error within the loss in Cardiff, scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, and flanker Rhys Ruddock are the principle beneficiaries.
Whereas it’s a main likelihood for the trio to stake claims for normal motion, Eire have traded the 184-cap pairing of Sexton and Murray for 2 gamers who’ve simply 10 Take a look at appearances mixed, and solely three begins.
Leinster man Ruddock, in the meantime, has by no means beforehand began a Six Nations recreation and should hit the bottom working on his first worldwide look for the reason that 2019 World Cup.
Deja vu?
Robbie Henshaw scored a shocking solo attempt in Paris final 12 months
Eire’s 2020 title aspirations had been ended by a irritating loss in Paris on the ultimate weekend of final 12 months’s extended match. Lightning might strike twice for Farrell by the hands of Les Bleus, albeit at a far earlier stage of the competitors.
After final weekend’s damaging defeat on the Principality Stadium, wherein the untimely departure of O’Mahony can’t be understated, Eire are below critical stress to put aside their personnel issues and pull off a well-known victory.
France have turn into formidable opponents below Fabien Galthie and are quickly shifting in the direction of being main contenders for his or her residence World Cup in 2023.
Harmful Dupont
Dupont scored one attempt to created 4 in France’s win over Italy final weekend
The hosts’ hopes of popping out on prime will relaxation closely on their potential to cope with the electrical skills of Antoine Dupont.
The stylish scrum-half, who was on the scoresheet when the nations met on the Stade de France in October, grew to become the primary French winner of the Participant of the Championship award in 2020 and is being extensively touted because the world’s greatest participant on his present standout type, which continued with a attempt to 4 assists throughout Les Bleus’ emphatic success over Italy.
Eire wing James Lowe is amongst these to label the Toulouse man as such and has overtly admitted, “he is the one we’re going for”.
Milestone second for captain Henderson
Iain Henderson has been handed the Eire captaincy
An extra consequence of Irish choice points is the appointment of a stand-in captain.
With Sexton and Ryan unavailable, the accountability has fallen to Ulster skipper Iain Henderson, who will turn into the 108th participant to skipper Eire.
The 28-year-old, who has loads of expertise of performing the position for his province, is barely simply working his method again from a knee harm and made his return by coming off the bench towards Wales.
Henderson certainly couldn’t have envisaged being elevated from alternative to main out his nation in simply seven days however it guarantees to be a proud event.
Eire: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Billy Burns, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Cian Healy, 2 Rob Herring, 3 Andrew Porter, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 5 Iain Henderson (c), 6 Rhys Ruddock, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 CJ Stander.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Ed Byrne, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Will Connors, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Jordan Larmour.
France: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Arthur Vincent, 12 Gael Fickou, 11 Gabin Villiere, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont; 1 Cyril Baille, 2 Julien Marchand, 3 Mohamed Haouas, 4 Bernard Le Roux, 5 Paul Willemse, 6 Anthony Jelonch, 7 Charles Ollivon (c), 8 Gregory Alldritt.
Replacements: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Hassane Kolingar, 18 Uini Atonio, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Dylan Cretin, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Anthony Boutier, 23 Teddy Thomas.
