International Rugby

[peter w]

This will be knocking the irish

[Villan For Life]

Some poor defending at times from the Irish but they held on through sustained pressure from the sweats just before half time. A great opening half.

[nigel]

Almost brilliant from Carney

[paul_e]

Great result for the jocks.  What's interesting is that they've taken Farrell as coach and they have the same defensive weaknesses out wide that England had in the world cup. I don't understand how he hasn't been found out.

[PaulWinch again]

Not a great start.

[PaulWinch again]

Too many stupid pens.

[Proposition Joe]

Hmm France are going to win this.  Looks like they're finally waking up from their decade-long slumber.

[PaulWinch again]

Poor and really complacent half.

[PaulWinch again]

They're much sharper and more intense.

[PaulWinch again]

No accuracy at the moment.

[PaulWinch again]

Got away with that. Really poor performance and Itoje was a million times better once he moved back to the second row.

[Jon Crofts]

Just home from Twickenham, probably as bad as Lancaster's last throes in terms of not having any ideas.
Referee didn't help, he had a very poor first 30 minutes.
Haskell had a huge impact, Ford kicked possession away far too much and our lineout looked very shaky to start with. That said the French had one opportunity in the second half and they took it, we cut out the penalties and probably should have come away with at least another 10 points, I haven't seen possession and territory stats for the second half but it certainly felt like we were in their half a good while. The rolling maul also clicked in the second half, I think we'll do ok next week against the sheep botherers.

[PaulWinch again]

Itoje has to play in the second row, his influence on the game noticeably grew once he moved there.

[paul_e]

I think there are a few key things from that.

Itoje isn't a back row.
The May yellow was very harsh.
Their big prop will, in my opinion, be cited for leading with his elbow on Hughes.

I missed most of the 2nd half taking the kids to a party but I'm disappointed that we didn't push on and dominate it, i think we'd done a good job handling their physicality and our mobility really should've been enough to run awat from then later on.

[PaulWinch again]

It was one of those days today. Nothing came off and it was really disjointed, and France played well. Itoje just starts in the second row and that debate should be ended. Excellent cameos from Haskell and Te'oo, they won the game.