European Championship - Ireland v France

[Burns]

Wow, that was a surprise. Not sure if the result says more about France then it does Ireland.

 

[welshmagpie]

Come on mig, the Irish team was predominantly amateur. The Frogs should still have won at a canter.

Only 2 players in the Irish 17 were amateur, the rest played fully professionally or semi-professionally last season!

 

[Foreign Legion]

any pics?

 

[Storm13]

If Ireland kick all their conversion attempts then they win 30-12...ouch

Match Report
http://www.rlef.eu.com/european_cup/report?RLE00000568

 

[RedVee]

Very surprised. Did France outsmart themselves thinking they could get through with a second string squad?

 

[crimpo]

The crowd was 1,428. To put that in perspective its the biggest crowd in Dublin for an international RL fixture for 14 years since they played Scotland in the World Cup 2000.

 

[deluded pom?]

The crowd was 1,428. To put that in perspective its the biggest crowd in Dublin for an international RL fixture for 14 years since they played Scotland in the World Cup 2000.

Hopefully this weekend's results might put a few more on the gate for the Ireland v Scotland match.

 

[deluded pom?]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ynxL-7RMl2s

 

[roughyedspud]

nice little ground that...

 

[miguel de cervantes]

Only 2 players in the Irish 17 were amateur, the rest played fully professionally or semi-professionally last season!

so pretty much the equivalent of the french team who had 10 semi-professional players in their squad.

but yeah, france should have won still

 

[marv]

so pretty much the equivalent of the french team who had 10 semi-professional players in their squad.

but yeah, france should have won still

I reckon they should. But how many times have we said that about France?

Everyone always so quick to blame the coach first it was Monie, then Goulding, now Agar or the Dragons having too many Aussies.

Nobody EVER recognises that most of the French squad like Bosc and Fakir etc have been playing year round RL since they turned pro nearly 10 years ago. Not easy when you were brought in from a part time environment.

Its time to take hats off to the Irish spirit which is quantifiable for them sometimes, Mark Aston has done a great job along with Stalwarts of the Irish team like Beswick and Finn,good pros really commited to Ireland.

 

[RedVee]

so pretty much the equivalent of the french team who had 10 semi-professional players in their squad.

but yeah, france should have won still

Defensive? I would think that most would expect France to have beaten Ireland, and probably the tournament. Still can I guess.

 

[winnyason]

Awesome crowd, lets hope they can double that and get 3k to game v scots.
Lets look at positives, on back of ireland getting 5k to world cup game vs aussies a great result.
I would love to see a championship team out of ireland massive potential great rugby union nation.
France.... Look at history some very strange results and this is another.
No excuses really, fages is seen as future of france. The pack looked good on paper.
The problem i see is out wide, baile sure is at bradford last year but international player in centres no, cardace is a turnstile in defence i dont believe the hype he is crap.
Vaccari solid will not win games too slow.
Yes there is no instant solution, gresque needs to be brought back if possible won multiple titles in elite the need experienced head, i thought khattabi was alot more of threat than cardace or vaccari.
Onto catalans, i find it quote frustating they where brought in to help test team and deadset the best france has bosc, escare, duport, casty, elima, mounis. Take the best 6 out of england they struggle. Maybe blood the young 7 at warrington but not remy marginet at least gresque.

Simply put they should have won, fages needs to take control of team. Good luck to ireland.