The battle for who probably wins the Six Nations title will be decided by whether Ireland or France dominate in the scrum on Saturday in what will be a “cracking contest”, Irish rugby great Hugo MacNeill told AFP.
The hosts are the only side still capable of achieving the Grand Slam and a win over the French would leave them needing to beat an Italy side, already demolished by France in this tournament, in Rome on Saturday week to secure an unprecedented third successive Six Nations crown.
However, France arrive having swept aside both Wales and the Italians in magisterial style, their Grand Slam hopes dashed by an error-strewn defeat to England, who also still entertain outside hopes of the title.
Such is France’s points difference that a win against the Irish – they are the last side to win a Six Nations match in Dublin, in 2021 – would make them favourites for the title with a final game at home to unpredictable Scotland.
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MacNeill, a key member of Ireland’s Triple Crown-winning sides in 1982 and 1985, said home advantage played in Ireland’s favour but France for him are “slight favourites” as they are more of a “finished article” as a team.
Nevertheless MacNeill says if the Irish can match their opponents up front then they are in with a chance of keeping alive their Grand Slam dreams.
“France are very powerful. They look very strong,” he told AFP.
“It’s going to be a colossal confrontation up front.
“I think the French will come with the attitude ‘we’ve got to really take on Ireland and dominate Ireland and bully Ireland a little bit up front. Get at (lock) Joe McCarthy, get at the front row.'”
‘Real firepower’
The Irish come into the game on the back of a scratchy 27-18 win over the Welsh, which secured the Triple Crown, while the French thrashed Italy 73-24.
MacNeill, though, thinks the Irish team fell victim to believing the media coverage suggesting they were heading for an easy win, saying: “It is really hard to insulate yourself from that.”
While the 66-year-old former fullback believes the hosts may have a “little bit of fear” that if they do not play well they will suffer a heavy defeat, he believes the visitors too may have worries of a repeat of their performance against England.
“It’s very hard to turn the ship around if you’re mentally not there and the other team is suddenly saying, hey, we are in with a real chance,” said MacNeill.
“The crowd gets behind them. You’re kind of a bit isolated. You feel a bit far from home. And it’s very hard to turn that around if you start like that.
“What was kind of impressive about Ireland against Wales was they did turn it around.”
MacNeill says Ireland really need to hold their own in the scrums and deny too much possession to the French because their backs, led by captain and scrum-half Antoine Dupont, have shown more this campaign than the Irish.
“Antoine Dupont is playing so well,” MacNeill said .
“The other members of the back line look to have a little bit of a cutting edge at the moment … (more) than Ireland have.
“It’s great to see as a lover of French rugby.
“They’ll bring real firepower to Dublin on Saturday.”
However, win or lose he thinks the future looks good for the Irish.
“Ireland would love to win three in a row,” he said.
“But I think irrespective of what happens, Ireland are in a good place at the moment.”
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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