For French coach Marc Lievremont, Croke Park tomorrow evening could be his Waterloo, writes Liam Toland
AT LONG last the anti-depression tablet has finally arrived, a full Croke Park two weeks running! Tyrone and Dublin started the ball rolling nicely last week. Who would have thought that 164,600 recession-suffering people would fill the massive stadium within seven days? Where are all these people hiding when the drivetime gurus are killing us slowly?
I can’t wait, strolling down Jones’s Road amongst all the fellow sufferers but free from trouble and strife. Come On Ireland! If I’m prepared to fork out my last €90 and make a weekend of it all then you might oblige me with a humdinger. And why not?
As Rumpole of the Bailey was wont to comment, “I’m all alone and leaderless” and in many cases both French coach Marc Lievremont and indeed Martin Johnson must be feeling the heat of successful rugby careers followed quickly into the lonely slot of the “leader”. But for Lievremont, tomorrow could be his Waterloo.
Why?
At the risk of ignoring vast aspects of our opening fixture tomorrow I would simply like to focus on two areas of French weakness, the scrum and particularly, the lineout. In the former David Wallace is key. Not as the source of ball but the decoy destroyer. It’s high time the 10 metres (when refereed) is exploited. Precious little has been developed over the months.
Why not swap both Wallaces at scrum time? Paddy could pack down on the flank, out of harm’s way, with David at 10 and Ronan O’Gara shoving out one. “I pity the poor fool,” as Mr T was apt to say, that would take David Wallace down with a 10-metre head start. Over the months he’s attacked within inches of space. He can exploit the French. And after he’s destroyed the French inside backs and they’re very worried, tired and sore use him as a decoy to unleash the back three.
There’s no doubt in my mind that outhalf Lionel Beauxis will suffer from his time spent at fullback with Stade Français and both Florian Fritz and Yannick Jauzion will have to accommodate defensively. So on the 10 or so scrums Ireland have tomorrow they should launch Wallace into the French which would certainly upset the best laid plans of mice and men.
So to the lineout where the French are plainly out of their depth.
At the risk of sounding clichéd, the “Caveman” Sebastien Chabal is as about as much use as a one-legged man in an arse-kicking competition or an ashtray on a motor bike.
The lineout is what will win this match for Ireland. The French have something barmy up their sleeve, but to come to Croke Park with Chabal in the secondrow is bonkers.
In the upper reaches of the South stand in Thomond Park I tracked Chabal for minutes on end. That night Sale Sharks were demolished and he was brutal.
When Brent Cockbain finally arrived, coach Philippe Saint-Andre decided to replace the impressive lineout specialist Dean Schofield and persisted with Chabal. He is an enormous influence on any fixture when motivated, but, unlike soccer, you can’t carry a player (especially in the secondrow) for 78 minutes expecting him to poach a goal at the death. Please do not be fooled by the cameo ball carry every 20 minutes, watch him in the interim. He does nothing.
What makes it all the more galling is their captain, Lionel Nallet, is no leaping salmon. He is a powerful player in the mould of Brad Thorne, but like the All Black he doesn’t have the aerial powers to be the main option. To combat this, Ireland have four excellent options and must utilise their advantage by getting blindside wingers into the line causing as much confusion to an uncomfortable looking inside backline.
Added to French woes, Imanol Harnordoquy is included for his aerial prowess. But he, too, is lazy; a limelight player when all are going forward but not so hot in the trenches.
The relevance of the Irish dominating both the scrum and lineout is paramount. Although second favourites for the Championship at 3 to 1 behind Wales, they are fourth in line for top tournament try scorer, behind Wales, England and France.
This is a worry the bookies are also aware of. Tomorrow Ireland need to utilise their far superior set-piece, but in particular the lineout. They will steal ball from the French and must focus in on tries when they do so. I genuinely can’t wait to see Robert Kearney (if fit) in full flight, working off Brian O’Driscoll.
Speaking of Kearney, his opposite man tomorrow is right back in form. Clement Poitrenaud’s performance in the rain in Bath last weekend was part Kearney and part Pat Murray (Munster and Shannon). He has certainly developed from the man who coughed up to Wasps’ Rob Howely in the Heineken Cup final that got away. He is worth close marking.
Over the weekend don’t forget the battle for the Lions number 10 slot. We’ll have to include Brive’s Andy Goode who becomes the sixth outhalf in eight English Tests, freeing up Danny Cipriani for the Saxons and the odd fashion shows in Milan.
Tonight I wish the Ruddocks the very best in what must be a record. An Irish mother Bernie, Welsh Grand Slam-winning coach father Mike and two sons Rhys and Ciarán, Under-20 starters for Ireland versus France this evening in Athlone. Come on the Haddocks!
Of course if this wasn’t all too mad, you could cast an eye on Twickenham tomorrow and observe how Stade Français openside Mauro Bergamasco performs at scrumhalf for Italy against England.
God help him!
