In Saint-Denis,

FAVORITES

A demonstration. The Clover XV scattered the Scots like a puzzle (36-14), totally helpless. Impassable in defense, the current best team in the world offered an offensive festival with no less than six tries scored. The Irish continued the doubles and passes after contact in the interval. Crowley, who came into play in place of Sexton, notably offered a gem of a foot pass for Ringrose who received and flattened a marvelous try (58th). Something to delight the fervent green people. With this demonstration of strength, Ireland, which has just signed a 17th victory in a row, makes a further impression and asserts itself as one of the big favorites for the world title, if not the team to beat, she who has never gone beyond the quarter stage… An incongruity which could soon be ancient history… These impressive Irish seem to have the weapons to bring down the All Blacks, their opponents in the quarters , whom they have dominated five times in their last eight confrontations.

As always, the Irish showed themselves to be fearsomely tough. They moved forward inexorably. And pressed the Thistle XV, like Henderson who scored strongly the third try for the Irish (32nd) or Keenan (39th). There was also this impressive counter-ruck after possession recovered in the opposing 22 meters (18th). The Irish machine crushed the Scots whose lack of power was felt more than ever. And with ball in hand, the Thistle XV smashed against the green wall for a long time. Stunned from the start of the match, the Scots continued the playing times but made little progress against a very organized and much more powerful defense and committed handballs under the terrible opposing pressure.

Irish winger James Lowe warned: “No one can match the Irish on the road.” The bet was largely met. The France’s stadium ? No, definitely the Stadium of Ireland! As against South Africa, the green tide invaded the capital all day Saturday. There were still more than 60,000 people greening the Stade de France. With incredible fervor, the green people pushed for 80 minutes behind the best team in the world. The Olas continued without forgetting the local tunes. And the famous Zombie of the Cramberries was notably sung at the end of the match where almost the entire stadium remained in communion with the winners. A (still) magical moment.

The match was over for a long time. But the Scots offered two good tries in the second half. Tests greeted by ovations from the entire stadium. Mixed Irish and Scottish supporters stood up as one to congratulate the Chardon XV. Like the atmosphere that reigned throughout the match in the stadium, we must congratulate the minority Scottish spectators in the stands who did not leave the stadium. They continued to push behind their team.

CLAW STRIKES

They were not favorites, but still presented themselves with great arguments. Scotland completely missed their match. Picked cold from the 2nd minute, the XV du Chardon then created an illusion for around twenty minutes, but finally caught the tide. They concede the offensive bonus point at half-time. Of course, they will be able to curse this draw, just after a period frozen by Covid, which will have placed them in an extremely tough group. And it was undoubtedly with a great feeling of injustice that Scottish supporters saw, on the giant screens of the Stade de France, the English, quite mediocre, finish their group stage with a difficult victory against Samoa and leave for the quarter-finals… But hey, it is clear that in the two decisive matches Gregor Townsend’s men did not show much. Let it be, a month ago in Marseille against South Africa and this Saturday evening for their round of 16.

Scotland had the opportunity to quickly come back after Ireland’s first try, winning a penalty 50m in front of the posts following a high tackle. But Finn Russell’s partners opted for the sidelines. What followed was a period of domination of around ten minutes in the Irish 22 meters with two other penalties gleaned… unsuccessful mauls and a desperately silent attack. The statistics at the end of the first half were quite clear. The Scots had carried the ball more, had made more passes, than their opponents… But they conceded four tries to score none. Much was expected of Finn Russell, and it would be easy to blame him for this rout. It’s true that he didn’t know how to create space, that he didn’t move his team forward and above all that he didn’t know how to score when he needed to. But the entire three-quarter line failed this evening, started by the pair of centers Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, at fault several times in defense, and who only found solutions once the match was over.

The Scots certainly didn’t need to lose this match, but they weren’t helped. They lost very quickly (8th minute) number 15, Blaire Kinghorn who was celebrating her 50th selection and who was essential in Towsend’s system. Replaced by Ollie Smith, who never really got into his match, guilty of a stupid trip on Sexton at the start of the second half, he received a yellow card (42nd). A few minutes later, Chardon captain Jamie Ritchie also left her partners. At the start of the second half, it was the talented winger Darcy Graham who left the pitch limping low. Opposite, the Irish were not spared either. The two wingers left their partners prematurely, Mark Hansen in the 35th and James Lowe at half-time. If the number of injuries is higher among the Scots, the equation is more complicated for the Greens who must challenge the Blacks next week, to hope to qualify for the first time in their history in the last four.

A final score of 36-14 in trompe-l’oeil. We could have hoped for a fierce battle between the first and fifth nations in the world rugby rankings and we were disappointed. Gregor Townsend’s men suffered a ninth consecutive defeat against their neighbor. One of the most painful. Worse, than that inflicted, already, in groups during the 2019 edition (27-3). From the 38th minute, Andy Farrell’s men secured the offensive bonus and their qualification for the quarters with first place in group B (“group of death”). If the Irish were extremely efficient, the outsiders delivered a performance of rare sterility. And if they raised their heads after the break, it was also because Ireland, with substitutes coming on, had a bit of a lead in the quarter-finals in the last twenty minutes…