Eddie Jones, the former Wallabies coach, has shared his insights on France's performance against Ireland in the Six Nations opener. While he praised France's dominance in the first half, he also pointed out where they looked 'pretty ordinary'.
Jones, who was joined by fellow ex-Wallabies head coach Ewan McKenzie on the Rugby Unity podcast, highlighted three key areas. Firstly, he noted that France's influence from contestable kicks in the first half allowed them to dictate the game's flow and score a significant number of points. Secondly, he praised the game's flow and rhythm, especially until the last 10 minutes, where a little more TMO could have enhanced the experience. Lastly, he admired France's ability to maintain momentum, showcasing beautiful rugby with quick ball movement, support lines, and offloading in the tackle.
However, Jones also identified a weak point when France couldn't dominate the gain-line and aerial battle. He stated, 'Conversely, when they weren’t able to do that, they looked pretty ordinary.'
Ewan McKenzie agreed with Jones' observations, adding that Ireland lacked answers to France's tactics and were predictable when they had possession. He also praised France's attacking prowess and subtle tweaks in their set-phase attack from lineouts. McKenzie noted that Ireland turned to 'spoiling' tactics as the game progressed, while France lost control in the second half due to their replacements' inability to replicate the starters' dominance.
This match also brought attention to World Rugby's eight-year unchecked change, particularly with Thomas Ramos' 'juggling' catch. The discussion on the law change was thrown into the spotlight, inviting further debate and analysis.
