D is for…
Doddle. Well, it would be for Ireland had France not suddenly – in Paris against England – rediscovered a togetherness that had not been in evidence since the World Cup final of 2011. Nor will it have helped Ireland’s composure to lose to Wales in Dublin a week later. That may have sparked a few reminders of Ireland’s strangely woeful record at the World Cup. Even so, Ireland under Joe Schmidt are serious contenders in any competition and a pool containing France, Italy, Canada and Romania does not represent a fiendishly demanding series of matches. The French are on the rise, but the others are struggling to keep up with the very best. They remain tough, but are not on the same level of menace as the teams of Pool A. There are still a few problems for the Irish. Cian Healy needs to be fit. The prop is a huge presence – physically and as a talisman – but is in a race against time to be (properly) fit. Sean O’Brien is still quiet in the back row. Memories of him against Australia in 2011 still stir his country’s spirits. Joanthan Sexton, too, has yet to show he can deal with being heavily marked. It is perhaps time for the scrum-half Conor Murray and the centre Robbie Henshaw to join Jamie Heaslip, who is on a true run of world-class form, and share with him the role of navigator through the pitfalls of qualification. The pool winners play Argentina, then probably the Pool A winners in the semi-finals. Enticing. The runners-up are set to play New Zealand – better that it’s France.
Key game
France v Ireland (11 October, Cardiff). The penultimate game of the qualifying process, a special one at the Millennium Stadium. Ireland must put aside 28 years of disappointment and underachievement to proceed. France will do their own thing. Could be a classic.
Watch out for…
Yoann Huget has shot into the reckoning as a wing of class, excellent in the air and elusive on the ground. Thierry Dusautoir is one of the players of his generation. Ireland are good at containment and masters of points accumulation, but might they need more creativity? Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne to provide it?
