British & Irish Lions
• British & Irish Lions tour Australia in 2013
Ireland Rugby
Realism and France!
Declan Kidney is warning Ireland to expect a significant step up in class as they open their campaign against France.
After a mixed autumn which saw the Irish beat Argentina but suffer a heavy defeat by the All Blacks, they’ll need their wits about them for the opener.
A dose of realism is required according to Kidney following the high expectations people have of his team. After three triple crowns in four years Ireland had their worst performance in some years last year costing Eddie O’Sullivan his job.
Kidney was quick to point out that for some teams they will face in the coming weeks that Rugby is their primary sport. France have 14 professional teams, England a dozen, Ireland is a small country trying to compete and they’ll give it their best shot.
France have gone out on a limb and named only one recognised flyhalf and goalkicker in Lionel Beauxis – it was wideley expected that Elissalde would feature as cover for Beauxis however Lievrement has named Sebastien Tillous-Borde and Morgan Parra, who are 23 and 20 respectively.
This is the latest Lievremonts decisions that reflect his interest in the 2011 World Cup as he stated that there are only 25 games until then and it was time to toughen the youngsters up!
France RBS 6 Nations squad v Ireland, Saturday 7 February, 5.00pm:
Forwards: Nicolas Mas, Lionel Faure, Benoit Lecouls, Fabien Barcella, Dimitri Szarzewski, Benjamin Kayser, Sebastien Chabal, Lionel Nallet (captain), Romain Millo-Chluski, Thierry Dusautoir, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Louis Picamoles, Imanol Harinordoquy.
Backs: Sebastien Tillous-Borde, Morgan Parra, Lionel Beauxis, Yannick Jauzion, Benoit Baby, Florian Fritz, Julien Malzieu, Cedric Heymans, Clement Poitrenaud, Maxime Medard.