France’s top clubs have had the wood over Ireland’s in recent years for one reason: the power game.
Leinster, who make up the bulk of Ireland’s squad, have generally been bullied by La Rochelle and their Australian kryptonite Will Skelton, as well as Toulouse.
That theme continued in the fourth round of the Six Nations as the French, with a bee in their bonnet after the unfortunate injury to Antoine Dupont, went after Ireland.
But well before Dupont was forced off the seeds of their victory were revealed as they kept the Irish at bay and then kept hammering away at their opponents.
The French forward pack were superb, with their big loose trio, as well as they heavy bench, went after the Irish.
Schmidt will have noticed the performance but also been gently rubbing his hands together because the Lions squad is expected to be dominated by Irish and English players, teams the Wallabies have been at the races against in recent years.
Bernie putting the pieces together
The best coaches in the world have always been the one who can influence the match during a game.
It’s all well and good having a plan at the start of matches, but sometimes things just don’t go to script.
On Friday, Stephen Larkham showed his quality as the Brumbies worked their way back across the ditch against the Blues to snap their 12-year winless run at Eden Park.
The Blues might be a shadow of the team they were last year, and lost Beauden Barrett at half-time, but they still had Harry Pummer – the No.10, who steered the Auckland-based outfit to their own drought-breaking title last year – to come off the bench.
Larkham, one of the coolest customers in world rugby and generally coaches like he played, with composure, also showed that he can deliver a message at the right time.
Down 20-10 to the Blues after conceding two tries in three minutes, Larkham admitted he delivered his side some choice words and needed a moment after his half-time address.
“I was actually a bit fired up,” he said.
“It’s very rare that I’m fired up, but I was fired up and I had to go and compose myself. I went to the bathroom, looked in the mirror for a sec and it was too late (for the interview).”
Blake Schoupp helped lead the Brumbies to a fine win over the Blues at Eden Park on March 07, 2025. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Whatever Larkham said, his words worked a treat.
The Brumbies rattled the Blues, keeping them scoreless in the second half and forcing them into uncharacteristic errors.
His use off the bench was superb. All of his replacements made contributions, including Cadeyrn Neville, whose extra size and fresh legs were vital for one last big push at the scrum to earn a match-winning penalty when he was brought on with minutes left.
It was a fine win – and it gave Rugby Australia something to think about as they iron out their next head coach.
Kiss of death
Six months ago whispers of Les Kiss succeeding Joe Schmidt started to be spoken. They got louder with each passing month.
But if, indeed, he is Rugby Australia’s chosen one, you’d be a bit nervous about the style of rugby being played at the Reds.
It’s all well and good playing attractive, free-flowing rugby, but that goodwill goes when you’re inviting teams into matches and losing.
The Reds’ desire to use the ball came back to bite them at times against the Crusaders. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
The Reds looked like they were playing touch rugby at times against the Crusaders on Sunday.
Yes, the conditions were beautiful, but for a team missing their first-choice fly-half, inside centre, outside centre and fullback, it was a ballsy play and one that bit them in the backside.
The next Wallabies coach is expected to be finalised in the next ten days.
The missing ingredient returning to the Tahs
Ever since Michael Cheika left the Waratahs, the NSW club have had a soft underbelly.
When the going has got tough, they’ve rolled over.
Their ‘Tah tough’ motto was simply words.
But during the opening half against the Force, the Waratahs rolled up their sleeves and went to work.
The Force threw plenty at the Waratahs in the opening half but had little to show for it.
Nick Champion de Crespigny ran hard for the Force but the Waratahs were up for the challenge. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Indeed, the Force’s back-row charged regularly into the teeth of the NSW defence but only had one try to show for their efforts until the final seconds of the game.
It might not have had the skill of a New Zealand derby, but the physicality was right up there in the opening half-hour.
The flyers helping Aussie’s case
In the wee hours of Sunday morning, the smallest man in French rugby not just lit up the Six Nations but gave an Australian some more hope of making his own Test debut.
French winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey turned the Test against Ireland with his sheer game-breaking ability.
As the big men drove a hammer into the nail up front, Bielle-Biarrey – the 21-year-old 80kg winger – broke the hearts of Ireland with his incredible pace.
It was another example that speed, top end gas, counts.
We saw it two decades ago with Jason Robinson, Cheslin Kolbe brought the little men back in the game and Bielle-Biarrey is the latest who continues to prove that size isn’t everything.
One night later, Italy’s Ange Capuozzo, another 80 kilogram outside back, then burned England through the middle at Twickenham in a stunning break that brought the Europeans back into the contest in the moments before half-time.
Australian rugby has a couple of little men doing their thing.
Max Jorgensen is getting better by the month and already shown off his quality for the Wallabies by sealing a stunning upset win at Twickenham, but another in the mould of Bielle-Biarrey is the Brumbies’ Corey Toole.
Toole might not have started the year with the same eye-catching highlights reel we’ve become accustomed to, but his defensive efforts against the Blues is worth mentioning.
The former Australia sevens star was targeted by the Blues’ AJ Lam and Mark Tele’a, but the flying winger managed to hold his own and pulled off several ball-and-all shots that proved he can physically stand up to the big men.
Christy Doran’s Australian Super Rugby team of the week:
Angus Bell, Dave Porecki, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Ben Grant, Tom Hooper, Rory Scott, Harry Wilson, Harrison Goddard, Declan Meredith, Corey Toole, David Feliuai, Henry O’Donnell, Max Jorgensen (player of the round), Tom Wright
