Wary France are readying for an all-out Irish assault when the two autumn conquerors of the All Blacks meet in the Six Nations on Saturday.
Irish Examiner: France know they need to be better in all departments to take on high flying Irish
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Irish Examiner: French vow to ‘rectify’ disciplinary issues ahead of Ireland’s arrival
France have recognised the need to cut down their penalty count if they are to get the better of Six Nations opponents Ireland.
The Rugby Paper: Fickou feels it’s France’s year at last
Gael Fickou admits pressure is mounting on the hugely talented French to lift the Six Nations title.
The Rugby Paper: France must deliver… and Galthie knows it
This is Fabien Galthie’s third Six Nations as Les Bleus’ head coach and everything has changed since his first one in 2020. Today, 20 matches into his 40-match countdown to the 2023 World Cup, and despite Covid-19, France expects.
Irish Examiner: Fabien Galthie aiming to bring back the French finesse
The message, as Fabien Galthie prepares for a third Covid-affected Six Nations as France head coach, comes straight out of a Shakespeare play rather than one by his native wordsmith, Moliere: What’s past is prologue.
Irish Examiner: Top 14 Drilldown: Eddie Jones’ French leave, O’Gara still fly-half fishing
The Top 14 returned for a two-weekend run between the Autumn Internationals and the scheduled start of the European competitions.
The Rugby Paper: Mercer in top form as Eddie looks on
The Top 14 returned after a three-week international break for two rounds ahead of the start of the European competitions, with England head coach Eddie Jones in the south-west of the country, watching a match featuring a player in action for Montpellier he routinely overlooked.
Irish Examiner: Assessing the Autumn: How rugby’s heavyweights fared in November
Very pleased to be asked to write the French bit to this analysis of the 2021 November internationals … especially when I discovered the illustrious company I was in…
The Springboks are still world No 1, but the chasing pack are closing in – and they are all from the northern hemisphere – though who would dare write off the All Blacks?
The Rugby Paper: Success of Ruiz puts refs in hot demand
You’d be forgiven for thinking – especially after World Rugby’s sanction against Rassie Erasmus following his video rant after the First Lions Test and the more general outpouring of social media bile against individual referees when they make a decision one team’s fans don’t like – that relations between officials and teams was in freefall.
The Rugby Paper: Peace at Biarritz as row starts in Bayonne
Top 14 side Biarritz look set to remain where they belong – in the heart of the Basque Country – following an apparent easing of relations between club and city council that had threatened to send the club running to the other end of the country.
James Harrington: Freelance sports journalist 