There is a world in which Ireland\u2019s World Cup quarter-final on Sunday follows a familiar script. <\/p>\n
On the one hand, France will look at New Zealand\u2019s game plan and identify elements which can be copied. On the other, looking back to France\u2019s dismantling of Ireland in the men\u2019s Six Nations potentially foreshadows the upcoming contest at Sandy Park. <\/p>\n
France have an overriding national rugby philosophy. Across both men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams. Their final pool win over South Africa at this World Cup made that abundantly clear. <\/p>\n
They were happy playing with less possession than their opponent. When they did have the ball, France bullied the Springboks up front, both at set-piece and during open play. A six-two bench ensured the power game around the fringes didn\u2019t let up. Pauline Bourdon Sansus ran the game from scrumhalf. On turnover ball, dangerous backline runners carved open a disorganised transition defence. <\/p>\n
Sound familiar? <\/p>\n
Every French game in recent times is relevant to try to figure out how they might play on Sunday. The two most pertinent case studies, though, would be that recent South Africa win and their Six Nations trip to Belfast earlier this year when Ireland ran them reasonably close. <\/p>\n
On both occasions, France had less of the ball, their opponents recording more carries. When they did have it, though, they did plenty of damage. They kick plenty. <\/p>\n
On Sunday, three French tries came directly off the back of a dominant scrum. That particular set-piece also had joy against Ireland in the spring. Irish loosehead Niamh O\u2019Dowd has improved as a scrummager, but there is no doubt that new cap Ellena Perry turned the scrum into a weapon when she started in round two against Japan. Her battle to be fit for Sunday looks to be crucial. <\/p>\n
In Brighton, Ireland struggled to contain Kiwi carrying threats in the centre, secondrow and backrow. In Exeter this weekend, swap in French lock Madoussou Fall Raclot, centres Gabrielle Vernier and Nassira Konde plus backrow Charlotte Escudero. Ireland can\u2019t afford to once again be slow off the line close to the ruck. <\/p>\n
Akin to New Zealand, France\u2019s attacking game plan will be relatively simple. Back their bigger athletes to do damage. Target outhalf Dannah O\u2019Brien in the defensive line. Play at a relentless speed close to the ruck, not allowing an already outmatched defence time to take away the space. A French quick ruck ball figure of 83 per cent against South Africa was, quite frankly, ludicrously high. <\/p>\n
There are differences between that South Africa contest and when Ireland last played the French. Unlike South Africa, they made more line breaks and post-contact metres than France. The Irish attack has shown they can have success against this opposition. <\/p>\n
To repeat the dose, the lateral play in Brighton should give way to more direct punch in Exeter. The side-to-side offering, O\u2019Brien taking the ball under pressure behind forward pods which failed to commit defenders, must be replaced by bigger carriers punching through the line. When Ireland had success against France, their top forward carrier by volume and by metres was \u2013 surprise, surprise \u2013 Aoife Wafer. Her fitness is, once again, a vital narrative. <\/p>\n
If it all sounds simple, that\u2019s because it is. There are a handful of novel ideas which could help. B\u00e9ibhinn Parsons and Aoife Dalton both made three carries against New Zealand. As Ireland\u2019s two most powerful backs, that is nowhere near enough. They need to be game-planned into higher workloads. Bring Parsons off her wing and Dalton in from 13. Draw up running lines featuring late swings down the short side, away from the teeth of the defence. <\/p>\n
Ireland\u2019s kick strategy is another feature which needs improvement. Variation can help counter a swarming defence. Ireland have one kicking ploy: give it to O\u2019Brien and watch her go long. It makes sense, given her left boot is arguably the strongest in the world game. <\/p>\n
Yet teams have figured out how to counter. When kicking behind a retreating attack, New Zealand either pressured O\u2019Brien into hanging on to the ball or ran back misplaced efforts with interest. During the World Cup warm-ups, Canada stacked the backfield to have numbers on the counter. In the Six Nations, France simply kicked it back, keeping the ball on the pitch until Ireland made a mistake. <\/p>\n