Something similar happened in 2016 against England iirc. I think France may have been missing a couple of players when we beat them by a couple of points in the spring. We had home advantage that day too. The French are coming like a train at underage. Thatâs three (3) U20 World Cups in a row for them now.
French rugby is a commercial juggernaut. Their focus on the 2023 World Cup will be a positive for rugby overall as they have taken their eye off just buying in foreign stars and are reducing their salary cap.
Itâs mad to think that brilliant French 9 may struggle to get a dozen or so senior caps. He was sublime all tournament and even today, he fucking counter rucked our backrowers at one stage. Unreal.
But he has the worldâs best player ahead of him who still has his prime years ahead of him and thereâll be no shortage of other 9s knocking in time to come too. The French love their small general at 9.
Appears the French have sorted it well on their way to sorting their development issues anyway.
Just watched it there with the oul fella. At least it didnât put too much strain on his heart. Was similar to the final in 2016 (I was at it), where we were overpowered, but thereâs a lot more athleticism and intelligence in that french side than there ever is in an English one. France did exactly the same to the tans in the semi final, just blew them away in the second half. Second place in the world is.a remarkable effort all the same. Thatâs a great Irish side. They looked a year a man younger. That gap will narrow as players develop, trouble is, half them will be fucked by the age of 26.
Thought the ref was fair.
The crowds have been appalling throughout for whatever reason Iâm not sure.