‘Dominated & Powerless’ – French Media React To Irish Defeat
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In the aftermath of France’s 24-9 loss to Ireland at Millennium Stadium yesterday, the French media offered little sympathy to Les Bleus.
After Ireland’s heroics in Cardiff, they set their sights on Philippe Saint Andre and co before pulling the trigger.
In L’Equipe, the headline read roughly as dominated by Ireland, who quickly lost Sexton.
Le Monde described the French effort as ‘feverish and clumsy.’ In the same pages, the former national team coach Marc Lievremont wrote that France must launch their ‘commando operation’ if they wish to overcome the All Blacks in the quarter-final.
Strange metaphors aside, he lamented the fact that he never thought Ireland would ‘stifle’ this France XV.
Despite their side having a more than adequate history when it comes to New Zealand- remember the quarter final of 2007- most pages had little hope France could repeat the feat.
Le Figaro hailed France’s valiant defence, before labelling them as powerless against Joe Schmidt’s side which carries a punishment of a showdown with the ‘invincible All Blacks.’
