France-Ireland clash at the top of a frustrating World Cup

The Blues and Irish are playing the first match of the 2024 edition of the Six Nations tournament, more than three months after they were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the last World Cup.

An opening match that feels like a final. On the night in Marseille, France and Ireland will open the 2024 Six Nations tournament, Friday 2 February, on the pitch of the Velodrome Stadium. A prestigious curtain-raiser has been drawn between the two top European selections, ranked fourth and second respectively in the World Rugby Rankings and who have beaten each other in the tournament’s prize list for the past two years.

But the setback is also a contrast between two of the biggest disappointments of the last World Cup on French soil. Arriving with confidence and with the mantle of potential favorite on their shoulders, the two favorites saw their road end prematurely, in the quarter-finals.

“A great World Cup final”

Before many supporters experienced this brutal result, the poster had the air of a big night meeting, and many supporters were waiting (and hoping) for the two teams to compete for William Webb on 28 October at the Stade de France Meadow. Ellis Trophy. “This is a match that would have made a great World Cup final”The Irish defense coach, Simon Easterby, also expressed regret a week before the reunion in Marseille. “That wasn’t the case, but now we have the consolation prize of facing each other from the start.”

The disappointment in both camps was harder to digest as the two eliminations came at the end of very high-profile protests and memorable scenes. On the French side, the loss to the eventual South African champions and its contested refereeing decisions are still being talked about months later. On the Irish side, we haven’t forgotten the heroics of the “Boys in Green” against the formidable All Blacks, the devastating legs of Jordie Barrett and the tears of Jonathan Sexton.

“We had time to think about it, to understand what happened, to understand how we could have done better.”Simon Easterby said. “I think a lot of (players) were very disappointed and everyone digested it in their own way. For some it was faster, for others it was more difficult and that’s normal.”Paul O’Connell, XV du Trefle’s forwards coach, explained in an interview. Telegraph.

“We want to show that we deserve better”

So these are the two teams in search of renewal and revenge that are returning to the competition and presenting themselves in Marseille.“We want to bounce back with this group and go back to victory.”, assured Francois Cross. With the opportunity to start over on a new footing and move forward, as Romain Taophifenua appreciated: “We can finally turn the page. We are starting from scratch and we want to show that we deserved better.”. For French scrum coach William Servet, the blues are essential “Use the frustration of this defeat” for “Get ready for a great nation” which is in their way.

Because, beyond the specter of this October evening in Saint-Denis, the Blues will cross swords with a respectable, well-established selection. And that too in search “Redemption”In the words ofThe Irish SunYet she doesn’t want that aspect to define her match. “That will be the story about the World Cup, the fact that no team has progressed to the quarter-finals. But that is not our concern. Our concern is to find a way to beat a very good team.”Simon Easterby explained. Enough to set the stage for the encounter that will be played in Marseille on Friday evening.