BRIAN O’Driscoll is already surprised by one aspect of France and Ireland’s Aviva Stadium date as Les Bleus have gone with a 7:1 split.
Fabein Galthie did so in the previous round as they demolished Italy in Rome by 73-24.
France are clearly going to attempt to bludgeon their way to victory once again[/caption]
And it’s now become apparent he was using that Stadio Olympico outing as a trial run with Dublin in mind.
Speaking on Off the Ball before the two starting teams were named, Ireland’s record try-scorer reckoned it’d be too extreme an approach for France to go with.
He predicted: “I think it will be a 6-2 and we’ll need to go 6-2 ourselves.
“It just feels like a really, really nice amalgamation of different qualities that is going to make our game against them hopefully one for the ages.
“I think they probably knew that they could do that against Italy. I can’t see them going 7-1 against Ireland, I can’t see it.
“It’s a big risk. I think they always felt that if they needed to, they could play [Oscar] Jegou or they could play [Paul] Boudehent out in the centres against Italy and they would have too much firepower.”
It turns out he was half-right as Simon Easterby did settle on a 6:2 split of forwards to backs on the Ireland bench.
Jamie Osborne is a surprise inclusion in the starting line-up as he’ll deputise for the injured Mack Hansen on the right wing.
Munster’s Calvin Nash got the nod when Hansen missed the Scotland game four weeks ago.
But Osborne, who lined up at fullback for Ireland a fortnight ago against Wales and has started on the wing – always the left – just four times in his career on this occasion has been picked.
But interim head coach Easterby admitted that Osborne’s versatility swung it in his favour as the Leinster man can cover five positions.
And that is key as Ireland have responded to France putting seven forwards on their bench to unleash a fresh pack in the second half by selecting six forwards, and just two backs.
Easterby said: “Sometimes there’s really tight calls and it’s just the gut, but in this case there’s a couple of reasons for that.
“And one of those is that Jamie offers us more flexibility in the positions he can play.
“He gives us that coverage across the backline, in terms of the flexibility to go a 6:2 split.
“He’s done pretty well so far across the short international career he’s had. He’s a fabulous footballer, first and foremost.
“He’s got a physical presence and he’s also got a really smart rugby brain. He understands the game and the feel of the game.
“So we’ve got a bit of flexibility there in terms of his positioning, a flexibility to move him around a little bit in certain parts of the field so we can utilise his left, but he’s also got a right foot as well.
“So there’s a bit of flexibility within the system that would allow us to utilise him and Hugo in different positions.”
OTHER OPTIONS
Osborne – who is naturally left footed – will likely switch with full back Hugo Keenan at times during the game while the pair, plus James Lowe give Ireland a back three who can kick well.
The rest of the starting XV is largely along expected lines with Garry Ringrose’s suspension meaning Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw are in midfield, with Sam Prendergast and Jamison Gibson-Park at halfback.
Tadhg Furlong has not been considered as he returns from a calf injury which means Finlay Bealham wins his 50th cap in the front row alongside Dan Sheehan and Andrew Porter.
And captain Caelan Doris returns to the back row with the rest of the pack unchanged from the win in Cardiff a fortnight ago.
