Six Nations 2014: Key Battles That Will Decide France vs. Ireland

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: March 13, 2014

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Heading into the final weekend of this year's Six Nations championship, we have three teams left in the running to claim Europe's most coveted title.

While England attempt to close the gap in points difference against Italy, France and Ireland collide at the Stade de France in the hopes of producing a tournament victor.

Joe Schmidt's men are the best-placed team to bring home the trophy, currently leading the pack as a result of their attacking mentality over the last seven weeks. Read on for a breakdown of those one-on-one encounters that will decide the tie in Paris.

 

Remi Tales vs. Jonny Sexton



Philippe Saint-Andre has placed his faith in Stade Francais youngster Jules Plisson for the competition thus far, but it's Remi Tales who takes his place in Les Bleus' No. 10 jersey this week.

And there are few greater tests of the fly-half's international mettle than Jonny Sexton, who's been at his controlled and tactically pragmatic best over the last month-and-a-half.



England's full-throttle approach was able to prevent the Leinster man from having his optimum impact at Twickenham three weeks ago, but France aren't the same tactically sound outfit as Stuart Lancaster's counterparts, irrespective of their own defeat in Week 1.

Tales comes into the side looking to forge a sound understanding with scrum-half Maxime Machenaud, and the Castres playmaker will need to match Sexton's territory kicking if his side are to be given a strong enough platform to attack from in their curtain call.

 

Dimitri Szarzewski vs. Rory Best



Dimitri Szarzewski is another figure who didn't start this championship as one of Saint-Andre's leading men, but the hooker has maintained his place in the starting XV since Week 2, save for an ankle injury ruling him out of the fourth-round win over Scotland.

The Ra...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Rugby Union

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