6 Nations Tournament 2024: Ireland killed France and the “game”, on the way to history

Grégory Alldritt ou l'image d'un XV de France ceinturé par les Irlandais dans tous les secteurs de jeu. MAXPPP – Guillaume Horcajuelo

La dernière fois qu'une nation a remporté le Grand Chelem deux années d'affilée ? C'était au siècle dernier… 

Is the Six Nations Tournament already over ? Ireland hit so hard from the start on Friday against the XV of France, the other (former) favorite, that # 39;a second consecutive Grand Slam may seem on track, which would be a first in the 21st century.

The graying temples of the new Irish captain Peter O'Mahony betray his age more than his activity on the field, always overflowing. At 34 years old and 102 caps, the emblematic third row had already known everything in the green jersey, but the demonstration at the Vélodrome stadium in Marseille (38-17) immediately took a special place in his album of memories.

It's hard to imagine anything better

"It's hard to ask for anything better", he savored at the end of the meeting. "I said in the locker room that'we had never beaten France by such a large score". It had in fact already happened, with a 24-0 Irish victory over the Blues, but we forgive him: even he was not yet born since we have to go back to 1913.

"I remember, when I was young, watching Ireland play and crossing my fingers for an achievement", shared the Munster player. "It's a different story today".

Since summer 2022, 1 defeat in 19 matches

Placed at the top of a pyramid system which favors selection over club rugby, the XV du Trèfle has in recent years become a relentless winning machine in precise play. Since the summer of 2022, he has lost only one of his last 19 matches: the quarter-final of the 2023 World Cup – his glass ceiling in the competition – against the New -Zealand (28-24), future finalist.

Unlike their French counterparts, taken out at the same stage by South Africa (29-28), the Irish, undoubtedly accustomed by nature, do not have any kept from "hangover", assures their coach Andy Farrell. "The hangover is for the next day", said the English technician.

We obviously learned a lot from this defeat against the All Blacks, but it's not a hangover.

"It's been three months now. We obviously learned a lot from this defeat against the All Blacks, but it's not a hangover. It's just a step in our collective progress". By dominating from the outset, with the offensive bonus point, its main competitor, the second nation in the world rankings put itself on the royal road to the title and # 39;a second consecutive Grand Slam.

The last team to achieve such a double ? France under captain Raphaël Ibanez, in 1998, in the last century therefore, and when the Tournament was still called “five nations”.

No opponent is his size in the Tournament

England (2000-2001 and 2016-2017), France (2006-2007), Wales (2012-2013) and Ireland (2014- 2015) won two years in a row, but without winning all their matches.

At the level shown on Friday in Marseille, the men in green do not seem to have an opponent of their size today in the Northern Hemisphere and their schedule for the following the competition pleads in their favor. They will host three times at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin (Italy, Wales, Scotland) for a single trip, on the penultimate day, to England's field , jostled by the Italians on Saturday (27-24).

"We only won one match", Farrell tried to temper in the basement of the Vélodrome before letting go, for once, of the restraint of circumstance. "We only won one match, but it's not a victory like any other. She deserves to be celebrated". Even if it means risking another hangover.