Best ignores hype as Paris test looms large
Ireland captain warns against complacency Schmidt hopes Sexton will be better protected
Ireland captain Rory Best has warned his team not to believe their own hype, reminding them that the Irish have won just twice in 45 years in Paris and stressing that they will have to earn victory today over a “dangerous” France side.
Best courted controversy this week by choosing to attend the trial of Ulster team-mates Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding, who have been charged with rape. But the experienced hooker, who will be winning his 107th cap at the Stade de France, refused to explain that decision. Ireland team-mates Iain Henderson and Craig Gilroy – the latter of whom is injured – were also there.
Best chose instead to stress the dangers of complacency, with Ireland having won just twice in Paris since 1972, both times by two points, in 2000 and 2014. “The favourites tag isn’t something we talk about,” Best said at the pre-match press conference. “We give the opposition the respect they deserve, we treat each opposition as they come and we look hard and make sure we study them.
“Our record here isn’t very good over some 40 years and that’s because it’s a tough place to come.”
France have been a shadow of their former selves in recent seasons, but their record in the years following Lions tours is very good. They won the Six Nations title in 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010.
With a new head coach in Jacques Brunel – who has taken over from the sacked Guy Noves – and an uncapped teenage flyhalf in Bordeaux’s Matthieu Jalibert, there is an element of unpredictability about them.
Asked if France were a team that scared Ireland, Best replied: “Absolutely. Especially when you look at the way the French clubs perform in Europe and their quality. We know how dangerous they are. They just go out and they play, and they play with confidence.”
Ireland’s back row of Peter O’mahony, Josh van der Flier and CJ Stander are likely to put 19 yearold Jalibert under serious pressure, although it is Ireland fly half Johnny Sexton who has traditionally been targeted in this fixture.
The Leinster No 10 limped off after a couple of late challenges in the 10-9 defeat in Paris in 2016. Ireland’s head coach Joe Schmidt said he hoped referee Nigel Owens would protect his star player today.
“I think the officials are trying really hard to protect all 30 people on the pitch,” Schmidt said. “I think it’s been ramped up since we were involved two years ago. We hope with the referee we’ve got that it won’t even enter into the fray.”
Best said Ireland’s three Six Nations debutants – New Zealandborn centre Bundee Aki, lock James Ryan and wing Jacob Stockdale – would need to step up if Ireland were to avoid a defeat that would seriously threaten their hopes of wresting the Six Nations title from England.
“At this stage they are probably are a little bit unaware as to the magnitude of the game, to come to the Stade de France, the atmosphere, the microscope you’re under in the Six Nations,” Best said. “Sometimes not knowing what’s coming is a good thing, there’s less for you to fear.”