Fabien Galthié knew it. Which of the two teams, both ejected and equally mortified from the World Cup, would bounce back the fastest? Unstoppable.
On Friday, in Marseille, the Shamrock players imposed their mastery, their enthusiasm, their determination against the lackluster and disoriented French team, bordering on a depressive state. Not really helped, it is true, by the game plan praised and oversold by the coach. “*We have favored fought intensity over run intensity*” he had announced before the match.
Let’s overlook the pseudo-scientific jargon to highlight the audacity of the decision. Did the Irish choose to emphasize one component of a rugby match over another? Obviously not.
They contented themselves with being present in all areas…