France gave Ireland a stark reminder of the current hierarchy in the Six Nations on Thursday evening, with Fabian Galthie’s side utterly dominant during the meeting between the two sides in Paris.

Having led 22-0 at halftime, France would take their foot off the gas somewhat in the second half as the visitors produced a more respectable display. Despite this, it hammered home the fact that Ireland seem well off competing in this championship as things stand.

However, some have questioned one particular tactic used by the hosts in this fixture.

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Eddie Jones Wants ‘Crackdown’ On Tactic Used By France Vs Ireland

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France were dominant in every facet of this game, including in the line-out. The French were incredibly efficient in retaining possession from the set-piece.

They were aided in doing so by using some quick deliveries, throwing directly to their player at the front of the line-out before Ireland were able to contest for the ball.

A World Rugby law implemented in 2024 allows teams to throw skewed deliveries into the line-out, as long as the other team did not compete for the ball.

However, the method in which France used the rule in this game, delivering the ball before Ireland were able to properly set, has been questioned by some.

Speaking on the Rugby Unity podcast, Eddie Jones suggested that the way France used the line-out against Ireland was not in the intended spirit of the rule.

France clearly had a tactic to get the ball in as quickly as possible and the simplicity of their lineout stood out. They won the ball, quickly shifted the ball from that point.

I think generally the law is that there’s gotta be a genuine contest for the ball, for the referee to call it not straight, and a genuine contest is on the interpretation of the referee…

I think there’ll be a crackdown on that because you’re supposed to come in set, you’ve gotta allow the opposition to have the opportunity to match up numbers.

So that’s something that’s crept into the game that’s been allowed over a period of time and if again they’re proactive, they’ll have a meeting on the weekend, and say, ‘Right, that’s the end of that. Send out an edict on Monday’ and that should stop.

It’s a great opportunity for World Rugby to show some leadership.

France are not the only team that currently employ such a tactic at the line-out, with these types of deliveries becoming increasingly common in recent times.

It worked a treat against Ireland, although it remains to be seen how long the authorities will allow this approach to be used.

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