Ireland v France talking points: Sam Prendergast's lack of physicality will be a target

Defending champions Ireland face France at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday in what is effectively a championship and Grand Slam decider in one. 

French flair

Only for the last-ditch 26-25 defeat at Twickenham France would be favourites on Saturday, due to the devastating manner in which they dismantled both Wales and Italy in their other two ties.

They won those games by 43-0 and 24-73 with 18 tries coming in those matches.

When on form they can use power, they can use pace. They can use guile too. And utilise a world-class kicking game to get at defences. Ireland will certainly have earned it if they come out the right side of this one.

France have been waiting over 12 months to get revenge for the 38-17 defeat in Marseille last year, although Ireland should go into this thinking they have France’s number, as they have comfortably beaten Fabien Galthie’s troops in the past two seasons.

The Prendergast channel

There is no doubting the play-making abilities of Ireland’s 22-year-old out-half Sam Prendergast.

He can fling flat passes out wide and send spiral kicks down each touchline. 

Yet the evidence so far suggests that he does not yet have the physicality required for this level, and France are likely to target that on Saturday.

Two tackles missed against England jumped to five against Scotland and then to a huge eight against Wales, as opposition coaches have started to figure out ways of getting at the Leinster youngster.

He is on target to break the record of most missed tackles in a Six Nations season, requiring five more, and if France get at him it could be the rock that Ireland’s Grand Slam hopes flounder on.

Simon Easterby will no doubt have plans in place to protect the precociously talented Prendergast without the ball, but that in turn might have the unintended consequence of leaving holes elsewhere in the Irish defensive line, as too much focus is placed upon protecting the No10.

Jack Crowley is a far more accomplished and robust defender, but he's seen so few minutes at 10 in the championship means Ireland effectively made their bed at fly-half now. 

They will have to lie in it, regardless of the potential damage.

Final fling

Ireland’s last game in the championship will hopefully be an actual Grand Slam decider in Rome next weekend, but in more ways than one this is the big one, with it also being the final time we get to see Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray and Cian Healy in Irish colours on home soil.

All three have been wonderful servants for their country, but time waits for no man. It would be the perfect send-off if Ireland could secure victory on Saturday to all but seal the Six Nations title.