Simon Easterby believes it's a "misconception" that Jacques Nienaber's aggressive defensive system at Leinster has made it harder for their players to adapt back to Ireland’s style of play.
Nienaber is now in his third season at the province since joining in December 2023, bringing with him the famous blitz defence that helped win two World Cups with South Africa in 2019 and 2023.
A high-risk, high-reward gameplan, that defensive system has looked sensational at times during Nienaber’s tenure, but the nature of that aggressive linespeed means that when it’s gone wrong, it’s been brutally punished.
With Leinster being the bulk suppliers to the Ireland national side, it’s noteworthy that the province now have a different style of approach behind the ball compared to Ireland, and there have been suggestions that some of Ireland’s defensive lapses in the last 18 months can be attributed a clash between the two styles, with players needing to change their mindset on 'D’ when they step into Irish camp.
But Easterby, Ireland’s defence coach, doesn’t believe it’s a major issue.
"I think there's a bit of a misconception around that," he said, ahead of Thursday’s Guinness Six Nations opener away to France in Paris.
"I think our defence benefits from all the provinces in terms of what they do, and they've all got slight nuances within their defensive system."
While the Ireland assistant admitted there are differences between the various systems, it’s on them to make it work.
"Maybe, one system is slightly more different than another, but no one's completely aligned.
"We can't use that as an excuse. It's really about the individuals and how they prepare to play in an Irish jersey, and we'll take good bits from all of the different provinces in terms of the defence and the attack, and we always have done.
"I like the fact that they do things sometimes slightly differently to us, because when they [the players] come into us, it's a nice little challenge."
Easterby’s defence will need to be aligned at Stade de France on Thursday night if they’re to avoid a repeat of their crushing defeat to the French a year ago.
Fabien Galthie’s side were 42-27 winners at Aviva Stadium last March, with two late Irish tries putting some respectability on the scoreboard.
Romain Ntamack was conducting the French backline that day, but the Toulouse out-half will miss this week’s clash in Paris with a knee injury, Bordeaux-Begles' Mathieu Jalibert (below) expected to step into the 10 shirt.
"I think whoever steps up at first receiver, whether it be [Thomas] Ramos, Jalibert - obviously Ntamack won't be doing that against us - you have to have the ability to defend that player but there's so many other threats, isn’t there, in their team.
"I think that's the challenge of playing any French side. Our ability to shut them down, take away time and space, that's what they thrive on.
"They'll gain energy from offloads and creating opportunities but our challenge is to make sure that we're nicely connected and we keep going after them and don't give them the opportunities that Jalibert, in particular, and Ramos have shown during the last few months in Europe," the Ireland assistant added.
While Easterby insists his side can’t be fixated on any one player in the French team, their hopes of a win on Thursday night will be heavily dependent on how they handle scrum-half Antoine Dupont.
Two years ago, the French looked lost without their leader when Ireland hammered them 38-17 in Marseille, and they blew hot and cold in November as they waited for Dupont to get back to fitness after an ACL injury, picked up against Ireland last season.
Eight games into his comeback, the Toulouse star is looking back to his best, with five tries scored in that time.
And Easterby believes his return provides an "exciting" challenge for the Irish defence.
"I think there's been plenty of speculation around who's the best player in the world over the last few weeks and there's always a debate around those types of players.
"France probably were lucky that they've had a couple of very good nines to step up when Dupont has been away but he's a heartbeat of their team.
"He makes their team tick and he makes things happen. That's just him as a player.
"He probably breeds a bit of confidence in their ranks but that for us is an exciting challenge, and I think it's one that if it was keeping me up at night then I'd be in the wrong place.
"I think that's what playing in the Six Nations is all about, you get the chance to play against some of the best players in the world in some of the best environments and the best stadiums.
"No better place to be," he said.
Follow a live blog of France v Ireland in the Guinness Six Nations (Thursday, 8.10pm) on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app, or listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
