By Tadhg Peavoy
Ireland winger Tommy Bowe has echoed the thoughts of many pundits this week by saying that his team has plenty more in the tank in terms of creativity ahead of this weekend’s RBS 6 Nations clash with France.
Ireland are tipped to open up and spread the ball against France and Bowe says that coach Joe Schmidt was partially happy with the performance against Italy, but that there are work-ons ahead of the clash with Les Bleus.
“I suppose the gameplan, Joe would have been happy with it in some respects. But there were opportunities there that we would have let go of,” Bowe told RTÉ Sport.
“I never want to be not touching the ball. I always want to be attacking and get the ball in my hands and to threaten. For me personally, of course it was a good team performance. To come away with the result I’d be delighted with.
“But there’s still a huge amount we could improve on and gain on going forward.”
In terms of Ireland building during the championship, Bowe casts those notions aside and says Schmidt wants his team firing from day one.
"I always want to be attacking and get the ball in my hands and to threaten"
“That’s something that Joe doesn’t let go. He feels that we should be at the pinnacle of our powers in the first game never mind the last one. So I think that we always have to look at things to improve on. You always want work-ons going into a game,” said the 30-year-old.
“It’s a massive match against the French. If we are going to fire against the talent and players that they have, then we’re going to have be at the top of our game.”
Les Bleus wingers Yoann Huget and Teddy Thomas will be focal points of France’s attack on Saturday (5pm) and Bowe knows full well that if they are given half a chance then they can be lethal.
“I think that the one thing about them is at times you think have them contained and are on the back foot. And then they have a bit of brilliance or a bouncing ball and they’re off. You really have to be at the top of your game and you can’t switch off,” said Bowe.
Thomas is a player in particular that Bowe rates.
“He seems a pretty classy player all right. Johnny [Sexton] plays with him and has talked about him,” said the former Ospreys player.
“I’ll do my research and we’ll look at him. You have Wesley Fofana. You have Bastareud playing fantastically well.
“They do really have some outstanding individuals.”
The one prediction that the rugby world has been singing in unison this week is that the game in Dublin will be a close battle and Bowe feels no different.
“In the last five games we’ve played it’s been a one-score game. They’re always so difficult for us. And I think they’ll be excited about coming over to Dublin and giving us a really good game,” said the Ulster man.
The Monaghan man also tipped Sexton to start at the weekend and that the full gauge on his fitness can’t be made until the match has started and the out-half has been thrown in at the deep end.
“The way Johnny has trained this week he looks very sharp. I guess it’s been a mini pre-season for him. He’s been able to get some fitness work done,” said Bowe.
“Time will tell how his lungs go, the sort of athlete Johnny is it hasn’t bothered him in the past.”
