SIMON EASTERBY acknowledged that his Ireland side to face France is “horses for courses”.
And that does not just go for his beefy bench where he has picked six forwards rather than the traditional five to combat France selecting seven.
It also goes for his big back three that can all catch and kick – as well as run and pass – with the best of them.
Jamie Osborne is the surprise inclusion on the right wing for Ireland as he teams up with full back Hugo Keenan and left wing Jamie Lowe in an all-Leinster back three.
Easterby’s decision was made easier by Mack Hansen’s quad injury though Osborne is favoured to Calvin Nash who is normally the wing understudy.
Nash, a natural winger, faced Scotland when Hansen was out, and scored the game’s opening try.
France though, are a different beast to the Scots. And Easterby acknowledged that Osborne’s versatility got him the nod as he selected just two backs on his bench.
But he also acknowledged that Osborne’s game also got him the edge.
He is 6ft 4in and is more often a full back, which will come in handy given France ace Antoine Dupont’s penchant for crossfield kicks to his flying wingers.
Such kicks will be nothing new for Osborne, nor Keenan and Lowe, in a back line that are good under the high ball whether catching French kicks or chasing their own.
Easterby said: “We’ve had a real focus in this Six Nations around that part of the game, not just the receiving of kicks but the chasing of kicks.
“I think the way the laws have changed a little bit around the protection of the receiver means there’s more access.
“So, inevitably, you need guys who are very good in the air, both the receiver and trying to attack the ball in a chase.
“I think that would always be part of the mix in our decision making around those guys on the edges and in the backfield.”
Ireland’s interest to adapting to the new rules that have made high fielding a bigger part of the game saw them do a session with former Dublin GAA star Brian Fenton.
And it paid off in the win over Wales when Osborne scored a try after Lowe batted down a high crossfield kick from Jamison Gibson-Park in a pre-planned move.
But that victory in Cardiff now sets Ireland up for a game tomorrow that, even with two games to go, looks like the Six Nations decider.
France cannot afford any slip up having already lost to England while Ireland are going for the Grand Slam.
But France’s points differential would put them in pole position to win the Championship should they win tomorrow.
And Easterby knows that will feed into a huge occasion at the Aviva Stadium.
He added: “It gives the players an extra edge. It gives them another metre.
“I think it does, it creates something that allows, they feel like they want to go and they’re striving to do something special.
“I think the Irish public will know the magnitude of what’s at stake and those that are lucky enough to come to the stadium will I’m sure as well, and that will create an atmosphere.
“But we’ve also got to make sure that they’ve got something to get their teeth into as well.”
