Ireland began their Six Nations campaign in a hugely impressive manner this evening, defeating France on 38-17 scoreline in Marseille.
It was a brilliant performance from Andy Farrell's side, who were completely dominant even before the hosts were reduced to 14 men in the first half.
The Irish fans will certainly be pleased with their team's performance, although they couldn't help but come away from the game with a few questions about whoever was controlling the television broadcast in France.
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Fans call out French TV director in Ireland Six Nations clash
French TV directors have a certain reputation when it comes to fixtures involving teams from their country.
They quite often fail to show replays of incidents that could incriminate some of their players. In contrast, they seem to have no issue producing the footage when it might favour their lads.
This evening's game in Marseille was an absolute prime example of that dynamic in action.
Throughout the Six Nations game between France and Ireland, there were some questionable decisions made by the French party in charge of the television pictures.
There was an early example of that in the first half, where there was a mysterious lack of replays of a potential intentional knock-on from a French player, one that could well have resulted in a penalty try had it been spotted by the officials.
Quite a few Irish fans picked up on it at the time.
Haha French director strikes again
— Three Red Kings (@threeredkings) February 2, 2024
No replay from the French director 😂
— Thom Malone (@thom_malone) February 2, 2024
However, they certainly had no issue showing quite a few replays when they felt that France were set to benefit.
One example included a potential tackle in the air by Jack Crowley, one that was initially waved away by the referee. Ireland were set to have a line-out near the French line, but after the director showed numerous replays of the incident, a penalty was eventually given to the hosts.
French TV director take a bow for the multiple replays of the high ball from Crowley #FRAvIRE
— Danny O Brien 📻️⚽️🏉📖 (@DannyEdoBrien) February 2, 2024
That would prove to be a big call.
France would go straight down the other end of the pitch to score their second try of the game, but not without another helping hand from the French television director.
Referee Karl Dickson felt that Peter O'Mahony had brought down a French maul, then asking the TMO to check the grounding of a potential try soon after.
However, when they attempted to view the potential try, the TV director insisted on repeatedly showing the footage of the collapsed maul. At this point, even the officials were growing tired of their shenanigans, with the TMO Ben Whitehouse repeatedly saying they were not the images he had requested.
Ben Whitehouse is all of us when it comes to French TV directors.
“I’ve told the director this is not what I want (whilst shaking his head)”#GuinnessSixNations— Tight Five Rugby (@TightFive_Rugby) February 2, 2024
They would eventually be given the correct images, although they the refereeing team were unhappy with how they were presented.
Should this French try have been awarded?#FRAvIRE | #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/b0d9omWtGV
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 2, 2024
Thankfully from an Irish perspective, Andy Farrell's side would go on to put the result beyond all doubt in the final 20 minutes as they ran out as bonus point winners.
In saying that, quite a few people will remember this fixture for the performance of the French TV director.
French tv director ignoring TMO Ben Whitehouse. No comments please😂😂😂
— Jonathan Davies OBE (@JiffyRugby) February 2, 2024
French TV director takes orders from nobody 😂😂😂
— Thala Msutu (@ThalaMsutu77) February 2, 2024
The French should never be allowed to be be TV Director in the rugby they're an absolute farce
— ~ 🇵🇸 (@feeahkra) February 2, 2024
French tv director messing around again
— Eoin M N 🇮🇪🇪🇺🇵🇸 (@MacL0ve) February 2, 2024
This result makes Ireland the strong favourites to win the Six Nations, although they still have some stern tests to come over the next few weeks.
They will just be thankful that they don't have to play another game in France during this championship.
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