Shaun Edwards shows true colours as incident at full time goes viral
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France stormed into Six Nations title contention with a 42-27 demolition of Ireland, but don't tell Shaun Edwards to celebrate.
Find your local Greene King pub and settle in for the 2025 Six Nations!
The defence guru was livid, even as head coach Fabien Galthié basked in the triumph.
Galthié attempted to embrace his right-hand man after the final whistle, but Edwards' glare could have stopped traffic. His frustration? France leaked late tries, a cardinal sin in his book.
Defensive dominance—until it wasn't
Experts still lauded France's defensive efforts. Pundit Murray Kinsella credited Edwards for setting his side up perfectly:
"Edwards had players in perfect place to constantly win collisions and never give up on anything. French 22 defence in opening 16 minutes was arguably the winning of the game."
Meanwhile, The Sunday Times' David Walsh called him the "architect" of the victory. High praise—but probably not enough to improve Edwards' mood.
U2, Thin Lizzy, and a pre-match ritual like no other
Edwards had hyped the Dublin trip as "the ultimate challenge in the northern hemisphere." His unique preparation? An Irish-inspired playlist and a throwback to old-school boxing.
"I have been listening to U2 and Thin Lizzy all week. It was a pleasure to watch Steve Collins fights from the 1990s, so I am ready."
Lions reunion on the horizon?
Edwards could soon be swapping blue for red. With his former rugby league teammate Andy Farrell leading the British & Irish Lions to Australia in 2025, a return to the famous touring side isn't out of the question.
"I'd swim it to Australia if Faz gives me a shout," he joked. "I know that if you're in good form, then you have a chance. That probably means winning the Six Nations."
If France keep delivering, Edwards might not need to swim—Farrell could be calling soon.
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Eight Players Who Flopped in Round Four of the Six Nations
The fourth round of the 2025 Six Nations saw England overpower Italy 47-24 at Twickenham, France reign supreme in a 42-27 victory over Ireland in Dublin, and Scotland edge past Wales 35-29 in a thriller at Murrayfield.
Despite the thrilling action, several players underperformed. Here's a summary of the eight who struggled, with quotes from the key publications.
#1. Ellis Genge (England)
Planet Rugby: “Again, didn't get to do much scrummaging but on the whole was fine. Carried hard when given the chance and got about in defence.”
Telegraph: “Probably his quietest performance of the Championship so far. Won an early scrum penalty but then got pinged for sealing off right in front of the posts.”
Mail Online: Warned for protesting with referee in the first half after being penalised for sealing off. Added a couple of trademark carries in attack.
Evening Standard: “Warned by the referee for his reaction to giving away a contentious late first-half penalty as he had too much to say for himself. Not his best day otherwise but useful in the loose.”
#2. Peter O’Mahony (Ireland)
UCK 4/10: “One last home run-out for the veteran. Will be disappointed with his work rate as his side fell apart shortly after he departed for Conan.”
Rugby Pass 5/10: “The mind is willing but the body was struggling to keep up. Fell off Antoine Dupont for France's first try and looked a yard or two off the pace throughout, although there was no lack of industry, grit or heart from the Munster veteran.”
Planet Rugby 5/10: “ucky to get away with a few infringements with some rather kind officiating. But the rub of the green went the other way for a crucial call with many claiming that he attempted to milk a penalty. Again a real weapon at the lineout. It's not the result the Ireland legend deserved in his final home outing but it wasn't his best showing either.”
Balls 5/10: “Did well in the lineout but game roared past him on a few occasions. Was taken out before the Boudehent try but Angus Gardner opted to ignore.”
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