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The Clincher™ sounds like many things. A terrible series of action films starring Jason Statham (my personal favourite is The Clincher 5: All Clinch, No Flinch), the finishing move of a mid-level WWE Superstar, or perhaps a nickname that James Haskell gave himself that everyone refuses use. It’s also absolutely the right description for today’s match between the tournament’s big two with the outcome pretty much deciding where the trophy ends up next week.
Ireland enter proceedings undefeated and with the dual advantages of a home tie with a more settled side and more even form than the French visitors, but neither team have shown their absolute best so far. Simon Easterby’s men are uneven in attack with a new “kick-first” plan jointly conducted by Jamison Gibson-Park and his favourite child Sam Prendergast; while Fabien Galthie has given off vibes more muddled than his optician’s recommendations with selection, gameplan, plus – whisper it – Shaun Edwards’s much vaunted defence is misfiring.
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