France repel late Irish surge
13 Feb 2011
RYAN VREDE reports on France’s impressive 25-22 victory over Ireland in Dublin.
The Test was an advert for a style of play that is possible in the northern hemisphere when the attacking team is allowed a fair crack at recycling. This has seldom been the case, with referees generally way too lenient and defenders all too willing to exploit that generosity, making for a dour spectacle.
The manner in which Ireland started – patient controlled phase play at pace – suggested they would dominate. A fourth minute converted try from Fergus McFadden after cavalier play from France in their red zone had the home crowd buzzing, but their ill-discipline cost them thereafter, with France scrumhalf Morgan Parra sinking four penalties for a 12-10 lead.
France must be credited. They remedied their early defensive failings and starved the hosts of possession. They were hardly incisive on attack, with much of their play taking place well behind the gain line, but it was enough to temporarily subdue their opponents.
That was until the dying stages of the first half when scrumhalf Tomas O’Leary sniped around the ruck fringe to score after they again depleted the defensive line through multiple phases. Sexton missed the conversion, the half ending with Ireland 15-12 ahead.
Parra banked his fifth penalty to level the scores, and minutes later Maxime Medard rounded off a slick backline movement – set up by an Aurelie Rougerie linebreak – to give France the momentum going into the final quarter.
Ireland were visibly shaken and failed to replicate the elements of their first half effort that had brought success. France sensed this, redoubling their defensive effort.
Replacement scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili kicked a crucial 63rd minute penalty, but Ireland set up a tense finish when Jamie Heaslip scored in the corner four minutes later. Ronan O’Gara kicked the touchline conversion. Ireland’s best chance at victory came with a minute to go, but a knock on saw there ambitions crushed.
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11 Comments
13 Feb 2011, 18:57 pm
Unlucky Ireland. Great game of rugby.
13 Feb 2011, 19:00 pm
france were impressive but got outscored three tries to one so there is still lots of hard work ahead of them.
13 Feb 2011, 19:01 pm
Outstanding game of rugby, Ireland really should have scored there at end, don’t think enough support was up there fast enough.
13 Feb 2011, 19:07 pm
the irish could not muster together that great legendary ira spirit of days gone by to get them over the line but there is lots to take out of the game for kidney to work with.at least they did not disgrace themselves at home unlike those scots yesterday.
13 Feb 2011, 20:21 pm
Well done France.
Ref kept you in it in the first half but you showed grit to close it out.
13 Feb 2011, 21:30 pm
If you don’t like French rugby, you don’t like rugby
13 Feb 2011, 21:35 pm
what does uhuru mean? i heared that it means that all black ppl’s mothers are a “huru” = hoer in afrikaans
13 Feb 2011, 22:10 pm
Good game of rugby, not too sure how the writer of this article can say that France were impressive! They took their chances, but will be klapped by the poms, if they play like they did against the Irish and the poms keep improving!
14 Feb 2011, 01:57 am
The French goal-kicking was worryingly good, from distance too.
14 Feb 2011, 07:52 am
France looked good – the question is can they keep the same team and pattern through to the WC – your guess is as good as mine.
14 Feb 2011, 12:03 pm
Big Hit – MM very very good. I don’t know how the French do it but they seem to produce quality flyhalves and scrummies regularly. Parra’s kicking was outstanding and Yachvilli is no mug either, another player who should have been at RWC2007!!
The French pack is another facity of their game that is brilliant!!
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