France grind out win over Ireland

France overturned a 9-3 half-time deficit to grind out a 10-9 win over Ireland in Paris and make it two RBS Six Nations win out of two.

Three Jonny Sexton penalties put Ireland into the lead of a scrappy, dull match which saw France only muster one penalty through Jules Plisson in the first half.

After a scoreless third quarter, Maxime Medard scored the only try of the afternoon following a series of scrums underneath Ireland's posts and Plisson's conversion put the home side ahead for the first time.

There was to be no further scoring and France, for the second week in a row, held on to take a narrow win that leaves them on top of the early table and Ireland's chances of defending their title all but over.

Ireland missed a host of opportunities in the first half, and their misery at losing Sean O'Brien, Dave Kearney, Mike McCarthy and Sexton to injury was compounded as France took their chances.

Yacouba Camara conceded an early ruck penalty, only for Ireland to lose the resulting lineout. Robbie Henshaw then took a fine high ball only for Ireland to squander the platform it set up.

Ireland punted another penalty to the corner, only for Henshaw to knock on amid heavy midfield traffic from France's rush defence. A series of knock-ons from both sides characterised the early exchanges in the wet conditions.

Ireland had the early edge in the scrum and they won a penalty only to see Rob Kearney turned over.

CJ Stander won a turnover of his own to put Ireland on the front foot, but Jared Payne took the wrong option in refusing what could have proved the scoring pass to Trimble.

Referee Jaco Peyper brought play back for a late hit on Sexton however, and Ireland's fly-half duly posted the penalty to open the scoring.

Shortly after, O'Brien then left the field, suffering a leg injury, to be replaced by Tommy O'Donnell.

More Ireland attacks ended in errors, but France were no less sloppy with ball in hand.

Dave Kearney was withdrawn after suffering what appeared an illegal high hit, his left shoulder causing him serious trouble.

Sexton landed Ireland's second penalty while Fergus McFadden was replacing Kearney, to push Ireland 6-0 ahead.

France then got on the the scoreboard, as Plisson bisected the posts after Devin Toner infringed.

Plisson then shanked a drop-goal attempt and Ireland were in trouble when McCarthy headed off to be replaced by Donnacha Ryan.

Sexton then landed a third penalty to put Ireland 9-3 ahead.

Ireland conceded another needless penalty from the restart, only for Plisson to drag his shot at goal wide.

France made changes early in the second half with props Rabah Slimani and Eddy Ben Arous coming on after just four minutes as they looked to make headway in the scrum.

Ireland had dominated the set-piece up to that point, but the fresh legs and lungs of the new arrivals allowed Les Bleus to blast back at the next scrum.

Sexton's superlative punt to the corner forced France to hand Ireland a fine attacking lineout, but again the visitors coughed up the ball cheaply after punching the line.

France broke at pace from a turnover, only for Camara to throw forward out of the tackle as the Stade de France crowd found its voice.

Rob Kearney and Henshaw both knocked on attempting to retrieve Sexton's high bomb in France's 22 as another opportunity was lost by the men in green.

France cleared their lines and would not be seriously threatened by the Irish for the remainder of the match.

Plisson got past Ireland's first line of defence as France pressed, only for Trimble to retreat and make a vital intercept to stem the danger.

Lock McCarthy, who had returned after a first-half blood injury, was then carried from the field on a stretcher after a nasty clash of heads with team-mate Jack McGrath.

When play resumed, France punted a kickable penalty to the corner, scenting blood.

They pounded away at the Irish line and thought they had scored through Damien Chouly only for the TMO and Peyper to rule against him with no clear evidence that he had touched down.

It handed France a five-metre scrum and after three scrum penalties, they attempted to go wide, after which Sexton suffered a bang to the head and was replaced by Ian Madigan.

Back came the packs for the fourth scrum and this time France got the ball out quickly, moving it to Medard to score under the posts.

Plisson landed an easy conversion to give them full reward for their set-piece dominance.

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