Ireland 22 - 25 France
A game with many mistakes, Ireland and France traded punches with each other but France just came out on top at the end.
With Jamie Heaslip returning for Ireland Sean O'Brien got moved to blindside flanker for Ireland. Apart from that one change there wasn't much different about Ireland.
First Half
Ireland started the game very well with wave of attacks after each other, the atmosphere was increasing in the Aviva with ruck after ruck Sean O'Brien running into the French forwards. After an Irish line out Gordon D'Arcy passed to stand in full back Luke Fitzgerald who is normally a winger for Ireland. He gets the ball and dives over the line but the pass was forward from Gordon D'Arcy. Although straight after Clement Poitrenaud knocks the ball on forward and Leinster player Fergus McFadden collects the ball and dives over the line for his first Ireland Elite points. Jonathan Sexton converts the kicks. Ireland 5-0 France. Strangely the ever reliable Damien Traille makes a horrible go of the restart with it barely even making the halfway line, you'll never see that again from Traille. France gave Ireland a go with some forwards trying to barge their way through the Irish defence but 35 year old David Wallace gives a penalty away for not releasing the tackler. Morgan Parra duly converts the penalty Ireland 7-3 France.
Ireland get a penalty through France collasping at the scrum, not like France they are known for their strong front row. Jonathan Sexton converts the penalty to make it Ireland 10 - 3 France, a very good start for Ireland. Good work by Cian Healy gets the ball back to the Ireland backs with O'Leary throwing a terrible pass to McFadden and Ireland concede a penalty at the breakdown, Ireland need to sort out their discipline. Morgan Parra converts the penalty again, he never looks like he is going to miss it. Ireland 10 - 6 France, Tomas O'Leary gets penalised for not rolling away from a tackle therefore another penalty is succesfully taken by Morgan Parra Ireland 10-9 France.
Poor stuff by Ireland, they are playing into France's hands without France having to break a sweat. Ireland have a good chance of an counter attack but Tomas O'Leary kicks the ball into touch and puts his hand up as an apology. Tomas O'Leary is already having an extremely poor game. Donncha O'Callaghan gives away a penalty and Parra bangs it through the posts again Ireland 10-12 France when will Ireland learn? Harinordoquy runs into no mans land with no support, Ireland turn the ball over and Sexton kicks a lovely ball into the corner that just got the Aviva Stadium going again.
Good work from the Irish line out with Sexton taking the ball into contact and Ireland exploit the overlap on the other side of the pitch but O'Leary runs the ball in, the least deserving try ever for a player. Sexton misses the conversion. Ireland 15 - 12 France.
Second Half
The kicking fans would be happy ping pong starts between Ireland and France, but Luke Fitzgerald kicks it out on the full and France get a line out in Ireland's 22. Trinh-Duc sits in the pocket waiting to take a drop kick but the impressive Sean O'Brien thwarts his attempt and blocks it, Ireland get the ball away quickly. Strangely Morgan Parra gets a penalty given against him for rolling the ball into the scrum with one hand, i've never seen that before.......interesting.
Paul O'Connell gets penalised for not rolling away after tackling the French Captain. Parra kicks the ball through the posts Ireland 15 - 15 France all is level now. Ireland look sharper than the French but poor discipline is allowing the French back into the game, The sea monster Chabal comes on for Bonnaire and Yachvili comes on for the one handed french man "Morgan Parra". Straight away after a powerful scrum from France, the French get a try after a poor attempt of a tackle from Gordon D'Arcy, Rougerie ran over him and passes to Maxime Medard. That try couldn't of been easier for the French, they haven't been out of the 2nd gear the whole match, Yachvili converts Ireland 15 -22 France.
Tom Court comes on for Cian Healy, Ireland give away another penalty but luckily Yachvili didn't convert Ireland need a harsh talking to, this time it's Rory Best's turn to give away an penalty, O'Driscoll gets told by the referee to warn everyone which he duly does. Yachvili converts the penalty Ireland 15 - 25 France. The main man gets ready to come on for Ireland thats it.....Ronan O'Gara he replaces Sexton and Thion comes on for Pierre for the French.
Ireland get the ball and exert alot of pressure onto the French defence, it seems like 10 minutes before a chance is near carved out but tackle after tackle by the French that is one solid defence. O'Gara tries a grubber but it gets knocked and Heaslip gets the ball and just about gets in the corner for a try. O'Gara converts Ireland 22-25 France, O'Leary comes off for Reddan. The French launch another attack with the impressive Rougerie but the ever impressive O'Driscoll knocks Rougerie flying with a superb tackle which disrupts France's attack.
Last chance saloon for Ireland, O'Gara misses touch for Ireland but France number 8 knocks it on and O'Gara gets the ball to try for touch a second time after a French player was offside, Rory Best mucks up the throw for Ireland so Kidney brings on Sean Cronin for Rory Best. Not the best day at the office for Rory Best, Chabal throws a terrible pass to Ireland and this is truly the last chance for Ireland, Keith Earls kicks a grubber through Medard tries to collect but he just can't Ireland get men over and the French are struggling. Sean Cronin gets the ball and what does he do? Knocks it on, scrum to France. Game done!
Full Time
A match full of mistakes, ill discipline and did I mention mistakes?
Man of the match - Tough one to call but Aurelien Rougerie
Ireland:
Tries - McFadden, O'Leary, Heaslip
Penalty Goals- Sexton (1)
Conversions - Sexton (1) O'Gara(1)
France:
Tries - Medard
Penalty Goals - Parra(5) Yachvili (1)
Conversions - Yachvili (1)
Thoughts:
Ireland scored 3 tries to France's 1 but still lose due to ill discipline, i'm sure they will remember this game that just got away. The Ireland team needs shaken up with some players taken out and fresh blood brought in as some players are too comfortable in their positions. France didn't do much and didn't play well because they didn't need to, Ireland done the work for both teams.
