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Triple crown defence now seems hollow consolation
By Larry Cooney
Ireland 19 - France 26
Ireland's Grand Slam ambitions lay in ruins after a French rugby masterclass at Landsdowne Road on Saturday.
Not even the genius of Brian O’Driscoll could save his country on this occasion as he had done in the previous game against England as Ireland succumbed to the best French performance in this year’s Six Nations championship.
Ireland had no answer to France’s powerful pack which produced a platform for their speedy backs to exploit the holes in the Irish defence. Just before the half-hour and twice in the space of four minutes the French successfully penetrated the back-pedalling Irish defence for killer tries from winger Dominici and debutant centre Baby to open up a 18-9 half-time cushion which left Eddie O’Sullivan’s team with a mountain to climb.
After a disastrous error-ridden first half, things could only get better for Eddie O’Sullivan’s team and to their credit they responded well playing against the breeze. Because of having the comfort of a nine-point cushion France were less ambitious in the second period and played more of a tight cautious game as Ireland enjoyed some encouraging success carrying the ball to their opponents.
However, an early O’Gara penalty in addition to his three first half attempts was all Ireland had to show on the scoreboard midway through the half before Yachvili restored France's lead to nine points with another penalty in the 61st minute.
After a period of sustained Irish pressure against a mean and uncompromising French defence, there appeared little hope of a breakthrough. With just over 10 minutes remaining an apparently kickable penalty was declined by O’Gara in favour of a good attacking field position.
When that attack came to nothing, it did look a lost cause for the men in green as French manager Laporte decided to introduce Frederic Michalak. Then with nine minutes remaining as Ireland began to run out time and options, the game witnessed a piece of sheer brilliance from Ireland’s captain Brian O’Driscoll who always looked like the man who carried the greatest threat to the French defence.
After winning possession, the Irish captain easily fended off a feeble challenge from Michalak to open up an opportunity to take on the French defence and successfully weaved his way under the posts for a superb try. O’Gara’s conversion had hauled Ireland back into contention at 21-19.
Alas it was not to be for Eddie O’Sullivan’s brave team and with just minutes remaining, Dominici raced through for his second and match-clinching try as Ireland were left to rue their disastrous opening half performance. Last Saturday’s match post mortem will have been long and included much soul-searching among a number of the players who quite simply under performed.
A disconsolate Ireland manager Eddie O’Sullivan said afterwards “We just couldn’t get field position to exert the necessary pressure on them. Still, we took it right down to the wire, that’s a hell of a French team — if they are rebuilding then we’re all in trouble. My heart goes out particularly to people like Reggie (Corrigan), Mal (O’Kelly) and Anthony (Foley) who might not get the same opportunity again.”
Looking ahead to their meeting with Wales in Cardiff this Saturday with the primary prize of a Grand Slam title now out of their range, Ireland still have the possibility of winning back-to-back Triple Crowns — only once previously won by Ireland 56 years ago — but also the championship, last won in 1985. It will be a tall order although a 13-point victory to move ahead of Wales looks completely out of the question. After last Saturday’s defeat, it will be extremely difficult to predict how Ireland will react as the remaining prizes on offer either look unattainable or just a hollow consolation.
Ireland: G Murphy; G Dempsey, B O’Driscoll (Capt), K Maggs, D Hickie; R O’Gara, P Stringer; R Corrigan (M Horan 70), S Byrne, J Hayes; M O’Kelly, P O’Connell; S Easterby, J O’Connor, A Foley (E Miller 70).
Scorers: B O’Driscoll try, R O’Gara 4 pens, con.
France: J Laharrague; C Dominici, Y Jauzion, B Baby, C Heymans; Y Delaigue (F Michalak 70), D Yachvili; S Marconnet, S Bruno (D Swarzewski 76), N Mas (P de Villiers 40); F Pelous (Captain) (P Pape 72), J Thion; S Betsen, Y Nyanga (G Lamboley 54), J Bonnaire.
Scorers: C Dominici 2 tries, B Baby try, D Yachvili 2 pens, con, Y Delaigue drop goal. Referee: T Spreadbury (England).
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