Ireland 22 - 26 France Post Match Discussion

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BBC I PLAYER LINK
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b013sd7v/Rugby_Union_2011_2012_Ireland_v_France/

Ireland's worrying World Cup build-up continued as they were again beaten by France in Saturday's clash in Dublin.

Cian Healy's try helped the Irish lead 8-0 but French hit back with 16 unanswered points before the break including a Cedric Heymans try.

A wild Tomas O'Leary pass gifted a second French try to Francois Trinh-Duc after the break.

Jonathan Sexton and Sean O'Brien scored late tries but injuries to Healy and Felix Jones compounded Irish concerns.

Healy hobbled off after half-time while Jones' hopes of being in the 30-man World Cup squad to be announced on Monday could be in tatters after he was stretchered off with a suspected ankle injury.

With Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy both starting after missing the recent defeats by Wales and the French, the Irish made a lively start and the early pressure yielded a sixth-minute penalty for Sexton.

As the Irish backs exhibited quick hands, a bulldozing run from O'Brien increased the pressure on the French in the eighth minute and the move concluded with Healy barging his way over the opposition line.

France's early difficulties included losing injured fly-half David Skrela who was replaced by Trinh-Duc.

However after being on the backfoot for the opening 15 minutes, France suddenly began a fightback.

Irish scrum-half Tomas O'Leary is the son of former Cork hurling star Seanie O'Leary
Alexis Palisson's run needed a crucial tackle by young Irish full-back Jones with a lean-looking Paul O'Connell doing the mopping up on the ground.

Parra's penalty got the French on the scoreboard in the 24th minute after Keith Earls had been caught in possession.

A dreadful clearance by O'Leary was then punished by Trinh-Duc's thumping drop goal from 48 metres in the 28 minutes as the momentum swung France's way.

O'Driscoll appeared to be at fault for Heyman's try on the half hour as the Irish captain allowed Aurelien Rougerie to step inside him in midfield.

Parra converted the try and with the Irish rapidly losing their way, another penalty from the scrum-half increased the French lead to 16-8 by half-time.

As France continued to produce all the pressure after the break, Parra added another penalty in the 44th minute to leave 11 points between the teams.

O'Leary's nervy display culminated with his wild pass, after a botched scrum move, being intercepted by Trinh-Duc who ran in a simple try from the edge of the Irish 22.

Eoin Reddan was introduced moments later but Parra's conversion had extended the French lead to an apparently out-of-sight 18 points.

Possibly of even greater concern to Declan Kidney was the sight of prop Healy hobbling off after the score and young full-back Jones' World Cup dreams may be over after he was stretchered off with a suspected ankle injury.

With the French appearing to ease up in the closing stages, Sexton and O'Brien were able to barge over for late tries but the scores didn't mask Irish struggles.

Stephen Ferris was introduced for his first action since January after injury while Luke Fitzgerald produced a late cameo but there were few positives for the home side as Ireland's misfiring build-up to the World Cup continued.

The scorers:

For Ireland:
Tries: Healy, Sexton, O'Brien
Pen: Sexton

For France:
Tries: Heymans, Trinh-Duc
Con: Parra 2
Pen: Parra 3
Drop: Trinh-Duc

Ireland: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Tomas O'Leary, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Sean O'Brien, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Jerry Flannery, 17 Tom Court, 18 Mike McCarthy, 19 Stephen Ferris, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Luke Fitzgerald.

France: 15 Cedric Heymans, 14 Maxime Médard, 13 Aurélien Rougerie, 12 Fabrice Estebanez, 11 Alexis Palisson, 10 David Skrela, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Louise Picamoles, 7 Julien Bonnaire, 6 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 5 Lionel Nallet, 4 Pascale Papé, Nicolas Mas, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux.
Replacements: 16 Guilhem Guirado , 17 Fabien Barcella , 18 Julien Pierre, 19 Thierry Dusautoir, 20 Dimitri Yachvili, 21 David Marty, 22 Vincent Clerc, 23 Luc Ducalcon.

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Tim Hayes (Wales)
Television match official: Iain Ramage (Scotland)

O'Leary completly changed this game with that mindless box kick he did at 8-3 fuken idoit someone needs to get in his face

A few mistakes from Earls?

Earls really could have seen yellow for that. Glad he didnt though.
France have turned up the pressure and Ireland are starting to crumble

Same Old Same Old against France we just give them all their fuken points

Jennings isn't helping his case much then.

Come on Ireland ta feck! They need to get the momentum back they started with.

I just hope that France turn off in the second half for a bit, they generally do so here is hoping.

French bum cheek alert!

Trembles on fire and jones is doing well. Pity about the rest (excluding Healy)

Declan has some work to do at half time

A pretty decent match

Cari wrote:French bum cheek alert!

Oh no that's set her off!
Right it's half time missis! No more Ireland for you

Its a good match to watch rugbynab. I just dont know why Ireland cannot beat France.

TOL getting roasted for that kick but in fairness, it was more a brilliant drop goal from Trinh Duc. They should talk about that more than TOL's kick.

Why does Deccie continue to pick O'Leary he is a fuken BUM if he wasnt a Munster boy he would be no where thier the squad

Both are good games.
Scotland started Well, but Italy hit them back with a try and Scotland have gone into their shell a bit now, though Bergamasco missed a kick to level it at 10-10, then Parks got a penalty at the death for a 13-7 lead.
I think it will be Scotlands game.

Are we going to see a fight between two commentators?

Ireland need a 2nd half performance like last week.

I think they may do it.

eirebilly wrote:TOL getting roasted for that kick but in fairness, it was more a brilliant drop goal from Trinh Duc. They should talk about that more than TOL's kick.

Yup we'll have French posters wumming now about British bias on British tv stations next

C'mon You Irish wrote:Why does Deccie continue to pick O'Leary he is a fuken BUM if he wasnt a Munster boy he would be no where thier the squad

Whats with the negativity towards Munster? I am from Munster but you dont read any negativity against other provinces.
Its all about Ireland anyways.

South Africa 18 - 5 New Zealand
Suprising score.

Yes New Zealand have missed a few tackles.

AlynDavies wrote:

eirebilly wrote:TOL getting roasted for that kick but in fairness, it was more a brilliant drop goal from Trinh Duc. They should talk about that more than TOL's kick.

Yup we'll have French posters wumming now about British bias on British tv stations next

I just think that its sad that such a great drop goal has been reduced to being a TOL error. It was a tremendous drop.

eirebilly wrote:I just think that its sad that such a great drop goal has been reduced to being a TOL error. It was a tremendous drop.

I agree, I havent seen anything like that since Shane Howarth against Argentina many years ago. Great drop goal

Alyn - it wasn't my fault, one of the French players nearly lost his shorts.

Right, come on Ireland. Hopefully they've had a good talking to.

I wish Sergio Parisse was Welsh

That was good work by Mas getting the Ball back on his side

Good grief. France are playing very well...

Can someone tell me what it is that O'Leary does he cant pass nor Kick all this pressure came from his Poopie pass FFS

France have started well here in the second half. Ireland looking a bit at sea.

Ah noooo! Tell me Healy's not injured!? He should come off.

All the pressure in the 1st half started from O'Leary's Poopie box kick and now all the pressure in the 2nd came from his poor pass when we were on the attack

If this goes over then i fear that France may already have a too big a lead for Ireland to recover.

And it does

You guys are hopeless against France.

OMG He Flip it up again

nottins_jones wrote:You guys are hopeless against France.

I have no idea what it is. Ireland just dont know how to beat them.

Fair one. We all got some bogey teams I guess. If Ireland go on to lose it should be a lot more interesting next week. Both Ireland and England really desperate for that all important win.

nottins_jones wrote:Fair one. We all got some bogey teams I guess. If Ireland go on to lose it should be a lot more interesting next week. Both Ireland and England really desperate for that all important win.

Did you ever consider it might be one game too many?
you wonder what kind of injuries those 2 teams could sustain knocking lumps out of each other 2 weeks before the big kick off.

Stupidity from Ireland. Simply dumb.

Thats the game now.

Group C's penultimate clash is looking more and more like Australia's to lose. Despite a few positives Ireland have shown, they have looked mainly rugged and fragile throughout their warm-up's thus far.

Ouch!
Now things could get nasty for Ireland.

Healy down again. Get him off and protect him. We need him at the RWC

The word rustiness has been used far too often by the media.

FOR GOD'S SAKE TAKE HEALY OFF!!!!!!! Why didn't they take him off earlier? Now he's hobbling off!!!

O'leary is actually worse than Buckley if that is possible

Car Crash game

Allez les Blanc.

Ireland are imploding

I really hope Cian's OK. That's awful to see.

Come on Ireland! Fight back!!

Well Scotland looks in disarray at the moment, Italy in the assendancy and no scottish defence who are awake as the scrum half slips over!
13-12!

Ha! who's playing with one shoe missing?