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)

Alyn! You should wait until HT or done it before the game started!

I think we are definitely playing England. Reminds me of the 6 n game.

Maybe it's all that white that's made the Irish play like that Leinster

The French don't really look up for it do they?

Great scrum from Ireland. Markable improvement on last week

AlynDavies wrote:The French don't really look up for it do they?

I think that its more of a case that Ireland look up for it

Cari wrote:Alyn! You should wait until HT or done it before the game started!

I did both!
I bought 3 glass pint bottles of Orange juice from the corner shop, I'm drinking my third one now, lol.

Scotland looking superb so far, they look like Wales on a good day, with a rocket up their ass.

Uh-oh - Healy took a knock there. Hope there's no injuries here...

Cari wrote:Maybe it's all that white that's made the Irish play like that Leinster

Maybe plus Ben Youngs and Toby flood aren't playing very well so far.

Pacey start by Ireland

This is how Ireland can play

Cari wrote:Uh-oh - Healy took a knock there. Hope there's no injuries here...

Guaranteed at least one injury.

yawn

Anyone else think the Ireland jersey is a little jersey shore. Do we really need glitter?

welshjohn369 wrote:yawn

Well dont watch it if you find it boring. Obviously you dont understand or enjoy good rugby.

Great phases from Ireland fair do's.

Leinsterbaby - love the disco shirt

welshjohn369 wrote:yawn

Go to bed if you're tired.

Its is a bit bling isnt it leinster. Not a fan myself

welshjohn369 wrote:yawn

Watch the Scottish one if your bored.
Try not to provoke Eirebilly, there is no need to be honest.

eirebilly wrote:

welshjohn369 wrote:yawn

Well dont watch it if you find it boring. Obviously you dont understand or enjoy good rugby.

Must be passed his bedtime Billy. Leave him be

Wooo that was close! Quick defence from Ireland.

He is not provoking me Alyn. I just find him laughable

Very lucky for Ireland there. France starting to come into the match.

Oops earlsy over did the pass there.

Sometimes having too much confidence is not good .

Parra converts

Thanks Cari, tried those but they don't seem to be working. Sounds like its going well though!

Ireland looking very fit and dynamic.

Confusion, That was Sextons ball.

Awh that's a shame Rocky You can probably listen live on the radio either through the BBC or RTE? Better than nothing at all.

Magnificent try from Italian 14 Tommaso Benvenuti, skipping round several Scottish tacklers, gives Italy a try against the run of play.
Scotland have been fast out of the blocks, fast rucking, great clearing out, and very expansive but Italy pull one back.

eirebilly wrote:Its is a bit bling isnt it leinster. Not a fan myself

It's not very Irish. Imagine a farmer from tullow wearing a glitter top.

Oh! That was a good DG in fairness to Trinh Duc.

What a brilliant drop goal from Trinh duc

What a drop goal.

OLeary is brutal. What a pathetic box kick.

leinsterbaby wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Its is a bit bling isnt it leinster. Not a fan myself

It's not very Irish. Imagine a farmer from tullow wearing a glitter top.

Being a culchie, i am not a fan of the bling

Leinster - TOL's inclusion really seems to have divided Irish fans.

It's all France now.

Bum.

Good try.

Well worked try from France.

Can we have a replay of that girl in blues bouncing boobs please?

eirebilly wrote:

leinsterbaby wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Its is a bit bling isnt it leinster. Not a fan myself

It's not very Irish. Imagine a farmer from tullow wearing a glitter top.

Being a culchie, i am not a fan of the bling

Me too I'm from Kinnegad for feic sake

Nice french try

Its all starting to go wrong for Ireland

Rugby is great TESTING MY COMPUTER SPEED

eirebilly wrote:Its all starting to go wrong for Ireland

Dont worry Paul O'Connell will start throwing his weight around a bit and shape Ireland up!

God i hope so Alyn. France is a side that Ireland just seem to have no idea how to beat.

O'Leary and every other Munster man apart from POC and ROG is a fuken bum. Bringing their loser mentality to the Irish team

That was on purpose from Parra. He wanted France to have a scrum and set play.

Jennings is very quiet