Ireland 18 France 11 : player ratings

Ireland player ratings

Rob Kearney 7

Made nine carries for 53 metres. A jarring, wrap tackle on Scott Spedding earned an important 24th minute penalty and trademark aerial catch on 43 minutes were just two of his many contributions.

Tommy Bowe 7

Didn’t get a chance to prove his worth off high balls but always a threat and his enormous work rate improved as his forwards tired.

Jared Payne 7

Spilled 57th minute Sexton pass, when a try seemed certain, but the ball should have gone over him. Lots of hidden value, like a textbook 63rd minute tackle on Mathieu Bastareaud and important 69th minute gather as possession pinballed towards French claws.

Robbie Henshaw 8

Top tackler with 15, it was the force of them that mattered; stopping Wesley Fofana, Vincent Debaty and, crucially, Bastareaud twice in quick succession as France sought to burst the green line with ferocious late carries.

Simon Zebo 7

Made that late tackle on Yoann Huget, with a little help from Sean O'Brien, bundling the French winger into touch. Carried ball ten times while tackling with enough determination to keep Luke Fitzgerald and Dave Kearney on Leinster duty.

Johnny Sexton 8

Off to Clermont next. Then England. Flung an early ball into touch but thereafter was immense; recovering from three head collisions (passing concussion protocols after the first) with 19 stone Mathieu Bastareaud to land five kicks at goal.

Conor Murray 7

Excellent hang time off his box kicks, which is a central cog in the Ireland gameplan, his was another reliable, physically imposing 80 minute performance. Peerless in this country.

Jack McGrath 7

Despite this latest solid showing at both scrum and around the rucks, the arrival of Cian Healy showed us what had been missing. An important, muscular prop but a role reversal is imminent.

Rory Best 6

So many excellent actions and while one overthrown lineout, from twelve, the sin-binning, for tripping Thierry Dusautoir was just and almost contributed to an Ireland defeat.

Mike Ross 5

Isolated from teammates with the lowest mark for coughing up three scrum penalties in the seventh (“Come a bit higher,” said Barnes), 58th (“You need to hit six inches higher.”) and 60th minute (“Not binding with the arm.”).

Devin Toner 6

The Iain Henderson alternative remains an enticing alernative but Toner's lineout superiority should ensure he starts as against England. The leap and impressive use of his massive frame.

Paul O’Connell 8

Carry after carry, another herculean showing, only eclipsed by Sean O’Brien and Peter O’Mahony in the second half, taking enormous punishment yet refusing to show any pain. Astonishing to see him rise time and again.

Peter O’Mahony 8

A left handed skip pass on 43 minutes got the outside backs sprinting from deep. Wayne Barnes denied him a wonderful steal down the home straight. After the Clermont pounding, he deserved this more than most.

Sean O’Brien 8

74 minutes of bulldozing power, especially clearing rucks, Chris Henry, Rhys Ruddock and Tommy O'Donnell were unable to replicate his presence. No one can.

Jamie Heaslip 7

Another Jamie Heaslip performance of reliable control, but cracks are now evident in his seemingly invincible armour after Pascal Pape's shameful knee cracking three vertebras. Jordi Murphy or Henderson (with O'Brien at eight) to deputise.

Replacements 7

Henderson and Cian Healy made the most telling impact after Ian Madigan’s ten minute cameo that delivered an important three points.

Coach 9

The calculated risks of returning O’Brien, Healy and Sexton handsomely paid off. So has the centre pairing. The team has settled now.