U-21 INTERNATIONAL: Once again crushing disappointment was Ireland's fate as they slipped to a heart-breaking defeat in the Under 21 international at Vizille last night. It is the third time this season that Ciaran Fitzgerald's side has endured the agony of a narrow defeat, having lost to Wales and England in hard-fought encounters.
France 22...Ireland 21: This time they were thwarted by two late penalties from French replacement Peyrelongue, the second coming three minutes into injury time at the end of the game.
Despite falling behind to an early penalty from Laharrgue, Ireland managed the game's first try through wing Martin McPhail: UCD outhalf Eoghan Hickey added the conversion.
A second Laharrgue penalty narrowed Ireland's advantage to a single point, 7-6, before another outstanding individual moment from impressive young scrumhalf Brian O'Riordan provided his side with a huge fillip. O'Riordan raced some 60 metres to score a wonderful individual try, pushing Ireland 12-6 in front.
In a very entertaining tussle, France struck back with a try from centre Bousses, only for Hickey to give Ireland a 15-11 interval lead with a penalty. The UCD outhalf kicked another 13 minutes after the re-start but France responded with a try from Debaty. The home side emptied what proved to be a very strong replacements bench in the final quarter but Hickey's penalty on 72 minutes earned Ireland a 21-16 advantage.
However, Peyrelongue's late cameo and two penalties denied Ireland, who were once again tantalisingly close to a notable scalp.
Scoring sequence: 2 mins: Leharrgue penalty, 3-0; 5: McPhail try, Hickey conversion, 3-7; 15: Leharrgue penalty, 6-7; 18: O'Riordan try, 6-12; 26: Bousses try, 11-12; 40: Hickey penalty, 11-15. Half-time: 11-15. 58: Hickey penalty, 11-18; 62: Debaty try, 16-18; 72: Hickey penalty, 16-21; 74: Peyrelongue penalty, 19-21; 83: Peyrelongue penalty, 22-21.
FRANCE UNDER-21: JP Granclaude; V Clerc, G Bousses, M Mabillon, G Messina; N Laharrgue, M Siru; R Cheron, J Campo, V Debat; S Pettigiani, R Friand; T Dusautoir, G Lamboley, V Clement (capt). Replacements: J Selva, S Chobet, G Bortolaso, M Diebolt, A Sallecanne, J Peyrelongue, JB Gobelet. Replacements: J Selva, S Chobet, G Bortolaso, M Diebolt, A Sallecanne, J Peyrelongue, JB Gobelet (all used).
IRELAND UNDER-21: S Young (Ballymena); M McPhail (UL Bohemian), G Duffy (Galwegians), C O'Sullivan (UCC), J Norton (St Mary's); E Hickey (UCD), B O'Riordan (UCD); J Lyne (Lansdowne), K Corrigan (UCD), B Young (Ballymena); S Keogh (UCC), M McCullough (Ballymena, capt); D Leamy (UCC), R Wilson (Dublin University), N McMillan (Ballymena). Replacements: R Best (Newcastle University), J Danagher (UL Bohemian), M Carroll (Blackrock), C Hartigan (Garryowen), F Murphy (UCC), B Lynn (St Mary's), F Baynes (Lansdowne).
