France U21 29 Ireland U21 10: The Irish under-21s failed to implement their game plan in Strasbourg yesterday and duly paid the price as a rampant French pack ran in four tries, all, disappointingly, from turnover ball, reports Gavin Cummiskey.
A Jonathan Sexton penalty was all the Irish had to show for a disastrous opening 40 minutes, which also saw Darragh Hurley sinbinned for killing ball. The absence of the loosehead prop at scrum time meant openside Ejike Uzoigwe was temporarily replaced by Callum Black.
Right from the second-half kick-off, Ireland again coughed up possession on their own line to allow the French forwards make it 27-3. Outhalf Lionel Beauxis added a third conversion to an earlier penalty.
Nine minutes later Welsh referee Neil Ballard awarded Mark McDermott's team a penalty try after repeated infringing by the French. Sexton added the conversion but was replaced before the hour mark by Fergus McFadden, with Conan Doyle moving to pivot.
On a positive note, flanker Ross Noonan consistently made the hard yards, while Devon Toner was peerless at the lineout. Ireland's third match is against Wales on February 24th in Dubarry Park, Athlone.
IRELAND: F Carr (Blackrock College); P Durcan (Galwegians), D Cave (Belfast Harlequins), C Doyle (Garryowen), M Williams (Bristol Shoguns/Hartpury College); J Sexton (St Mary's College), P Marshall (Ballynahinch); D Hurley (UCC), S Philpott (Belfast Harlequins, capt), P Doran-Jones (Dublin University); D Tuohy (Gloucester/Hartpury College), D Toner (Lansdowne); R Noonan (UCC), E Uzoigwe (Hartpury College), B Holland (UCC). Replacements: C Black (Worcester Warriors/Hartpury College) for Uzoigwe (35-45 mins), D McGowan (Buccaneers) for Tuohy (54 mins), F McFadden (UCD) for Sexton (57 mins), S O'Brien (UCD) for Uzoigwe (65 mins), C Black for Hurley (67 mins).
FRANCE: M Medard; Y Fior, T Lacroix, M Mermoz, G Puyo; L Beauxis, F Cibray (capt); F Cazalot, L Sempere, Y Montes; J Ledevedec, L Jacquet; F Ouedraogo, N Bontinck, F Alexandre.
Referee: N Ballard (Wales).
