RUGBY JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: IRELAND 22 FRANCE 25: THE YEAR of the French continues to come at Irish expense as Allen Clarke's Under-20's produced a performance full of heart, commitment and no little skill in their Junior World Championship Pool B opener, only to be denied deep into stoppage time.
Ireland had fought back from behind to draw level through a superb try and touchline conversion, but they let the result slip as the creator of that try, substitute Noel Reid, kicked the ball out on the full from the restart and gave France valuable position on the ’22. South African referee Jaco Peyper spotted an infringement at the lineout, and Giles Bosch sent a penalty over to give victory to Les Bleus.
There was time for Ireland to launch one last counter attack, but David O’Callaghan was bundled into touch and the chance was gone.
Ireland’s prospects suffered a further blow as England secured a bonus point in beating Argentina in the second game of the day, making Wednesday’s clash with the old enemy all the more crucial.
Clarke felt his side had the winning of the game, but lamented his side’s inability to control the match at the death.
“Obviously we’re disappointed with the result,” he said. “There was no lack of effort but there are aspects of our game that we need to improve upon.
“We’ve a changing room that’s hurting at the moment, but the groups still alive – very much alive – but we’ve no option now but to focus on winning our next game and that’s within our ability.
“We scored and made it 22-all with a fantastic touchline conversion and the momentum was with us but we didn’t manage that phase of the game well and we ended up conceding a penalty after two or three consecutive errors. That hurts.”
Ireland had opened well and were unlucky not to score in the first 10 minutes when they ran France ragged. The French, aided by a whistle-happy Peyper brought themselves into the game and with outhalf Jean Marc Doussain unerring, they led 12-6 at the break – James McKinney kicking Ireland’s scores.
Ireland improved after the interval and McKinney nailed three unanswered penalties to edge his side into the lead as the game entered it’s final quarter.
Behind for the first time, France upped the pace and after securing field position through replacement Bosch, they pounded the Irish line until eventually number eight Antoine Erbani barrelled over for Bosch to give his side a 19-15 lead, which he extended by three with a penalty minutes later.
Seven points down, Ireland’s cause looked lost but Reid sparked a scintillating move to bring his side back into it. Taking a high ball in his own 22, the UCD man sidestepped Romain Barthelemy and played a one-two with Andrew Conway before releasing Eoin Griffin who was held up short.
The ball was quickly recycled for Reid to feed Simon Zebo who crossed in the corner.
McKinney – who had an excellent all-round display – nailed the touchline conversion which looked to have earned Ireland the draw.
It wasn’t to be, and skipper Rhys Ruddock admitted that qualification is looking all the more challenging as a result. “It’s definitely more difficult now,” he said.
“But we’re still playing to get out of our group and we know we just have to play a lot better to do that come England. We just feel we were a bit flat today and don’t feel we’ve done ourselves justice and this squad justice.”
IRELAND:A Conway; D Hudson (N Reid 70), E Griffin, N Spence, S Zebo; J McKinney, J Cooney (M Heaney 76); J O'Connell, N Annett (D Doyle 73), S Maguire (B Cagney 73); D O'Callaghan, B Marshall (B Hayes 73); R Ruddock, D Ryan, P Butler.
FRANCE:B Dulin; C Lagain, R Lamerat, R Barrthelemy (M Lamoulie 80), J Sinzelle; JM Doussain (G Bosch 69), A Bales; X Chiocci, M Ivaldi (capt) (K Le Guen 76), S Abadie (E Ben Arous 52); J Souza (K Gimeno 52), G Often; A Roulin (R Taofifenua 52), T Molcard; A Erbin.
Referee:J Peyper (South Africa).
