France's victory was as emphatic as the final scoreline suggests and they thoroughly deserved their comprehensive win over their hosts in yesterday's under-21 international at Templeville Road. The groundwork for the French success was laid by the impressive pack, physically strong and well drilled.
They rumbled forward relentlessly in possession, often making 25 to 30 metres before releasing their backs. Blindside flanker Mathieu Diebolt was deservedly awarded the man of the match accolade for both his ball carrying and ruthless tackling on the fringes and in broken play.
It was the comfort with which the French interchanged backs and forwards in maintaining continuity and recycling ball that allowed them to sustain the pressure for most of the match. The Irish line led a charmed existence on occasions and such was the utter dominance of the visitors that they introduced their entire bench before the finish.
For all the appeal of the French patterns, Ireland contributed handsomely to their own downfall. Much of the Irish backplay degenerated into a shambles, the lack of communication and/or understanding between Gavin Duffy and Maurice Lawlor allowing the French to easily defend Ireland's best attacking gambits.
Pat McCarthy suffered a difficult afternoon at scrumhalf, penalised three times for crooked feeds, and also a little off the pace in his decision making at rucks: Ireland needed quick ball but rarely managed it. Gordon D'Arcy and Kieran Lewis acquitted themselves well while Andrew Maxwell had one fine run.
In fairness to the pack, they worked tirelessly and the driving off lineouts was one of the few laudable areas in the Irish display. Matt McCullough had a fine game in the second row and Alan Hickie was easily the most combative Irish tackler.
France raced into a 14-0 lead through tries from scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili and outhalf Julien Peyrolongue, both of which Yachvili converted. McCarthy replied with two penalties before the French grabbed a third try on half-time, through Diebolt, to provide them with a commanding 19-6 interval advantage.
A fourth try from second row Manuel Sierra and penalties from Yachvili, Peyrolongue and replacement Cedric Rosalen eased France to a comfortable success. Irish supporters were offered one respite in the second half when D'Arcy chose a good angle to burst onto Duffy's pop pass and cross under the posts. McCarthy converted.
Scoring Sequence: Five mins: Yachvili try, Yachvili conversion, 0-7; 13: Peyrolongue try, Yachvili conversion, 0-14; 18: McCarthy penalty, 3-14; 38: McCarthy penalty, 6-14; 40: Diebolt try, 6-19. Half-time: 6-19. 43: Yachvili penalty, 6-22; 49: Sierra try, 6-27; 58: Peyrolongue penalty, 6-30; 69: D'Arcy try, McCarthy conversion, 13-30; 79: Rosalen penalty, 13-33.
Ireland: G D'Arcy (Lansdowne); A Maxwell (Ballymena), K Lewis (Dublin University), M Lawlor (Shannon, capt), G Browne (Blackrock College); G Duffy (Galwegians), P McCarthy (Dolphin); R Flanagan (Bruff), G Hickie (St Mary's College), N Treston (Blackrock College); M McCullough (Dublin University), D Browne (Galwegians); A Hickie (Dolphin), D Dillon (UCD), N McMillan (Leicester). Replacements: S Phillips (Saracens) for Flanagan; C Hartigan (Garryowen) for Dillon (57 mins).
France: R Jaouher (Bourgoin); Y Larguet (Bourgoin), G Bousses (Toulouse), C Savignat (Brive), Jean Francois Coux (Bourgoin); J Peyrolongue (Biarritz), D Yachvili (Paris); M Larrouy (Pau), A Testa (Stade Francais), N Mas (Perpignan); S Pettigiani (Dax), M Sierra (Pau); M Diebolt (Bourgoin), C Tournier (Dax), S Azoulai (Perigueux). Replacements: C Charrier (Brive) for Tests (70 mins); R Cheron (Toulain) for Larrouy (61); L Camisuli (Monferrand) for Pettigiani (75); M Balat (Stade Francais) for Tournier (65); Q Delatouche (Colomiers) for Yachvili (57); Cedric Rosalen (Narbonne) (61); F Larralde (Bayonnais) (50).
Referee: J Barnard (England).
