Under-19 World Championship/Ireland - 18 France - 26: A last-minute try by France denied Ireland the bonus point they more than deserved after an impressive all-round performance against France in this World Championship second-round match at the Exiles Ground in Dubai.
Ireland, playing in front of enthusiastic fans and inspired by the presence of senior idol Brian O'Driscoll, should have won the match, but in defeat can take an immense amount of pride from coming so close to defeating a French team that four days earlier humiliated the defending champions, South Africa.
"We're naturally very disappointed at the outcome. We certainly deserved something out of the game" said Ireland under-19 manager Keith Patton. He added: "France showed their skills at crucial times and that's French rugby.
"What pleased me was that we contained a powerful French pack and in the scrums fronted up against big men. They came off a 40-pointer against South Africa but we competed all the way against them," Patton said.
Ireland, who play Samoa in their final pool match on Thursday, showed skill behind the scrum, where halfbacks Paul O'Donohoe and Brian Collins excelled.
Centres Ian Keatley and Keith Earls defended well against a classy French centre pairing while on the wing Shane Monahan showed good footwork.
The other aspect of Ireland's game that earned plaudits was the lineout. Secure on their own ball through lock Conor McInerney, the Ireland forwards also managed to steal two French throws.
It was Ireland who looked the more dynamic in the opening minutes of the match with powerful driving play from the forwards, and it was no surprise when they achieved an early score. It came from a penalty kick to the corner, good ball retention for the ensuing lineout, and at the end of a patient build-up, a deft pass from centre Ian Keatley that gave fullback Seán Carey an unconverted try.
France quickly replied, after running turnover ball and winning a penalty close to the line. From the quickly taken tap, flanker and skipper Jean Monribot crashed over.
Full back Mathieu missed the conversion but minutes later outside half Morgan Parra demonstrated his kicking skills with a penalty goal, before a similar effort from Brian Collins levelled the scores.
France, looking threatening on every occasion they ran the ball, then added a second penalty, again by Parra, to go into the break 11-8 ahead.
Four minutes into the second half a Collins penalty levelled the scores once more but again France showed their skills with slick handling to work their way down the field before striking with a try from Yoann Huget.
Ireland's response was swift and positive, hitting back with a try from a penalty-created lineout by lock Conor McInerney, Collins's touchline conversion giving his side an 18-16 lead.
Once more the pendulum swung as France regained the lead through a penalty goal by fullback Belie.
Then came the crucial score by France from a driven lineout and a forward scramble that ended with replacement hooker Cyriak Ponnau touching down, Belie's conversion giving the French an eight-point winning margin.
Scorers: Ireland: Tries - Carey, McInerney. Con - Collins. Pens - Collins (2). France: Tries - Monribot, Huget, Ponnau. Con - Belie. Pens - Parra (2), Belie.
IRELAND: S Carey (Garbally College); S Monahan (Trinity College), K Earls (St Munchin's), I Keatley (UCD), M Barker (Queens Univ); B Collins (Castleknock), P O'Donohoe (Belvedere); C Healy (Belvedere), G Slattery (St Munchin's), J Gethings (Gonzaga); A Browne (Galwegians), C McInerney (UCD); T O'Donnell (UL Bohemians), D Pollock (Queen's Univ), K Sheahan (UCD). Replacements: R Murphy (Castleknock), T Walsh (Castleknock).
FRANCE: M Belie; Y Huget, M Combezou, M Bastareaud, A Palisson; M Parra, T Bourahoua; S Clement, J-P Genevois, P Marteliere; A Louchard, D Lagrange; J Monribot, A Burban, A Valdant. Replacements: C Ponnau, J Raynaud, M Denetre.
Referee A Lindsay (Australia).
