Rugby - Ireland 38 France 13:It was a difficult night for Ireland against French opposition as the under-20 side were comprehensively defeated while the women's team were narrow losers in their respective Sx Nations encounters.
An under strength Ireland under-20 side was pushed around the park by a strong French unit and marks Ireland's second defeat in 14 games after tonight’s result at Dubarry Park in Athlone.
Mike Ruddock’s men will hope to get their campaign back on track when they go to Scotland in two weeks.
They were without eight of the side who opened the campaign with a 28-9 win in Italy last week and just did not have the resources to make up the ground.
France led 21-6 at the interval but two of their three tries were questionable. Replays confirmed French scrumhalf Yann Lesgourgues passed forward before taking a return from his right-winger Pierre Berard and dashing over for their opening try after eleven minutes.
Just before the break a third try when Berard got over but, once again, the replays showed Lesgourgues had clearly gone offside when going in front of his winger.
All told though, France were still good value for their win and could have been further ahead but for some handling errors.
Ireland defended well and Paddy Jackson kicked well all evening. Jackson gave Ireland a perfect start as early pressure forced the penalty and the Ulsterman made no mistake.
Another French tries came from Geoffrey Palis of Albi and Marvin O’Connor. Hooker Romain Colliat got their fifth.
Captain Niall Annett bulldozed over for an Irish try off a lineout in the left corner, with Jackson adding the points.
Ireland played out the final 15 minutes with fourteen men after replacement prop Finlay Bealham was forced to go off and referee Giuseppe Vivarini of Italy ruled that he could not be replaced.
Inevitably, the French got over again with centre Jules Plisson becoming their sixth try scorer when he crossed at the death.
In Ashbourne a second-half try from powerful prop Christelle Chobet denied Ireland what would have been a famous victory in their first home encounter of 2011 in the Women’s Six Nations which they narrowly lost 14-12.
