Ireland failed to hold on to a first half 6 – 17 lead in this rearranged RBS Six Nations fixture with France fighting back in the second half to level the game 17 all. It will be a big disappointment for the Irish players that they were unable to close the game out but the huge forward effort shouldn’t paper over the worrying lack of penetration in the back line.
Ireland were certainly fired up for this match starting the game strongly as the forwards lifted their work rate from the match against Italy. Ireland’s aggressive defence looked to have France rattled and the home side certainly looked ill at ease and alarmingly sluggish as Ireland dominated the opening exchanges.
Ireland’s opening try came from their defensive efforts with the rush defence catching French centre Rougerie on the hop as he fired a loose pass which Ulster’s Tommy Bowe latched on to and trotted to the try line to touch down under the posts. Sexton added the conversion and Ireland led 7 – 0.
Sexton and Parra swapped penalties in the second quarter to push the score along to 3 – 10 and Parra slotted over his second attempt to . . .
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