Pack power propels battling Irish to victory

Ireland Schools 9 French Schools 3

How they wish that Italy and Scotland had competed this year because this classy side would probably have been celebrating a Grand Slam. As it was, they can be well pleased with victories over England, Wales and now France.

Last night they were forced to adapt to difficult conditions against difficult opponents.

Six points up after playing with the wind, Ireland were forced to change their game plan and rely on their forwards to push them to victory. The pack, led brilliantly by captain David Pollock and with Cian Healy and Thomas Anderson superb, took on the bigger French eight and won omprehensively.

Coach Peter Melia was thrilled at the end of an exhausting match and said: “It wasn’t the prettiest of games, not the way we wanted to win if it were an ideal world. But the conditions were pretty bad, it was cold out there and the players felt it.

“We hadn’t much choice but to rely on the forwards in the second half, we had to keep it tight and they did a fantastic job. They were awesome at times in that spell.”

Ireland slugged it out with the French in the first half, taking the lead with fourth and ninth minutes penalties kicked by Brian Collins.

Ireland subsequently survived a promising French rally that almost yielded tries for wingers Alexis Palison and then Pierre Aguillon. They also survived a brief brawl after which warnings were dished out by English referee Bruce Robertson.

The Irish nearly went further ahead when Vasily Artemiev snatched at a chip through by Luke Fitzgerald but the ball had just bounced out of play.

Further frustration followed. Keith Earls started a brilliant move out of nothing and it ended with four Irish forwards ploughing over the French line. Robertson adjudged the ball had not been grounded, Ireland claimed the French had brought down the maul illegally. The score didn’t count.

It didn’t help that Earls knocked on when sent clear by Collins five minutes into the second half. That was another golden opportunity for Ireland to build a strong platform for victory or, at least, make territorial advantage pay. But with the pressure mounting, Ireland finally got more than a score ahead when Collins kicked his third penalty 15 minutes in. It didn’t last long because Matthieu Belie responded immediately with his first penalty from wide out but he missed an easier one three minutes later. It was a crucial let off for Ireland and they gained in confidence after that. The pack continued to do the heavy work, kept France, for the most part, deep inside their own territory and there was no real threat that the six points lead would be overturned.

IRELAND: L. Fitzgerald (Blackrock), S. Hanratty (Gonzaga), M. McRea (Belfast High), K. Earls (St. Munchins), V. Artemiev (Royal High Dungannon), B. Collins (Castleknock), A. Bartholomew (Royal School Armagh), C. Healy (Belvedere), C. Culleton (Blackrock), M. Ferguson (Sullivan Upper), T. Anderson (Rainey Endowed), C. McInerney (St. Mary’s), R. Hamilton (Methodist), D. Pollock (Royal School Dungannon) captain; W. Falloon (Royal School Armagh).

Replacements. N. Simpson (Belfast Royal Academy) for McInerney, D. Keogh (CBC Cork) for Anderson (both 68).

FRANCE: M. Ospital (Canteau), A. Palisson (Dax), S. Ternisien (Cassin Bayonne), D. Irazoqui (Cassin Bayonne), P. Aguillon (Jolimont Toulouse), M. Belie (Jolimont Toulouse), M. Carabignac (Frouloy Ronnes), J. Andoque (Jolmont Toulouse), A. Vozelange (Ussel), S. ClementMirail Toulouse), T. Dubarry (Ilycee Jaques De Vaucanson), T. Lassalle (Cassin Bayonne), J. Monribot (Lycee Louis Talence), J. Tastet (Lycee Louis Talence), T. Combezou (Lycee Ventadour Ussel) captain.

Replacements. B.Sore (Lycee Talance) for Andogue (45), B. Deschartres (Lycee Lakanal) for Dubarrfy (56).

Referee: B. Robertson (England).