Bradley’s battlers make light of French resistance

Ireland A 15 France A 9

In driving rain and bitterly cold conditions, the game was never a classic, but Ireland sneaked through after a gritty performance.

“We worked hard to break them down in the first half and came away with the scores. We had to work harder in defence in the second but came away with the win and I thought it was richly deserved,” said Bradley.

Prior to the match, national coach Eddie O’Sullivan made it clear that the result didn’t count for much. It was, he said, a mix and match of young and experienced players and only individual performances counted as he looked to the future.

But, actually, this was more a team performance than about individuals. The pack hunted as a unit and the backs were far from overawed by their more illustrious opponents.

O’Sullivan must have been delighted by the excellent three-quarter play, in the opening half in particular. If the weather had been more kind it could have been better.

Tommy Bowe, Kieran Lewis, Anthony Horgan, Paddy Wallace for long periods and Kieran Lewis all impressed.

Up front, Bernard Jackman ran himself to a standstill, Shane Jennings moved further forward and Alan Quinlan was superb throughout, particularly in the last ten minutes when Ireland were hanging onto a six points lead.

Ireland started well and were 9-0 up inside the opening 20 minutes. Paddy Wallace kicked three penalties but France were lucky not to concede more. Referee Wayne Barnes warned France for consistent infringements and they were fortunate not to be a player down.

French scrum half Nicolas Durand manufactured a penalty soon afterwards when he was high-tackled by Bernard Jackman. Benjamin Boyet opened the French scoring but the calls for Jackman’s dismissal fell on deaf ears. Rightly so because the scrum half’s ears were stuck to the ground when he was tackled.

Ireland struck back immediately when Wallace kicked his fourth penalty for a 12-3 lead. It was no less than they deserved after a first half that they dominated until, perhaps, flanker Jerome Vallee appeared to be taken out by Bowe. The decision from referee Barnes was to give a knock on and a scrum to Ireland. Lucky.

France clawed back three points early in the second half when Jean-Baptiste Dambielle kicked a penalty and Ireland looked to be in severe trouble when Ray Hogan was yellow-carded.

Ireland had to fight for everything to keep the line intact for a five minutes spell and only got out of their territory courtesy of a stray boot. Paul Burke came on for Paddy Wallace and promptly missed a penalty but then came to the rescue when Kieran Campbell found himself in trouble inside his own ‘22. It was a crucial intervention from the replacement to support a number nine who performed admirably all evening.

And Burke finally put the game beyond reach when he kicked a penalty five minutes from the end. It mattered little that Boyet brought it back to six points minutes later because Ireland comfortably survived the last four minutes of injury time.

IRELAND A: B. Cunningham (Ulster), T. Bowe (Ulster), K. Lewis (Leinster), D. Quinlan (Leinster), A. Horgan (Munster), P. Wallace (Ulster), K. Campbell (Ulster), R. McCormack (Ulster), B. Jackman (Connacht) captain), S. Best (Ulster), M. McCullough (Ulster), R. Casey (London Irish), A. Quinlan (Munster), R. Wilson (Ulster), S. Jennings (Leinster). Replacements. R. Hogan (Connacht) for Best, S. Payne (Munster) for Cunningham (both 39, injured), P. Burke (Munster) for Wallace (64), B. Gissing (for Casey), P. Shiels (Ulster) for Jackman (both 72), D. Wallace (Munster) for Wilson, B. O’Riordan (Leinster) for Campbell (both 78).

FRANCE A: J-B. Dembielle (Auch). J. Arias (Stade Francais), J-F. Coux (Bourgoin), G. Bousses (Biarritz), J. Candelon (Narboone), B. Boyet (Bourgoin), N. Durand (Perpignan), V. Debaty (Perpignan), R. Terrain (Pau), G. Menkarska (Auch), R. MilloChluski (Toulouse), L. Nallet (Castres), J. Valee (Montpellier), P. Rabadan (Montpellier), M. Dridi (Toulon). Replacements. R. Frommant (Stade Francais) for valee, P. Capdevielle (Brive) for Menkarska (both half time), J. Pierre, Bourgoin) for Millochluski (53), M. Blin (Stade Francais) for Terrain(6, P. Bomati (Perpignan) for Coux (74), N. Laharrague (Perpignan) for Arias (77)

Referee: W. Barnes (England).