Paris day of extremes brings hope and despair

HAS THERE ever been a more amazing second half in the history of the International Championship?

Dead and buried at 43-3 with almost three-quarters of the match over, Ireland produced an astonishing 13-minute spell at the Stade de France, claiming four converted tries without reply to get within touching distance of the ailing French.

Ultimately, they failed by 12 points but did enough to salvage a lot of pride and prove they can still turn on the style when all previous evidence points to the contrary.