O’Driscoll disappointed despite own performance

MICK O’DRISCOLL found little comfort in his own performance after yet another defeat for Ireland at the hands of the French.

Down 26-6 at the time of his introduction for Malcolm O’Kelly, Ireland kept the French scoreless for the remainder of a game they lost by only five points with the visitors’ dominance up front the standout feature of the closing quarter.

Marc Lievremont’s decision to replace four of his own pack with relative international novices played a large part in that but O’Driscoll showed the sort of form that has diluted the effects of Paul O’Connell’s long-term absence in Munster.