‘The Irish played to the edge of mediocrity’

GOT out of jail?

Why were you in there in the first place? Those were the questions being asked across France yesterday as the country got to grips with the Grand Slam champions’ hard fought 25-22 victory over Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.

A win at Lansdowne Road over the years has never been sniffed at over in France and this time was no different.

But it was the manner in which Les Bleus staggered over the finish line this time that frustrated.

With a visit to Twickenham in a fortnight’s time lurking ominously on the horizon, France’s performance against Ireland asked more questions than it answered.

L’Equipe’s front page set the tone with the words “yes, BUT” emblazoned across a photo of try scorer Maxime Medárd.

“Where do we start with this French team?” the newspaper enquired.

“It’s still a long way from a work of art and it’s still suffering. But there are teams far more disappointing in this Six Nations. Starting with Ireland.

“Back in their old base of Lansdowne Road now restored in glass, the Irish played to the edge of mediocrity. Les Bleus weren’t much better.

“But having weathered the passion of the Welsh people last year at the Millennium Stadium, they confirmed that they had the ability once more to weather the storm in a hostile arena. Given it’s a World Cup year, that’s no small thing. It was a real test.”

“It was a victory on points,” commented Sudouest, using a boxing analogy.

“They were put on the canvas in the first round, nearly knocked out in the 15th.

“It was a laborious success with a little luck added for good measure, but it permits Thierry Dusautoir to go to Twickenham in a fortnight unbeaten for what already looks like the final of the Six Nations 2011.”

Le Monde chose to put the victory in context by profiling France’s performance against Ireland’s relative decline since the Grand Slam year of 2009.

“The Irish, who since their 2009 Grand Slam have seen their progression slow, didn’t offer much. But yet they still managed to score three tries and create misery for the French in the rucks. That’s six tries conceded for France in the last two matches and it is for this reason that we will continue to ask questions about the real ability of this French side.”

Toulouse-based paper La Depeche continued on the theme, questioning Les Bleus’ game management and use of possession but also pointing the finger at Ireland for the amount of ball coughed up.

“We must ask what was happening with the leadership in the pitch. And then there were the errors at key times. Individual and collective with an absence of clout in the 9-10 axis. But if we talk about errors, it’s was the Irish that had the cake even if the French had dug their own grave before that. Happily Les Bleus followed up and had the moral strength in combat. A combat where the Irish were too often indisciplined.”