Ireland combine style with steel

U20 RBS Six Nations

Ireland will surely win in the Aviva Stadium this evening if they show the same heart and composure that Nigel Carolan’s men produced in abundance to win an excellent contest at Dubarry Park last night.

In the process, Ireland equalled their biggest ever win over France in the tournament — a 22-5 success at the Athlone venue two years ago — as they produced a performance which suggests they are genuine championship contenders.

That mantle will surely be tested by England in two weeks when Ireland will look to reproduce the quality which dealt with the massive challenge from the reigning champions France who, like them, had run in 47 points on the opening weekend.

Ireland needed to lay down an early marker and now allowed the reigning champions get a foothold, and coach Nigel Carolan could hardly have asked for a better start as his men raced into a 10-0 lead after just 11 minutes.

They won a penalty on a French scrum and opted to go for the corner from about 40 metres and the Irish decision was rewarded with the opening try.

Having had little chance to impress on the gluepot surface in Italy last weekend, the Irish backline shredded the French cover with quick hands from half-backs Nick McCarthy and Ross Byrne putting centre Sam Arnold through and he timed his pass to perfection to unleash winger Jack Owens for an excellent try.

Byrne, having converted six from seven last week in Italy, slotted the extras and then added a penalty from 30 metres in front of the posts before the French finally opened their shoulders and got into the game.

Once they did, the champions looked seriously impressive, not least up front, where a powerful pack started to make a big impression.

The bounce of the ball saved Ireland when a grubber from centre Francois Fontaine just did not sit up for winger Arthur Bonneval, one of four in the French starting side who have tasted Top 14 action, in addition to two more who featured in this season’s European Challenge Cup.

Full-back Thomas Romas got the French off the mark with a penalty and then a surging run from impressive flanker Sekou Macalou, after he got through the tackles around halfway of Lorcan Dow and Jeremy Loughman, saw him run all the way in for a magnificent try, which showed why every Top 14 club in France is chasing him.

Romas converted but Ireland responded superbly to the challenge and Billy Dardis was denied a try after a good run by centre Garry Ringrose, when skipper Lucas Bachelier did well to get back.

But the reprieve was short-lived for the French and another superb break by 18-year-old Sam Arnold sent winger Stephen Fitzgerald over for an excellent score, with Byrne converting and then kicking a penalty to make it 20-10 at the break.

Ireland extended the lead four minutes after the restart when a superb dummy by Byrne and an excellently timed run by Dardis saw the full-back go over, with the conversion from the out-half making it 27-10 after 44 minutes. But from there to the end it was a rearguard action, as the French came at Ireland in waves.

They reduced the deficit to seven points through the boot of Romas and a try from prop Michael Siutoga going into the final quarter.

But Ireland finished strongly. Byrne, who finished with six kicks from six having missed just one from seven the previous week, kept his nerve to put 10 between them with a penalty and then Ringrose intercepted to wrap it up in the dying moments after a thrilling contest.

Scorers for Ireland: J Owens, S Fitzgerald, B Dardis, G Ringrose tries; R Byrne 3 pens, 4 cons.

Scorers for France: S Macalou, M Simutoga, tries; T Romas 2 pens, 2 cons.

IRELAND: B Dardis; J Owens (J Carbery 74), G Ringrose, S Arnold (F Cleary 67), S Fitzgerald; R Byrne, N McCarthy (J Cullen 74); J Loughman (M Lagan 74), Z McCall (A McBurney 66), O Heffernan (C O’Donnell 58); D O’Connor (C Romaine 68), A Thompson; J Murphy, R Moloney (N Timoney 58), L Dow.

FRANCE: T Romas; A Bonneval, E Roudil, F Fontaine (D Penaud 63), L Blanc; L Meret, A Meric (A Dupont 60); R Neti (T Estorge 49), J Marchand (C Chat 39), M Simutoga (Q Bethune 73); T Labouteley, C Cazeaux (J Delannoy 49); S Macalou (M Devergue 52), L Bachelier, F Sanconnie.

Referee: C Evans (Wales).