Ireland ‘A’ clinch Six Nations despite defeat

Ireland A won the shadow Six Nations Championship but ended the campaign with a 30-20 defeat in France yesterday.

Nearest rivals Wales had to break the 100-point barrier against the Scots, but only managed to win 30-23. Romain Teulet kicked all six efforts, wracking up 15 points, as the hosts ran in three tries to Ireland's one.

The French got off to a flying start and raced into a 10-0 lead in the first six minutes as Teulet kicked the first of his penalties before Yannick Jauzion went over for a try which Teulet then converted.

Barry Everitt slotted over a penalty to reduce the deficit in the 10th minute but France's lead was extended just six minutes later when David Couzinet drove under the posts to touch down with Teulet making it 17-3 with the conversion.

Everitt kicked his second penalty midway through the half and just before the interval made it 17-9 with another.

The second half began positively with another kick from Teulet sandwiched between two Everitt penalties to take the score to 20-15 but, with Ireland enjoying a lot of possession, they then missed two crucial penalties which would have put them in front.

The second was particularly controversial as Paddy Wallace was up-ended heading towards the line but the referee chose not to award a penalty try or produce a yellow card.

Pepito Elhorga then scored a tremendous individual try, fly-hacking the ball from his own 10 metre line to the Irish's 10 metre, before going over near the posts to put the game out of the visitors' reach.

Teulet slotted the conversion and then added another penalty to make it 30-15 and Mike Mullins' unconverted try in the second minute of injury time was a mere consolation.