France open up nine-point lead

France lead Ireland by 18 points to nine after two excellent tries and a textbook conversion followed opening scores.

France - playing against a strong wind - signalled their intent from the start when a couple of charges from debutant Baby and two powerful mauls carried them into home territory.

They created a great chance in the third minute when Yannick Jauzion fed Julien Laharrague who had joined the line at full tilt, but the Brive full-back’s pass was gobbled up by Hickie with the line just 10 yards away.

Punches were thrown at the first scrum shortly after but Ireland claimed a moral victory once tempers had softened by winning a free-kick which they used to probe away at the French defence.

They failed to make any meaningful inroads but won a penalty which Ronan O’Gara sent between the uprights, although the lead lasted until the 11th minute when Yann Delaigue landed a drop goal.

Worryingly for Ireland, the equalising score had come after a powerful drive through the heart of their pack and France enjoyed a clear advantage up front in the early stages.

Geordan Murphy blundered by sending a kick straight into touch but his error was soon forgotten when a crossfield kick was caught by Paul O’Connell with Laharrague making a crucial tackle on the giant lock.

Referee Tony Spreadbury spotted a high tackle on Brian O’Driscoll in the next attack and O’Gara slotted the three points, but a penalty from scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili levelled matters once again.

Tries from Christophe Dominici and Benoit Baby were topped off with a sweet conversion from Dimitri Yachvili.

Latest: Ireland 9 France 18