France leading at half-time

Vincent Clerc’s hat-trick of tries left France in front by 19-6 at half-time in their RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against below-par Ireland in Paris.

The in-form Toulouse flier went over twice in the space of two minutes midway through the half, then completed his salvo four minutes before the break.

Jean-Baptiste Elissalde booted two conversions, with Ireland’s only riposte coming through Ronan O’Gara’s brace of penalties.

It was the fourth try in this season’s Six Nations for Clerc, who broke Irish hearts with a last-gasp, winning score at Croke Park in last year’s tournament.

Ireland were finding France’s obdurate defence hard to pierce but O’Gara slotted over another penalty in the 29th minute to keep the visitors in touch.

But Clerc was proving irresistible and capped a tremendous personal first-half display by completing his hat-trick in the 36th minute.

Toulouse team-mate Heymans sprinted into space down the left before feeding Clerc, who glided over under the posts untouched. Elissalde converted to leave Les Bleus way clear at 19-6.