Dominic Crotty: Things are on the up

Former Ireland and Munster full-back casts his eye over Ireland's clash with France this weekend in the 2008 RBS 6 Nations.

It may seem strange to say, especially when the more experienced team loses an international, but Ireland can take a lot from this game.

Despite committing hari-kari time and again by passing the ball to the opposition/no-one in particular or losing crucial lineout possession, the Irish team gave an encouraging display capped with a fantastic last 30 minutes full of invention, intensity, skills, hard running and most of all a never-say-die attitude that ensured a nail-biting finish to a wonderful game of rugby. They should rightfully feel that this is yet another game they’ve left slip against France.

Ireland carried the ball excellently, battled well at the breakdown to force turnovers but gave the ball away at crucial times and were destroyed by a French team who gave a true master class in how to punish mistakes and how best to use your deadliest weapons.

The first three French tries came directly or indirectly from Irish turnovers; the first from a ruck that resulted in a sensational piece of vision from Elissalde, whose rolling chip in behind the vacant Irish defense allowed Vincent Clerc to pick up and cross the line at his leisure.

The second arose from a combination of an Irish knock on and the defence being asleep at the wheel down the blindside. Though he was isolated, Geordan Murphy - faced with an overlap in front of him - fell between two stools in defence and got burned badly for that second try. Believe me, having been caught in that situation myself, I know how he feels.

The third was also from an Irish turnover at a ruck and demonstrated how lethal the French team is with a devastating mix of precise passing, great lines of running and lethal pace. Such mistakes are the difference between winning and coming a distant second at international level.

You could have forgiven Ireland for throwing in the towel when France scored their fourth try in the 53rd minute through a fortuitous bounce of the ball. But it is to the team's utmost credit and a testament to the obvious pride within the squad that not only did they not throw in the towel, but they were right in the game up until the very last seconds.

What was the catalyst?

It’s hard to say but I'd like to think that maybe Ireland started mixing up the game a bit more at that point. The French did themselves no favors at all by bringing on so many substitutes but, at 26-6 up, you can forgive them for switching off a little.

However, Ireland played with a new intensity and new urgency and when they mixed the points of their attacks they suddenly started rattling the French. It was only some lapses in skills and, at times, poor decision-making close to the tryline that denied them a great victory.

These traits have been the team’s major Achilles heel on more than one occasion and, if they can eradicate them, they are sure to find a whole new level of performance.

The lineout was again a shambles and has to become a more reliable source of possession if Ireland ever aspires to win these close games. The scrum was, however, in great nick and we were treated to the rare sight of an Irish team dictating this aspect of the game to the French eight – kudos to all concerned.

Some other unqualified successes included Jamie Heaslip at number eight who was immense throughout the game, the midfield combination of Andrew Trimble and Brian O'Driscoll who will get better and better as they play more games with each other and Rob Kearney who did not look out of place at all in such a vaulted stage.

Mick O'Driscoll added a more dynamic dimension to the Irish pack when he came on and will surely stay in the second row for the Scottish game, notwithstanding the possibility that Paul O'Connell may be fit. Saturday too must've been a fantastic experience for Tony Buckley and he will have benefited greatly even from the limited time he spent on the field against a badly beaten French front five.

Credit must be shared amongst all the players, especially the experienced leaders, for showing great spirit at 26-6 down.

The French playing attitude was a joy to behold and their back three were incredible -- there is such a difference in playing styles between Rougarie and his two Toulousain teammates, Clerc and Herymans, but they are bound by a common trait of having blinding speed.

I think we have seen the beginnings of a new era in French rugby. By no means are they a polished outfit, but there is a freshness and boldness to their play and tactics that hints at brighter days in the Stade de France.

In the final analysis, this could also be the turning point for Ireland this season. Hopefully the team will take immense encouragement from the things that went well on Saturday and improve on these for their next game against Scotland in two weeks time.

If only they can avoid giving the opposition a three or four try head start next time around we too could see better days ahead!