Finished
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Impressive Ireland down Les Bleus
Ireland ended a run of seven consecutive defeats to France with a thrilling 30-21 victory in their Six Nations opener in Dublin. More
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Live Commentary
Time:80'- Ireland
- France
80' Hayes prevents release and ref awards penalty in front of posts. Dusautoir drives towards Ireland line, but France concede penalty. O'Gara kicks for touch and Ireland have ended their run of seven consecutive defeats with a superb 30-21 victory. Great game and great performance from Ireland. Thanks for joining us.
80' Horan and O'Connell hold up Jauzion, the ball goes wide to Malzieu but again defence is good. 80 minutes is up and Ireland are going to win this game. France cannot win but they are determined to finish with a try as Fitzgerald again puts in crucial tackle.- 79' Murphy, on for Kearney, cleans up at the back and is forced into touch. Just over a minute remaining as France win lineout.
78' Cooly done by O'Gara and Ireland again lead by two scores, 30-21 with two minutes remaining.- 76' France scored in the last minute to win in Dublin two years ago and Ireland will not want a repeat of that heartbreak. Fitzgerald nails Heymans from kick off and Ireland win penalty as the French wing holds on and stops Heaslip from securing ball. Golden opportunity now for O'Gara.
- 75' France go wide and Fitzgerald has to make crucial tackle on Heymans, which he does. But Ireland concede penalty and France have chance to cut lead from in front of their posts. Beauxis on target to cut Ireland lead to 27-21.
72' Leamy on for Ferris in Ireland back-row. France win scrum and chip ahead, Kearney forced to kick straight for touch. Lineout France in Ireland half. Can Ireland hold on?- 72' France try to go wide but Poitrenaud knocks on. O'Driscoll almost puts D'Arcy clear but ball is spilled forward. Scrum Ireland in France half. O'Driscoll makes inroads and Kearney spins out of several tackles.
- 71' Harinordoquy is replaced by Picamoles. That will hurt France as the Biarritz man was France's best player, especially at lineout.
- 70' O'Connell again wins throw and Ireland use their pick and drive to secure possession. But France counter rucking is good and they force knock on from O'Connell.
- 69' Ireland win penalty at scrum and O'Gara kicks to the corner as Croke Park crowd give their rendition of Fields of Athenry. Another great position for Ireland.
- 68' Morgan Parra on at scrum-half for France, replacing debutant Tillous-Borde.
- 68' O'Gara kicks conversion and Ireland lead 27-18 with 14 minutes remaining. What a cracking game. Like chalk and cheese to the game at Twickenham.
65' O'Connell wins Ireland throw and sets up drive. France collapse the first but Ireland continue to pick and drive through Ferris. O'Callaghan keeps the drive going, the ball comes back for D'Arcy at first receiver and the Leinster man cuts inside for Ireland's third try. Superb effort from Ireland. 25-18.- 64' Ireland feeds O'Driscoll and the Ireland skipper finds a lovely touch 10m from France try line. Can Ireland disrupt France throw. No, as Harinordoquy catches with impreious ease. But Beauxis's is touch is poor and Ireland have lineout deep in France 22.
- 63' A groggy looking Chabal is replaced in the France second row by Milo-Chluski.
- 62' Nice move from Ireland as Bowe makes ground down the wing, but O'Gara's kick is half charged down and Malzieu again looks to break out of defence. This time he is stopped but Ireland cannot afford to keep handing possession to the dangerous French runners!
- 60' Beauxis drops pass but manages to evade O'Gara tackle. But Ireland hold ball up and win scrum down.
- 59' France hooker Szarzewski off and replaced by Leicester's Kayser.
- 58' France again run from deep through Poitrenaud. The ball is recycled and Les Bleus work an overlap and move deep into Ireland 22. Move comes to an end when ref Owens gets in the way of Tilles-Bourde flip inside.
- 55' France again try to counter through their back three but this time they're caught in possession and concede penalty for holding on. Chance for O'Gara but his kick for goal slides just wide from near the touchline. Ireland must not kick away possession, especially to France's dangerous back three.
- 53' France again dangerous down the left and Fritz kicks ahead. O'Gara is back to fall on the ball but France turn him over and attack through their forwards. The ball is recycled and Beauxis lands his second drop goal. 20-18. France have their tails up now.
- 50' Poor kick from O'Gara is claimed by Harinordoquy. The number eight breaks clear into Ireland's half, the ball is recycled and Beauxis kicks across field for Medard who sprints on to the ball and goes over in the corner for a lovely try. 20-15. Game on!
- 49' Flannery has taken a knock to the head and is replaced by Best.
- 48' France knock on in midfield and O'Gara kicks long. Medard runs it back and Jauzion is held. Again France knock on and Ireland have scrum in France half.
- 44' O'Gara makes it 20-10. How will France respond?
- 43' Ireland force France into touch and have lineout just outside Les Bleus' 22. O'Connell wins throw and skipper O'Driscoll rips apart France midfield and goes over under the posts. Great try and great start for Ireland. 18-10.
- 41' Ireland disrupt France restart but knock on. France win scrum and kick ahead, Bowe gathers and claims his own high ball before being forced into touch.
41' O'Gara gets the game restarted. I think we're in for another cracking half.- 40' Flannery claims loose ball but France run back O'Gara's kick and Medard makes 60m up to Ireland's 22. Ball recycled and Beauxis kicks lovely drop goal on the stroke of half-time. 13-10. Some thrilling stuff and Ireland perhaps fortunate to be in the lead, despite Heaslip's stunning try. There is no comaprison between this exciting match and the poor fare offered up at Twickenham earlier.
- 39' Chabal breaks clear and shows great pace before he is hauled down by Bowe in Ireland's 22. 50m made by the maurauding lock. France knock on and Ireland breathe again. Chabal is down but up again.
- 37' Flannery takes too long with throw and ref Owens gives France free kick! Missed chance for Ireland.
- 36' Ireland win penalty for France playing ball on the ground. Wallace is back on as O'Gara kicks Ireland deep into France 22. Great kick and another great chance for Ireland.
- 35' O'Gara adds the conversion and Ireland lead 13-7.
- 33' Nice backs move from Ireland and Kearney breaks first line of defence and Bowe makes a further burst. The ball is kept alive and Heaslip runs a superb line and sprints over from 40m. Superb try! 11-7 Ireland. Great stuff!
- 32' Nice touch kick from O'Gara pins France back into their 22. Can Ireland forwards put France lineout under pressure now? No, as Nallet claims throw superbly before Beauxis kicks for touch into Ireland half.
- 31' O'Gara pushes kick for goal wide and France retain the lead.
- 29' Good attacking position for Ireland as Heaslip burts from base of scrum. But France turnover ball and Beauxis kicks ahead. O'Driscoll claims the ball and Ireland win penalty when France prevent Kearney from releasing.
29' Wallace off for a blood injury and D'Arcy on at centre.- 28' Another big hit by O'Driscoll, this time on Jauzion. O'Gara tries to chip and gather but is beaten to the ball, only for Jauzion to kick the ball long and dead for a scrum back in France's half.
- 26' Ireland still unable to break out of their half as France continue to hold a grip on the game.
- 24' O'Driscoll puts Fitzgerald into space on the left and the wing kicks ahead. France launch dangerous counter and only desperate Ireland defence stop another score. Ireland force turnover and try to counter through Wallace and O'Gara.
- 21' Big hit O'Driscoll on Beauxis ends France attack. French fly-half felt that one!
- 20' Strong burst by Heaslip but when ball comes back it's knocked on by Wallace off poor O'Gara miss pass!
- 18' O'Leary kicks long but there's noonce chasing and Malzieu launches counter attack. Ireland cannot afford to hand possession to dangerous French backs!
- 16' France play ball off their feet - looks like Szarzewski - and Ireland have another decent penalty chance. O'Gara slots kick and cuts France lead to 7-6.
- 15' Brilliant touchline coversion by Beauxis makes it 7-3 France.
- 14' Ireland unable to break out of their half and France stretching their defence. Ball is moved wide from lineout and, after Jauzion makes inroad in midfield, Harinordoquy is put in in the corner. Nice try. 5-3 France.
- 10' Ireland win lineout and rolling maul moves them 30m up field and away from danger. Excellent play by their forwards!
- 8' O'Leary delays put in and France awarded free kick. Ireland defence is good and they earn scrum down. Great play by Ireland.
- 7' France stretch Ireland defence but knock on five metres from home side's try line. Flannery down getting treatment on his shoulder. Kearney has also taken a knock.
- 5' Flannery's throw misses his jumpers but is well claimed by Hayes at the back and the veteran prop sets up drive to retain possession.
- 5' Neat kick by Beauxis who finds lovely touch in Ireland's 22 with outside of his boot!
- 3' O'Gara on target and Ireland off to perfect start. 3-0.
- 1' Knock on by Harinordoquy and early scrum for Ireland, who win their ball and spread ball wide to Bowe on the wing. Good start by Ireland as their forwards drive and earn a penalty!
1' Beauxis gets the game started and Kearney takes if well.
- It's a lovely evening in Dublin and after the fare served up at Twickenham we can only hope for a decent game of rugby. Ireland have lost their last seven against Les Bleus so will be desperate to get their championship off to a winning start!
- In the forwards, Imanol Harinordoquy has been named at number eight at the expense of Louis Picamoles, while Sale's Sebastien Chabal retains his spot at lock where he will partner captain Lionel Nallet. Nicolas Mas is surprisingly left on the bench, with Benoit Lecouls preferred as prop.- - There are recalls in the back division for in-form Toulouse team-mates Florian Fritz and Clement Poitrenaud, at centre and full-back respectively. Poitrenaud's inclusion means Maxime Medard moves to the wing where he displaces another Toulouse player, Cedric Heymans, who is on the bench.
- - France have handed a debut cap to scrum-half Sebastien Tillous-Borde and the Castres number nine forms a half-back pairing with Lionel Beauxis, his partner in the French team that won the 2006 U20 World Cup.
- - Up front, Kidney has gone with a Jerry Flannery at hooker and a back row of Stephen Ferris and David Wallace flanking number eight Jamie Heaslip. Two big names return to the bench, with Denis Leamy and Gordon D'Arcy back after lengthy injury lay-offs.
- - Ireland go into the game without any major injury worries, and coach Declan Kidney has gone for Paddy Wallace at centre alongside skipper Brian OÂ’Driscoll. The talented Luke Fitzgerald, OÂ’DriscollÂ’s centre partner at Leinster, moves to the wing to accommodate Wallace, while Tomas OÂ’Leary starts at scrum-half and the exciting Rob Kearney at full-back.
- - Next up this afternoon, Ireland v France from Dublin, a showdown between two sides with realistic ambitions of challenging defending champions Wales for this yearÂ’s title.
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Summary
Ireland versus France Heaslip 34’, O'Driscoll 43’, D'Arcy 66’ Tries Harinordoquy 14’, Médard 50’ O'Gara 34’, 43’, 66’ Conversions Beauxis 14’ O'Gara 2’, 17’, 77’ Penalties Beauxis 76’ Drops Beauxis 40’, 53’
Live Team Line-Up
- Referee: N Owens
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IrelandManager: Declan Kidney
On the Field
- Horan
- Flannery
- Hayes
- O'Callaghan
- O'Connell
- Ferris
- Wallace
- Heaslip
- O'Leary
- O'Gara
- Fitzgerald
- Wallace
- O'Driscoll
- Bowe
- Kearney
Subs
- Murphy
- D'Arcy
- O'Kelly
- Stringer
- Leamy
- Best
- Court
Injured
None
Suspended
None
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FranceManager: Marc Lievremont
On the Field
- Faure
- Szarzewski
- Lecouls
- Chabal
- Nallet
- Dusautoir
- Ouedrago
- Harinordoquy
- Tillous-Borde
- Beauxis
- Médard
- Jauzion
- Fritz
- Malzieu
- Poitrenaud
Subs
- Heymans
- Mas
- Millo-Chluski
- Baby
- Kayser
- Picamoles
- Parra
Injured
None
Suspended
None
ireland for the grand slam
Thank you mister referee
Ireland were class today brilliant preformance hopefully after that game today we can push on for the grand slam
the only thing the french are good at is complaining
ireland for the grand slam
o driscoll is GOD!
well done ireland,we'll beat those bloody english too
this is utter rubbish france should have won
rob kearney had a class match. heaslip was gud too. o gara had btr games but paul o connell has 2 b lions captain!!! just a class act!!! sorry wales but i cant c ireland been stopped!!!!!!!
IRELAND ARE THE BEST AND ARE GOING FOR THE GRAND SLAM AND 2011 RUGBY WORLD CUP.
Well done Ireland
bod is god
Come on, Ireland!!!
lets beat these FROGS
lets beat these FROGS
lets beat these FROGS
C'mon Ireland you flukey ****'s beat summy France!
what a match,,, keep it up Ireland you are doing so well. Looking forward to playing you at Murrayfield next month
after beating france,the huns will be no trouble
come on ireland there is no reason u cant do it come on beat the french @#$%
C'mon Ireland; no excuses this year. your , hands down , the best squad in the tournament this year.
C'Mon Ireland. Lets make this our year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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