Ireland triumph over France in Dublin thriller
Gordon D'Arcy scored on his comeback from injury
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Saturday, 07, Feb 2009 10:23
Ireland got their Six Nations campaign off to the perfect start with a pulsating 30-21 win over France at Croke Park.
Ireland were in front inside three minutes as Ronan O'Gara kicked a simple penalty after Lionel Faure was penalised for not rolling away from the tackle.
But it was France who dominated possession from there on in. The visitors played with their typical flair, choosing to run almost all the ball they got. They could have scored a try on two or three occasions before they crossed the try line after 15 minutes.
And when it did come, it was an absolutely phenomenal score from the French. They started the move with a line-out from their own half. Clement Poitrenaud broke through the Ireland defence as he crashed through O'Gara.
Just as it looked like the French would be pushed into touch on the right-wing, Maxime Medard came up with a neat grubber kick which kept the ball alive. The French then drifted the ball to the other end of the pitch with a long pass from Lionel Beauxis and Imanol Harinordoquy went over for the try. Beauxis added the extra two points.
France gave away a needless penalty straight from the kick-off as they were penalised for going into the ruck off their feet and O'Gara kicked his second penalty of the game.
France had done all the attacking play at the beginning of the match, but Ireland showed their ability with a brilliant try which matched that scored by the French.
Rob Kearney and Tommy Bowe combined to break through the French line on the left-wing, with the ball played to number eight Jamie Heaslip, who cut through a huge gap in the French defence and then did a mesmerising step to his left,
Poitrenaud was completely fooled and Heaslip went to his right to score the tr, with O'Gara successful with his conversion attempt.
Beauxis kicked a drop-goal as Ireland went into the break with a slender 13-10 lead.
Ireland got off to the best possible start in the second-half as Brian O'Driscoll showed his old magic by taking advantage of a missed tackle by Beauxis, slipping through the French defence and side-stepping Julien Malzieu for the try. O'Gara added the extra two points.
Ireland suddenly had a ten-point lead, but that didn't last very long.
First Beauxis kicked a wonderful angled ball which Medrad got hold of and went over for the try. Beauxis then added another drop-goal as the French came within two points of Ireland.
The Irish hit back as the forwards set up a good attacking position and substitute Gordon D'Arcy came off the wing and went past Thierry Dusautoir to touch down. O'Gara was successful with the conversion attempt to increase the lead to nine points.
The teams shared one more penalty each, but it was Ireland who held on for a famous and well-deserved win.