French foiled gloriously

A wonderful night in Quimper saw the A team cast off the traditional millstones associated with Irish rugby and in doing so dared to raise expectations. Based on performances like this, defeat need no longer be the staple diet in the international arena.

The contest offered a glorious paradox in Irish terms: trailing 27-9, one minute after the interval, Ireland, instead of capitulating as limbs and minds tired, produced a marvellous second-half display.

The visitors finished the match at a canter, while French bodies appeared the more bedraggled. The standing ovation afforded Les Verts at the end was a gracious and suitable acknowledgement of an outstanding performance in adversity and one accomplished with style.

Reconciling the Irish team that finished the match with the one that stuttered through much of the first half is difficult. The lack of familiarity associated with a side that boasted a high turnover in personnel - seven changes from the Scottish game - made the early errors understandable, if frustrating.

Disorganised, tentative and nervous Ireland appeared as if they would offer nothing more than fodder for the French whose dexterity and confidence behind the scrum threatened to swamp the visitors. Ireland's brittle tackling allowed the home side to pour through holes and they exploited the space intelligently. Despite taking the lead after only 24 seconds through a beautifully struck 40 metre penalty from Paul Burke, it was Gallic flair that dominated proceedings.

Perpignan out-half Benoit Bellot sought every opportunity to use his talented three quarter line: right wing Marc Biboulet and centre Luc Lafforgue were especially prominent. Bellot kicked a penalty before Biboulet crossed for a soft try as fullback Kevin Nowlan missed a relatively facile tackle.

Bellot failed to convert and also missed the conversion after forcing his way over for a try following a succession of rucks close to the Irish line. While there was much to admire about the manner in which the French conjured clever angles of running and put the ball through the hands, both Burke and Steve McIvor were guilty of kicking away far too much possession.

Ireland gradually established a foothold in the match reflected in two Burke penalties. This was largely attributable to some fine passages of play from the pack: Gabriel Fulcher, Gary Longwell and Eddie Halvey were dominant out of touch and the pack responded to this platform with some excellent, controlled driving.

Two tries either side of the interval, Bellot's second and one from prop Jean-Michel Gonzalez, both of which the out-half converted, appeared to be a harbinger of doom for the visitors. What transpired could not have been further removed.

A hard working back row, in which Halvey, David Wallace and David Erskine, were all superb, began to claim more yardage, prop Justin Fitzpatrick was punching bigger holes and the straight hard running of centre Mervyn Murphy offered the forwards a target that invariably broke the gain line.

The Galwegians debutant recovered from a nervous start to produce a sterling performance, epitomised by punishing tackling and hard, straight running: his partnership with Killian Keane blossomed as the match progressed.

Gary Longwell's try on 43 minutes was the product of some fine driving by the pack. Burke missed the conversion as he would do with a penalty three minutes later. Bellot provided the perfect riposte with a penalty but as the French fiddled carelessly, Irish fires were stoked.

They offered a warning on 55 minutes when slick passing that would have done justice to the home side almost put Wallace clear in the 22. Burke, first, and then Keane posted penalties to narrow the deficit before John McWeeney scored a superb individual try on 67 minutes.

Receiving the ball inside his own half, he swept past French hooker Jean Jacques Taofifenua on the shortside, before stepping inside full-back Nicolas Brusque for a brilliant individual try. Burke converted and the unease within the Stade Quimperois was palpable as the French suddenly seemed less assured.

Another fine drive by Erskine from a scrum, taken on by Wallace, forced the home side to concede a penalty, and with Halvey's fingertips holding the ball, Burke posted a brilliant 24 metre penalty, into the breeze. The French greeted the final whistle with more relief than their opponents.

It proved a truly momentous occasion, a performance fashioned on the character, work ethic, determination and ability of the pack allied to some fine individual and collective moments behind the scrum.