IRELAND had the means of production at Lansdowne Road last Saturday in France in the opening engagement in the International Championship to fashion the victory that would have defied the odds and the predictions of most.

It was not, however, enough, as France had the flair, the perception, the pace and the creativity. In the end, those attributes proved decisive as the French extended their unbeaten run against Ireland that extends back to 1983.

Their 32 points was the highest total France have attained at Lansdowne Road, and by winning they achieved the expected. Yet hidden behind a 17 point losing margin and the cold statistics of this absorbing match is not another tale of woe and lengthening shadows for Ireland.

There was in this performance, despite the wide margin of the French victory, more than just a faint ray of light and of hope that Ireland may yet emerge this season from the shadows.

A fortnight earlier Lansdowne Road had been enveloped in dejection after a dreadful performance against Italy. Last Saturday defeat was again Ireland's portion, yet Irish rugby regained its pride and its character, if not as yet the tangible reward of victory.

No, this was not another moral victory, but within this Irish performance was embraced a tone setting pattern that, when expanded beyond the limits that were obtained this time, will surely bring its reward.

One went to the ground last Saturday not confident that hope would be fulfilled. Yet one left the ground with immense sympathy for this Ireland side, who had given so much for so long and then, in a short span, saw the scoreboard make a shambles of the true competitive balance of the match.

With less than 20 minutes to go, Ireland led by three points and n historic victory against the improbable was more than a tenuous possibility. With the game in the 73rd minute, Ireland trailed by only seven points. But mistakes are a costly exercise against the French, and so it proved.

But this most certainly was not a failure of the spirit. Irish hopes did not fall hostage to the physical demands imposed on their bodies; rather, I believe, the level of concentration dropped after a try had been conceded in the 61st minute which gave France the lead against the run of play. So much Irish effort had gone unrewarded and then - to resort to the modern terminology - the Irish side lost its shape as the psychological elements came into play.

It was in the crucial closing stages that the French turned what had been no more that equality into tangible advantage when they had the vision and the ability to profit from Irish mistakes. This was not, however, excellence triumphing over mediocrity; it was opportunity turned into numerical expression and, in the end, victory for a side admittedly with the more rounded skills, as four tries illustrate.

Ireland went as far as they could, if not as far as they might, because of the attacking limitations that a lack of pace and vision impose. That really was why Ireland came close, closer than a 17 point deficit indicates, but still came up short. But let it be said in defence of the side, they walked from the field this time without a credibility problem.

The forwards ability to win possession, and the character, industry and effort shown in this performance must not, however, be allowed to disguise the fact that not until the ball is used to maximum benefit and mistakes - defensive and otherwise - are eradicated will the fruits of victory flow at this level. Ireland coach Brian Ashton was realistic enough to acknowledge this.

It started well enough for Ireland when Eric Elwood kicked an excellent penalty after two minutes. Then the French ability to drive and maul effectively - especially near the Ireland line - asserted itself. They won a line out and drove forward, the Irish hung on in defence and scrum half Fabien Galthie was able to cut left of his forwards and score by the posts. Thomas Castaignede converted. France led by four points and only six minutes gone.

Two minutes later Elwood kicked a second penalty and Ireland trailed by only a point. Had not Eric Miller foolishly elected to run a penalty in front of the posts, Ireland would have led 9-7. Nevertheless, Miller had a great match at number eight.

The pack did very well in so many respects for so long, with Jeremy Davidson outstanding in the line out and ably supported by Paddy Johns, and the forwards drove and mauled with effect. The French were well contained, but they, unlike Ireland, made it pay when they got within striking distance.

A fine back movement gave promise for Ireland, but Ireland could not do that often enough.

But for all the tenacity and courage shown by Ireland, it was France who struck again with their second try. Elwood, who did so many things so well even if he made a few mistakes, could only get a short touch near the Ireland line. Again France used the line out as a platform to drive forward, the ball came back, Galthie cut on the short side and his pass gave David Venditti the scoring pass. Castaignede missed the conversion but France led 12-6 in the 33rd minute.

While the Irish midfield defence was very solid, for which Maurice Field, his replacement Kurt McQuilkin, and Jonathan Bell deserve credit, the Irish paid a heavy price for being unable to defend near their line when the French forwards drove on.

Yet some of the Irish tackling was excellent and none better or more effective than that of Niall Hogan. What the Irish could not do was open the French defence, and all the scores came from penalties by Elwood, who kicked two, in the 36th and 40th minutes, to leave Ireland level at the interval.

By that stage Ireland captain Keith Wood was gone from the scene; he dislocated his left shoulder after he fell over Castaignede. His loss was considerable.

French forwards Olivier Merle and Fabien Pelous had been given yellow cards in the first half. But generally the French tightened their discipline in the second half and gave Elwood only one other chance to kick at goal, in the 50th minute, when he put Ireland into the lead.

The final quarter started with something akin to disaster for Ireland. Possession was lost near half way and France got a scrum. It was the prelude to an attack on the short side, and the Irish cover was missing. Phillipe Carbonneau a replacement for Galthie, moved left and Venditti was in the clear after James Topping came off his wing. Venditti chipped over O'Shea and, while David Corkery seemed to get possession on the ground, he could not retain it. The French were up in number as Ireland struggled to contain on their line. Twice they stopped the advance, but then Venditti came inside to take a pass and scored by the posts. Castaignede converted and France led 19-15 at a crucial stage.

Ireland began to make mistakes as the ball was knocked on or dropped, and the French are better than any opposition at sensing and exploiting vulnerability. They completed the scoring with two penalties from Castaignede and a final, converted try by Venditti.