Thornley: Inspired Ireland soak up punishment and stand tall

When the going gets tough, the tough get going, and rarely has it got tougher than it did in the punishing hospital ward which the Millennium Stadium began to represent here. But this has been a fruitful hunting ground for Irish rugby, and never happier than yesterday, albeit the toll was high. Even Muhammad Ali in his pomp didn’t roll with so many punches as this Irish team yesterday against a French team intent on beating them into submission.

However, they dug deep into their squad, their reserves of mental strength and their bond with an Irish crowd who were part of this win. In doing so, Ireland withstood the double whammy of losing their chief strategist Johnny Sexton and Paul O'Connell (most probably to this tournament and thus his Irish test career) to outclass the bluntest of French instruments. Second-half tries by Rob Kearney and Conor Murray, along with eight points from a remarkably composed Ian Madigan to add to two first-half penalties by Sexton secured a thoroughly deserved 24-9 win.

Ireland thus beat France for the first time in four World Cup meetings to secure a seven-day break before facing Argentina back at the Millennium Stadium next Sunday.

Biggest concern

But the toll was indeed high. Joe Schmidt admitted afterwards that O'Connell was his biggest concern, with the great man having apparently been taken to the University Hospital of Wales with a suspected ruptured hamstring. If he is replaced, Dan Tuohy would be next in line although the management could opt for Rhys Ruddock given a depleted backrow.

Sexton appeared to have suffered an abductor muscle injury and must be a doubt for the quarter-finals, and ditto the Munster captain Peter O’Mahony who departed before the hour mark with what may have been a medial ligament strain.

Keith Earls also looked to be in pain, perhaps with a leg injury, when replaced by Luke Fitzgerald. Furthermore, Sean O'Brien could be cited for punching Pascal Pape in the stomach which the officials missed. Meanwhile, a replacement will have to be found for Jared Payne, possibly from Fergus McFadden, Andrew Trimble, Stuart McCloskey, Luke Marshall or Noel Reid.

Looking ahead to the quarter-final with Argentina, Joe Schmidt said: “I’ll see who we glue together first. It going to be massively challenging. I know we won’t have the same starting 15 as we had today. I’d doubt whether Paul will make it. I’d be hopeful about Johnny and a little more than hopeful about Pete but we’re just going to put them on ice for the next 24 hours, get the scans done and we’ll just given everyone a day and a half off and get back together on Tuesday evening and start having a look.”

“It just probably emphasises how hard those guys who came off the bench worked and how hard those guys who were already on the pitch worked to keep a bit of cohesion and a work ethic going that showed the character that they have.”

“I think they’ve demonstrated again that they can hang in and they can do a little bit more than that as well.”

"Robbie Henshaw was second top tackler, he was second top ball carrier. I just felt he had another enormous game and took another step forward off very little rugby, and you can say that about a number of players."

Having also mentioned how Jamie Heaslip, Conor Murray, Rory Best and Rob Kearney assumed the leadership, and extolled Ian Madigan, Chris Henry, Iain Henderson and the entire replacement front row, Schmidt said: "It's hard to single out individuals when it's such a collective effort. It was very much a 31-man effort because a lot of guys had helped try to prepare them and make sure they were ready to go."

Heaslip, who inherited the captaincy described the game as “a slug-fest”, adding: “Lads are physically and emotionally drained at the end of it, but from this point on, that’s what you’ve got to give when you get the chance to wear that jersey.”

La Marseillaise remains the best anthem in world rugby, and probably world sport, but after that dreadful diddly-i start, even Ireland's Call had plenty of passion and gusto to it. A capacity crowd of 72,163 were crammed into this rugby venue, and such was the din under the closed roof that at times Nigel Owens' whistle could not be heard.

Massive games

"I've been really lucky in my career to play in some massive games for Leinster, Ireland, the Lions, and that atmosphere surpassed pretty much anything I've ever played in,"" said Heaslip. "Both sets of fans were a credit to the game, I think. The French shouting Allez Les Bleus, and Ireland coming back with the Fields of Athenry, and Ole, Ole, Ole."

Los Pumas, lurking with intent, are comparatively injury -free after romping to a third successive win yesterday, their nine tries against Namibia taking their tally to 22 in three games. Argentina are again proving how much they revel in tournaments, have knocked out Ireland out twice in three previous meetings, and they play rugby, the kind France used to play but, sadly, have long since abandoned.

Unless France manage an inspired performance ala their quarter-final win over the All Blacks at the same venue next Saturday, even the misfiring All Blacks will devour them.

In seven games against Ireland as a winger, six of which he started, Philippe Saint-André was on the winning side seven times, scoring five tries.

In five games as the French coach against Ireland, he has no wins, two draws and now three successive defeats.

How times have changed but Ireland aren’t complaining.