In the end, Ireland extinguished France’s Six Nations hopes after starting badly and finishing well.
For the second time in three championship games, Ireland were sluggish in the opening quarter. Against Scotland, they conceded two early tries. Against France it was two penalties and one massive sigh of relief when Remi Lamerat had what would have been an excellent try chalked off.
The hosts used the rolling maul to find a way back into the game. It was a way of sapping French strength and asserting forward dominance. Jamie Heaslip, Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton, with the conversion, did the rest.
Ireland went from 6-0 down to 7-6 in front but could not tag on another score before Nigel Owens whistled for half-time. Despite 66% possession and 70% territory, Ireland had been second best for long tracts of the first half.
Big players like CJ Stander, Sean O’Brien and Keith Earls had failed to fire; failed to find a way into the game. Garry Ringrose was having a fine game though. The 22-year-old had been a ball of energy and endeavour in a tough opening 40.
Following Ireland’s 19-9 victory at the Aviva Stadium, Ringrose told us that some harsh, re-focusing words were barked in the Irish dressing room at the break. He said:
“Before half-time when we came away with nothing, we got a kick up the bum in the changing room. Having said that, we knew we just had to get into the right areas, the right positions of the pitch and hopefully the points were coming.”
Ringrose added: “Considering the first 20 minutes, we did alright to be leading. But we couldn’t underestimate how strong they were and how, quite literally, they could score from anywhere.
“We really had to dig deep. Thankfully, on a penalty advantage, Johnny’s drop-goal went over and that was a nice momentum shift for us. We could keep going from there.”
It didn’t get any easier, and they got back within seven points and we had to work again. It really was a tough battle.
Ulster lock Iain Henderson came on with 20 minutes to go and Ireland 16-6 up. He also recalled some sharp words in the Irish dressing room as a plan was formulated to take the game away from the visitors. He said:
“Initially, the talk was about frustration about not getting over the line. After that, we put that behind us. We can’t affect that and it can’t have any bearing on the game.
“It was more about what to do in the second half. A real defence focus – to make sure they didn’t score, which was fantastic and we didn’t let them score [a try].
“After that, to concentrate on ourselves and our own abilities to hold onto the ball as that was one thing that frustrated us in the first half. It was a real greasy ball and it was slipping out all over the place, especially when carrying it into contact.”Â
Sexton and Murray pulled the strings in the second half but it was important that the likes of Stander, Tadhg Furlong and Ringrose upped the ante, in attack and defence. The Leinster centre finished with 29 metres gained off 17 carries and he stuck five of his seven tackle attempts. Very good but room to remove.
Wales are next, in Cardiff, and it will be a fearsome test.
