Rugby story by Boris Webb, Mon, 13 Feb 2006 03:16:00 GMT


PARIS - France blasted their way past a sluggish Ireland in their Six Nations game at the Stade de France on Saturday with a blitz of tries in the first half. Aurelien Rougerie, Olivier Magne, David Marty and Cedric Heymans all got in tries as the French ran up to a commanding 29-3 lead at half time.

Heymans and Marty were in action again in the second half as they extended their lead to 43-3before switching off and allowing the Irish to come back into the game. Ronan O'Gara, Gordon D'Arcy and Donncha O'Callaghan and Andrew Trimble took advantage of this lapse from the French to put in tries and make for an exciting finish as Ireland came very close to the French score.

But the Irish have themselves to blame as they had some golden try-scoring chances in the first half as they frittered off the advantage of having plenty of possession. However, France took advantage of this sluggish display by the Irish in the first half to effectively seal the game by the 18th minute. O'Gara was guilty of missing a penalty in the first half when a little more effort was required from the Irish. In the second half, Ireland seemed determined to make amends and almost snatched an unlikely win, but France held on to record a scratchy win.

France coach Bernard Laporte was pleased with his side's performance despite their second half performance, "Ireland played well in the last 30 minutes. We played well for 50 minutes with a lot of intensity and agility," he said. "Olivier Magne and Rafael Ibanez played very well. They brought us their experience.

Aurelien Rougerie also played very well." Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan sounded optimistic even after such a mauling, "It's hard to see where France played any rugby," he said. "We made enough errors for a whole season and gifted them the best part of 40 points. The players did not go out to make those mistakes but you do not expect that many in one game."

Match Details
Referee: P Honiss (New Zealand).

France: Dominici; Rougerie, Fritz, Marty, Heymans; Michalak, Elissalde; Milloud, Ibanez, De Villiers; Pelous, Thion; Nyanga, Magne, Bonnaire.
Substitutes: Boyet for Michalak (69), Yachvili for Elissalde (59), Marconnet for Milloud (59), Bruno for Ibanez (47), Nallet for Nyanga (71), Martin for Magne (59).

Ireland: Murphy; Horgan, O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, Bowe; O'Gara, Stringer; Corrigan, Flannery, Hayes; O'Kelly, O'Connell; Easterby, Wallace, Leamy.
Substitutes: Reddan for O'Driscoll (77), Trimble for Bowe (62), S Best for Corrigan (51), O'Callaghan for O'Kelly (51).

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