11th October 2015
France 9-24 Ireland
(2015 Rugby World Cup)
As with the group decider I had witnessed at Twickenham
twenty-four hours earlier, this one also featured a pair of already-qualified
sides with a tangible prize on offer i.e. the avoidance of current World Champions
New Zealand in the following weekend’s quarter-finals.
France’s day began poorly as first Frederik Michalak then
Scott Spedding each failed with penalty attempts in the opening ten minutes
before Irish fly-half Johnny Sexton, by contrast, popped his first attempt over
with ease.
Sexton was later forced off with injury mid-way through
the first half, his replacement being Ian Madigan. Or “Fecking Madigan”, as one of the Irish supporters
behind me labelled him. This fan clearly
had little faith in the Leinster man’s abilities. And early-on it was perhaps not difficult to
see why, as much of Madigan’s kicking and passing could most charitably be
described as wayward. That being said
his penalty success to put his side 9-6 ahead, a lead they held until the
interval, must have been a real nerve settler.
And the lead could have been significantly greater had not Keith Earles juggled
then fumbled a try setting-up pass from Tommy Bowe
Following the break the Ireland forwards inexorably began
to exert control on proceedings, and in the 51st minute Rob KEARNEY stretched
to touch down the opening try of the match.
Although replacement Morgan Parra pulled the score back to 14-9 with a
penalty, France never really troubled the Irish line thereafter and it was left
to Ireland’s Conor MURRAY to clinch the match, he taking advantage of that odd
base-of-the-post rule.
24-6 it finished to the Irish, but victory had not come
without cost. For there were serious
looking injuries to not only the aforementioned Sexton, but also flanker Peter
O’Mahony and, perhaps most significantly, captain Paul O’Connell.
And Argentina awaited.
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