Ireland lost to France but will have learnt much from a second-half fight back following a truly dismal display in the first 40 minutes.
Well at least the first half happened in France and not New Zealand.
On a hot night, Ireland were outplayed and outclassed from the first minute to the fortieth, wilting almost as soon as they stepped out in front of a capacity crowd at Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux.
That was the frustrating half. A half where France created all the chances, and during which the home side used smart teamwork to help give Clerc the lone quick and decisive try of the match, and where they had the ball pretty much all the time.
Ireland were woeful. When they found space, they lacked support. When they had the ball they kicked it away as if it were diseased.
Irish scrums can be iffy, but the lineouts can normally be relied upon. Well not on this night they couldn’t.
The one hint of a bright light in the darkness was Andrew Trimble. Without his gutsy defensive work we’d have been looking a far worse situation at the midpoint than France ahead by 13-3, with Ireland’s points coming in the last five minutes of the courtesy of a Ronan O’Gara penalty.
And then came the second half. It was the same team with a different spirit that marched out for part two.
Juice
It started to cool down, and the Irish squad found their energy reserves still had some juice left in them.
Keith Earls and Andrew Trimble displayed some quick thinking that stopped France in their tracks. Then Rob Kearney showed some serious pace as he deftly weaved his way down the pitch.
Then O’Gara converted another penalty. Then another.
By the time the imposing form of Paul O’Connell was brought on it was turning into quite the game.
Ireland fought back to come within a point of France at 13-12. Maybe they should have given it a go when a long run from Felix Jones ended up putting the ball deep in the French half, with a penalty conceded in the France 22.
But Ireland elected to kick for goal again, and this time the angle was too tight and O’Gara’s kick drifted to the right.
From that point France rallied. Both teams remembered that they actually wanted to win this, even if it wasn’t competitive.
France rallied, struck back with two more penalties, shored up their defence and began to secure more possession.
Ireland had a scrum and a lineout in the France 22 in the last five minutes: the scrum collapsed and France were given a penalty. Ireland had lost their last chance.
It wasn’t a great performance. But at least in the end, and despite a dreadful first half, it wasn’t a disastrous performance. It was acceptable.
Next week’s return leg, with the likes of Brian O’Driscoll hopefully back in the squad, should be interesting.
Nick Bradshaw
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