Watching France draw with Ireland in the wee hours of Monday morning was a tense affair. In truth, the 17-all scoreline is a huge disappointment for both camps and the powers that be in Cardiff will call for the champagne to be put on ice.
Ireland can add to their collection the winless ‘positives’ they are so used to collecting. While the men in green did succeed in avoiding the errors of the past, like those tacky La Tour Eiffel key rings, these ‘positives’ are not the real thing and ultimately without much value.
They were the superior team in the first half of the match. Defending with speed and aggression, there was rarely a pass caught that wasn’t punctuated with an Irish hit. Les Blues were rattled. A wayward pass from Rougerie, picked off by Tommy Bowe, was run home for a score under the posts.
This lifted the Irish team’s intensity. Ireland, rewarded for their industry, saw a French side visibly upset by the physicality and looked to turn the screw. Jonathan Sexton was exemplary facing down the French attack, leading by example engaging backs and forward without prejudice.
In attack Rob Kearney, surely one of international rugby’s finest under the high ball, backed himself time and again to great effect. Bowe once again tormented the French, chipping past Clément Poitrenaud before running in his second (owing partially to the generous bounce of the ball).
The second half seemed like a different game entirely. The penalty count soared in favour of France and while Ireland may lament the inconsistency of the officials, it paid dividends for them at a key moment.
Cian Healy, returning from an offside position, cynically timed his run back to interfere with French expanse out wide. Healy raised his hands in innocence and Paul O’Connell intervened.
This pressure told as the hitherto quiet Fofana pounced on some slack play from the Irish backs to score. Parra failed to convert but France were finishing strongly with only three points separating the sides. Eight minutes later it was all square thanks to a more convincing kick from Parra.
The finish to the game was equally tense but mistake-ridden. There were two fruitless drops at goal from France and several attacking mistakes from Ireland from the lineout, from the boot and in the pass.
The errors from both teams, who were desperately trying to win the match, cancelled each other out.
After the game both sides were disappointed with the result, each claiming to be the more worthy team. O’Connell claimed that Ireland ‘left this one behind’ a sentiment echoed by the Irish camp and beyond.
A missed opportunity in an increasingly close series of international rugby.
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