France turned on the style in the second half to launch their RBS Six Nations Championship campaign with a comprehensive 35-17 victory over Ireland in Paris. The French, who had looked subdued before the break, came to life after their 11-3 half-time lead was quickly cut to one point by Eddie O'Sullivan's battling side.
Two tries in quick succession from debutant lock Pascal Papé and centre Yannick Jauzion put them firmly in command at 25-10. Frederic Michalak's third penalty stretched the French lead and although Tyrone Howe's converted try gave them hope with 15 minutes remaining Jean-Baptiste Elissalde marked his first start at scrum-half with the try that sealed Ireland's fate.
Ireland, beaten 43-21 by France in the World Cup quarter-finals and with only one win in Paris in the last 30 years, took a sixth-minute lead when Elissalde was penalised for interference at the base of the Irish scrum. Ronan O'Gara, whose inspired kicking was a feature of the match, landed the resulting penalty from 40 metres.
Michalak levelled the scores with a 21st-minute penalty when O'Gara strayed offside in the front of the posts after the French pack had stolen a scrum against the head. Then France stepped up a gear and took the lead three minutes later with a Vincent Clerc try. Michalak's reverse pass in midfield unleashed centre Damien Traille on the crash ball and, with the Irish defence sucked in, Michalak and Brusque handled swiftly to put Clerc over on the right touchline.
Michalak fluffed his attempted conversion, but added a second penalty on the half hour to give France an 11-3 lead which they held for the remainder of the half.
Ireland made a spirited start to the second half with skipper Paul O'Connell leading by example and when scrum-half Peter Stringer neatly switched play, O'Gara chipped ahead and gathered to send Anthony Foley over. O'Gara added the conversion to reduce the deficit to one point at 11-10.
However, the riposte was almost instant, Serge Betsen engineered a break for Fabien Pelous whose inside pass found Pieter de Villiers, but Girvan Dempsey's tackle dislodged the ball when a try looked to be on the cards.
Ireland's reprieve was short-lived, as full-back Nicolas Brusque led a dazzling French counterattack, Dominici managed to offload in the tackle to Betsen and he sent Pape over for a debut try beside the posts. Michalak's conversion made it 18-10 and France were back in control.
Ireland were still reeling when Elissalde's quick pass enabled Traille to send Jauzion through a gap for a third French try. Michalak converted and there looked to be no way back for the Irish at 25-10 down. Michalak landed a third penalty to turn the screw, but the Irish refused to lie down and Howe forced his way over for a try after Gordon D'Arcy, playing in place of the injured Brian O'Driscoll, made a half break and then managed to offload in the tackle.
O'Gara's conversion made it 28-17, but Elissalde wrapped up victory when he sold John Hayes a dummy and darted over for a try and Michalak converted for 35-17.
France 35-17 Ireland
6 mins Ronan O'Gara penalty Fra 0-3 Irl
9 mins Frederic Michalak misses penalty
21 mins O'Gara caught offside under the posts and Michalak equalises Fra 3-3 Irl
27 mins Vincent Clerc scores the opening try in the corner to confirm France's early superiority on the scoreboard Fra 8-3 Irl
28 mins Michalak squanders the resulting conversion
33 mins Michalak converts a penalty to stretch the home side's lead Fra 11-3 Irl
Half time France lead 11-3 at the break
44 mins O'Gara's chip and pass sends Anthony Foley over to give Ireland the perfect start to the second half Fra 11-8 Irl
45 mins O'Gara remains calm to convert and reduce the deficit to one point Fra 11-10 Irl
51 mins Debutant Pascal Papé scores a fine try after good approach work from Serge Betsen Fra 16-10 Irl
52 mins Michalak converts Fra 18-10 Irl
54 mins Yannick Jauzion goes over for another fine French try Fra 23-10 Irl
55 mins Michalak converts Fra 25-10 Irl
60 mins Michalak hits his third penalty Fra 28-10 Irl
70 mins A break by Gordon D'Arcy allowed Tyrone Howe to force his way over Fra 28-15 Irl
71 mins O'Gara maintains his 100% record to convert Fra 28-17 Irl
76 mins Toulouse scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde dummied his way through the Irish backline to score France's fourth try Fra 33-17 Irl
77 mins Michalak converts Fra 35-17 Irl
Full time Despite sustained late pressure, Ireland fail to add any further scores as the French hold on for a deserved 35-17 victory on home soil
France XV: Brusque, Clerc, Jauzion, Traille, Dominici, Michalak,
Elissalde, Marconnet, Servat, De Villiers, Pelous, Pape, Betsen,
Magne, Harinordoqui.
Replacements: Bru, Crenca, Auradou, Lievremont, Yachvili,
Liebenberg, Elhorga.
Ireland XV: Dempsey, S. Horgan, Maggs, D'arcy, Howe, O'Gara,
Stringer, Corrigan, Byrne, Hayes, O'Kelly, O'Connell,
S. Easterby, Gleeson, Foley.
Replacements: Sheahan, Best, O'Callaghan, Costello, G. Easterby, Humphreys, A Horgan.
Referee: Chris White (England)
Filed by Shane Murray
