French player ratings - bench proves the major turning point

15 Maxime Medard

He scored the only try of the match by taking a good line off a dominant scrum and running a good angle. He didn’t have much else to do. Rating: 6

14 Teddy Thomas

He didn’t get any opportunity to show his beautiful running skills and was replaced early in the second half for fear that Ireland would target him in the air. Rating: 5

13 Maxime Mermoz

He brought defensive solidity to the French side and made sure that Ireland didn’t get a sniff of a midfield line break. He didn’t get much ball going forward. Rating: 5.

12 Jonathan Danty

He was a physically powerful presence as a ball carrier, given a meagre supply of ball but was well marshalled for the most part. Rating: 5.

11 Virimi Vakatawa

It says a great deal about the soporific nature of the contest that he featured more as a runner off the shoulder of his scrumhalf than getting any worthwhile ball out side. Rating: 6.

10 Jules Plisson

He was a peripheral figure in the contest, missing one kickable penalty and his punting in general was uninspired. Rating: 4

9 Sebastien Bezy

He worked hard to get his forwards into the game and was more of a factor in the second half when the changes up front allowed him some latitude to play. Rating: 5.

1 Jefferson Poirot

He carried ball powerfully but was part of a backpedaling scrum and it was no surprise when he departed. Rating: 4

2 Guilhem Guirado

His tackle on Dave Kearney could yet require the intervention of the citing officer. He was hugely abrasive and fired up to lead his team by deed. Ireland nicked a couple of his throws. Rating: 5

3 Uini Atonio

He lost his battle with Jack McGrath comprehensively in the tight and could batter his way past Irish tacklers. Rating: 4

4 Alexandre Flanquart

He was a different player when coach Guy Noves made his changes at prop but his hard work in defence was exemplified, by the 12 tackles he made. Rating: 6

5 Yoann Maestri

He should received a yellow card for his cheap shot shoulder on Jonathan Sexton but like his secondrow partner, worked hard in defence. Rating: 5

6 Wenceslas Lauret

He was part of a French backrow that caused Ireland problems at the breakdown and grew more prominent as his side enjoyed more post-interval ball. Rating: 5

7 Yacouba Camara

A fine athlete, which he showed when forcing Ireland to concede a couple of penalties at ruck time, but balanced by three turnovers conceded. Rating: 6

8 Damien Chouly

He stuck doggedly to his remit and made more metres than any other players in the French pack. Rating: 7.

Bench: This won France the game. The arrival of Eddie Ben Arous and Rabah Slimani completely changed the nature of the scrum as a contest, forcing Ireland to concede penalties and as a result territory and possession. Maxime Machenaud made a difference too. Rating: 8

Guy Noves: His tactical change after the interval in replacing the props gave him the upper hand but in truth France should have been miles behind on the scoreboard at that point if Ireland had taken their chances. Rating: 6