Irish breakdown play proved cornerstone of epic victory

Success is failure turned inside out, with France's sublime final attacking flurry worthy of winning any match. But the hunger in Ireland's defence would not quit. What a way for it all to end. And what made it even more special was France played brilliant, controlled and at times majestic rugby, and still Ireland won.

France played huge tracts of the Six Nations in their own half, but clearly last Saturday they had a precise exit strategy. Their half-backs, especially Maxime Machenaud, got the ball beyond their half. Then they sparked. Their first lineout was off the top, with monster Mathieu Bastareaud slicing through our midfield. Their second, deep in their own half, was shortened to five men, mauled and then box-kicked; much more measured, calmer and effective.

Beyond that, France played off narrow targets with plenty of rewinds and upped the pace significantly as they exited their own half. They desperately tried to keep the ball off the deck, constantly looking for offloads. When this occurred they were mesmeric.

Slowed flow
But the Irish defence got them to deck and Ireland's breakdown play was the winning of the game. It consistently slowed the French flow, where the Irish fringe and backline defence remained a powerful unit. Off the deck was a different matter, highlighted by Murray's long box-kick on 58 minutes that sent the French into free flow.

On Friday I reflected on the Dimitri Szarzewski effect for France and boy did he deliver (as did Rory Best). The French lineout was transformed and gave them huge momentum and choice of play.

But once again the Irish scrum was hugely profitable. Firstly all the resets in the opening flurry took the pace out of the French attack. The second scrum penalty was deep inside our half, allowing Johnny Sexton to go down the line. Eleven phases later Chris Henry's magic offload to Sexton made Ireland's opening score. Five minutes later Louis Picamoles dropped a simple ball and from the ensuing scrum O'Driscoll played a beautiful show-and-go through outhalf Remi Tales.

Key events
Three key events then played out. First was O'Driscoll's ball placement, perfect even down to his left-hand release as Conor Murray arrived. It required only a one-man clear- out from Sexton and opened a gate for Murray. Two seconds was all it took. Second, as highlighted on Friday, the French don't push up on both sides in defence. They tend to focus on the open side. Murray picked off O'Driscoll and headed against the grain, where France were all at sea. For all three Irish tries France failed to push up in defence.

Third was the stadium clock. Ireland’s first try came on 20 minutes and the second on 25. France have consistently struggled in this time period.

The scrum was to assist us again on 39 minutes. Sexton went down the line from our third scrum penalty. Ireland rumbled, but France slowed down the process until they eventually go off their feet conceding a very kickable three points. But it was missed!

France pummelled the Irish line so many times and yet crossed only twice; what defence, Les Kiss! The first French try was pure magic. A lineout maul was halted before Tales launched an inch-perfect crossfield kickthat Huget tapped down to Brice Dulin.

The last verse of Don't Quit comes to mind when watching O'Driscoll's career but it's particularly apt for Ireland's third try. A great French attack ended with Huget spilling and Rob Kearney bursting out of defence. From the breakdown Murray found Sexton. War-ravaged Paul O'Connell stood up out of the left side breakdown, and off he headed, not after the ball, which was being passed along the line to Andrew Trimble, but down the field where the ball might end up.

Trimble held brilliantly in both hands powering his way down the right hand touchline with O’Driscoll outside him and only Dulin to beat.

The first man to that O’Driscoll breakdown was O’Connell, followed by Best and D’Arcy with Sexton crossing the line, as none of the old warriors was ready to quit.

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit - It's when things seem worst that you must not quit .

Life goes on
Of course life and rugby do go on. This Thursday at 6.30pm in Donnybrook, rugby will be out in force with the Jesuit Schools vs Spiritan Schools rugby match. What a night it'll be for 21-year-old Jack Kavanagh http://www.jackkavanagh trust.com/. My prolapsed disc between C5 and C6 was serious but nothing like Jack's, who is paralysed from the neck down.

With O'Driscoll-like determination, when told he would never walk again Jack replied, "What have I to lose in trying".

PS. Congratulations to Danny Brennan, Trevor's first-born, who has been selected on the French Under-16 rugby team; he's 6'4" and 19 stone! God help Ireland . liamtoland@yahoo.com