Elissalde puts the boot in for hungry French

Few reputations will remain intact after this trouncing. Ireland A were simply swept aside last night at Ravenhill by a French side that showed no mercy in putting the Irish firmly to the sword.

There was so little to draw from this Irish display as the French swept past them in a six-try blitz which saw outhalf Jean-Babtiste Elissalde kick 23 points - nine kicks from nine attempts.

For the Irish, Jeremy Staunton showed some neat touches and Geordan Murphy looked hungry for work, but these were only minor points in a totally miserable performance.

The Irish were given a lesson in ball retention and defence, and poor Victor Costello was buried almost every time he tried to make ground. Tony McWhirter was playing out of position and looked it, while Johnny O'Connor tried hard but ended up being carried off.

The French took control from the outset. They looked hungrier for action and their pack had the clear edge in a rather disorganised opening for Ireland.

Early penalties from outhalf Jean-Babtiste Elissalde opened France's account before scrumhalf Pierre Mignoni left Ireland's blindside defence napping with a dazzling break. He fed flanker Christophe Milheres, and from quick ruck ball the French exploited a clear overlap for hooker Benoit August to canter in.

Elissalde converted and then added another penalty before Ireland could register their first score through a Jeremy Staunton penalty after 20 minutes following the sinbinning of French lock Lionel Nallet.

Ireland had begun to bring some shape to their game, but the French inflicted another blow five minutes before the half hour.

An Ireland attack broke down on the left and Mignoni again did the damage. His break drew the cover before putting full back Pepito Elhorga clear for a try which Elissalde converted.

Two more Elissalde penalties followed before Ireland finally scored after Victor Costello rumbled off the back of a scrum. Staunton converted but Ireland trailed 2610 at the break.

Things failed to improve for Ireland after the restart. Two Staunton penalties were all they could manage, while the French benefited from McWhirter's sinbinning. Elissalde kicked another penalty before a devastating attack saw Sebastien Bonetti put away under the posts for a converted score.

Aurelien Rougerie was next to make the try-line after Ireland were driven back in midfield. Elissalde again converted.

But with the game entering its final phase Ireland managed a consolation score from Anthony Horgan, which substitute outhalf Paul Burke converted.

As Ireland replacement Trevor Brennan was sin-binned on the edge of injury time, the French rubbed further salt into Irish wounds with Elhorga and Bonetti bagging their second tries.

SCORERS: Ireland A: J Staunton 3 pens, con; V Costello, A Horgan try each; P Burke con. France A: JB Elissalde 5 pens, 4 cons; P Elhorga, S Bonetti 2 tries each; A Rougerie, B August try each; J-F Dubois con.

IRELAND A: D Crotty; G Murphy, M Mullins, J Kelly, A Horgan; J Staunton, T Tierney (capt); J Fitzpatrick, S Byrne, S Best, R Casey, M O'Driscoll, T McWhirter, J O'Connor, V Costello. Replacements: L Cullen for R Casey (55 mins); T Brennan for V Costello, P Burke for J Staunton (both 60 mins); J Bell for J Kelly, P Smyth for J Fitzpatrick, M Horan for S Byrne (all 66 mins); K Campbell for T Tierney (76 mins).

FRANCE A: P Elhorga; A Rougerie, S Bonetti, Y Jazion, R Poulain; JB Elissalde, P Mignoni (capt); O Milloud, B August, A Galasso, L Nallet, B Gerard, A Audebert, C Milheres, I Harinordoqui. Replacements: S Chabal for A Audebert, B Lecouls for A Galasso, Y Bru for B August (all 50 mins); S Nouchi for D Gerard, D Traille for R Poulain (both 65 mins); S Chabal for P Mignoni (67 mins); J-F Dubois for J-b Elissalde.

Referee: R Dixon (SRU).