Ireland survive late scare to make history on French soil

UNDER-20s SIX NATIONS: France 12 Ireland 13: IRISH COACH Mike Ruddock said his charges were a credit to themselves after carving out a first ever age-grade win on French soil at Stade des Aleps in Grenoble on Saturday afternoon.

And while Ruddock admitted that Ireland were fortunate to survive a decision by the television match official after France bundled over the line in the dying moments, he felt the correct call was made in not allowing a try.

“Sometimes the wheels of fortune work for you, other times they go against you. It was a tight call, but the correct decision was made. We talk to players about getting that one extra per cent out of everything, about putting in that little bit more. Fair play to the lads they way they got their bodies in there at the death, they manufactured a situation where the TMO decision had to go in their favour.

“The TMO couldn’t see if the ball was grounded so he couldn’t award the try. On another day that decision might go against but you have got to work to give yourself every chance of it going in your favour,” said Ruddock.

Ireland’s best ever result in an age-grade match in France was a 20-20 draw in February 2004 in an U-21 game and Saturday’s win now gives them a great chance of having a crack at a Grand Slam last achieved in 2007.

“We certainly won’t be looking that far ahead. We have a lot to improve on but you can see the progress. I felt we could have wrapped it up long before the finish on Saturday but we weren’t clinical enough and again missed a few kicks. But you learn from these. I am delighted for the lads, they have made a little bit of history but they know they have a lot of work to do,” added Ruddock.

Ireland were chasing the game from the early stages after Bayonne’s Clement Otazo edged the French in front with two penalties.

Ireland’s defence was solid throughout and captain Paddy Jackson reduced the margin with a penalty from distance after 20 minutes.

That left it 6-3 at the break but it was Ireland who hit the front after the restart with centre Foster Horan breaking down the left-wing before cutting in to score under the posts. Jackson added the points to make it 10-6.

However, France hit back and two more penalties from Otazo edged them in front and Ireland had to endure 10 minutes while flanker Aaron Conneely was in the bin. But they countered and JJ Hanrahan, who took over the kicking duties when Jackson was replaced, landed the match-winning kick with a penalty with eight minutes remaining.

FRANCE:D Domvo (Begles-Bordeaux); JY Zebango (Toulon), J Danty (Stade Français), I Perraux (Montpellier), Y Artru (Montpellier); C Otazo (Bayonne), T Ecochard (Perpignan); J Poirot (Brive), R Carbous (Perpignan), F Fresia (Toulon), B Chalureau (Toulouse), P Jedrasiak (Clermont Auvergne), K Galletier (Montpellier), J Kazubek (Clermont Auvergne), K Chateau (Toulouse). Replacements: P Cotet (Perpignan) for Fresia (50 mins); JC Fidinde (Clermont Auvergne) for Carbou (51 mins); F Catala (Perpignan) for Otazo (59 mins); E Escande (Montpellier) for Ecochard (68 mins); A Chauveau (Begles-Bordeaux) for Jedrasiak (71 mins); J Aliouat (Montpellier) for Chalureau (71 mins).

IRELAND:S Layden (Connacht); C Finn (Connacht), C Farrell (Ulster), JJ Hanrahan (Munster), S Coghlan-Murray (Leinster) ; P Jackson (Ulster), L McGrath (Leinster) ; K McCall (Ulster), N Scannell (Munster), P Reilly (Leinster); I Henderson (Ulster) , D Qualter (Connacht); C Gilsenan (Leinster), A Conneely (Connacht), J Conan (Leinster). Replacements: F Horan (Leinster) for Coghlan Murray (30 mins); T Beirne (Leinster) for Qualter (59 mins); K Marmion (Connacht) for McGrath (68 mins); J Coghlan (Leinster) for Conneely (68 mins); J Rael (Munster) for Reilly (71 mins); D Merrey (Leinster) for Scannell (71 mins); C Marsh (Leinster) for Jackson (71 mins).

Referee: N Hennessy (Wales).