Laporte praises Irish midfield

There was little doubt about where French coach Bernard Laporte saw Ireland's strengths. Elevating the midfield of Ronan O'Gara, Brian O'Driscoll and Rob Henderson onto a world class platform, Laporte pointed to the Blackrock centre as being particularly lethal.

"If O'Driscoll was French this afternoon, we would surely have won the game," he said. "That was the key of Ireland's victory. The French midfield was very weak compared to O'Gara, O'Driscoll and Henderson. This midfield is perhaps the best in the world at the moment.

"We gave away positions too quickly without putting the Irish under pressure. Doing that was just like giving Ireland a gift. The only aspect of our game that I was happy with was our defence. I'm happy with the fact that we only conceded one try in the whole match," he said.

"The way Ireland played the game, the French defence had to be very strong, very consistent. Lamaison, Dourthe and Comba did not play up to their usual level. I am not upset with the players but I am upset that we were unable to get our game right. There was nothing specific about the players but simply that they were unable, as a team, to play correctly."

Laporte claimed that part of the reason for their failure was the lack of attacking talent in French rugby.

"The team does not lack enthusiasm it is simply that we lack the individual talent to press home our advantage when we attack.

"We find it hard to make great inroads into the opposing defence and that was even true when we beat the All Blacks last November," he added.

"We have to be honest about our weaknesses, when the team blows a four to two overlap and when we knock into our opposing number and lose the ball we cannot say anything but that we are lacking the talent.

"We have to have players capable of retaining the ball," he added.

Laporte also decided not to become embroiled in the discussion surrounding the Irish try. "We weren't in a position to actually see it (the try) but we must accept the decision," said the French coach. "I have no complaints against the referee. I thought he was very consistent."

French captain Fabien Pelous also singled out the Irish midfield as being the most potent part of Ireland's game. "Positions 12 and 13 in the middle of the pitch is where Ireland's strength lies," he said. "O'Driscoll and O'Gara are two of the best players at centre and outhalf in the world at this moment."

Laporte had hoped that the French pressure at the end of the game might have paid off more handsomely. "I had hoped we might come back at the end and when we started to get on top, I thought we might take something out of the match. But Ireland deserved to win. The difference between the two sides was in the attack and you could see it there today," he said.

Laporte also , who gave captain Pelous a vote of confidence by saying he would remain skipper till the 2003 World Cup, accused his side of running scared against Ireland

"They were petrified," he said. "They were like a boxer who is losing 9-3 and decides to go into his shell believing that a more adventurous approach will lead to conceding more points."

Laporte hinted strongly that he would blood some younger talent for the next match with Italy in a fortnight's time in Rome.