The lap of honour at Lansdowne Road illustrated where France will place Saturday's Six Nations Championship match in the pantheon of recent victories. The French team trotted slowly around rugby's oldest stadium to acknowledge their supporters and receive the approbation of friend and foe alike.

In those couple of minutes one witnessed the downside of corporate Ireland as close to 20,000 French people must have been there, making a mockery of their official 4,800 allocation.

It was the third time on Saturday that French and Irish supporters rose to applaud. The first was when French second row and captain Fabien Pelous trotted out onto the pitch, his team-mates respectfully allowing him 30 seconds on the pitch to savour the acclamation of the crowd for his 100th Test match.

"I didn't realise my team-mates were not behind me until I turned round to throw someone the ball," Pelous admitted. "I was humbled by the reaction of the crowd and it is something that I will always remember. But I am proud, not for myself but for my players.

"I am delighted to have won 100 caps but I'm more pleased with beating Ireland. Lansdowne Road is a hard place to come and win, so it's a special result."

Pelous received another warm ovation when he was replaced immediately prior to Brian O'Driscoll's try, but was quickly back on the pitch at the final whistle to join his players on their victory lap.

French coach Bernard Laporte admitted: "It is difficult to say if this is the best victory because there have been many but it is a very good one. I must congratulate our pack because they outplayed the Irish forwards, particularly in the first half.

"Against the wind they carried and protected the ball. We knew Ireland would be very strong. We decided to try and steal some ball from their lineout throws and we managed that. Our forwards were strong at the set-piece and we did not give Ireland the opportunity to get going. We had a young team out there and they played with a lot of spirit.

"It was very difficult in the second half, even though we had the wind behind us. Sometimes you try to play the perfect game, but it just wasn't happening for us. We have now played in the last two matches games that are very good to watch, but the important thing here was that we won."

Ireland couldn't and didn't quibble. The better team, France, deserved their victory and Pelous his memories of an occasion made all the more special.