Ireland come up short in Bordeaux

France 19 Ireland 12:Declan Kidney has been at pains to stress results are not the be all and end all during this series of World Cup warm-ups, but the coach will hope his side get back to winning ways sooner rather than later after Ireland suffered their second defeat in as many weeks.

After losing in Murrayfield last weekend, at least there was plenty of food for thought for Kidney and his backroom team, with a vastly improved performance in the second half suggesting this group of players are starting to hit their straps. And not before time, as there was nothing positive to glean from an opening 40 minutes in which Ireland were run ragged.

Ronan O’Gara, who slotted four penalties, led the second-half fightback with some superb tactical kicking but France had already done enough. Winger Vincent Clerc crossed for his ninth try in nine games against Ireland while Dimitri Yachvili landed 14 points.

France made an ominous start, using a mixture of power and guile to ease into the opposition 22. Scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili rifled over a penalty and shortly after Les Bleus showed their mettle when Sean O’Brien and Rory Best were smashed backwards. The hit on Best resulted in a turnover and France reacted in a flash, counter-attacking through Maxime Mermoz’s chip ahead only for Rob Kearney to catch Clerc just five metres out.

It was fingers in the dam stuff for Ireland as Andrew Trimble executed a try-saving tackle on Francois Trinh Duc and it was only a matter of time before their line cracked and the try came in the 18th minute. Scrambling frantically in defence, they failed to prevent winger Alexis Palisson brilliantly slipping the ball out of the tackle to Clerc who raced over - with Yachvili converting.

O’Brien, Ireland’s most destructive ball carrier during the Six Nations, bulldozed his way into space to lift Irish spirits but the respite was only brief. France played as though they were on the training ground as they effortlessly clicked through the gears, finding space at will.

Number eight Imanol Harinordoquy was highly conspicuous as he twice charged into gaps before offloading with a deft slight of hand Yachvili landed his second penalty to nudge them 13-0 ahead as Ireland continued to fall foul of referee Steve Walsh.

When they did eventually win a penalty, O’Gara produced a poor touchfinder and to sum up their first half Keith Earls ended their best attacking move by sending a pass straight into touch. Ireland looked rattled and their attempts to build momentum lacked conviction in the face of such aggressive defensive from France and it was with some relief that O’Gara slotted a penalty to end a torrid half.

France started the second half with a bulldozing run from debutant number eight Raphael Lakafia before Ireland exploded into life for the first time in the match. Trimble, impressive once again following a fine display against Scotland last weekend, expertly found a gap and offloaded to Kearney.

The Lions full-back raced 30 metres before running out of space and becoming isolated, but the move finished with an O’Gara penalty to give Ireland some reward. Paul O’Connell was brought on to a loud cheer from the travelling support and he was soon joined by most of the Irish bench, including Jamie Heaslip.

All the substitutions — Marc Lievremont also used his replacements — had taken the urgency out of the game, but it was France who were suffering as they became increasingly ragged. Two more O’Gara penalties followed and once more it was one way traffic but this time Ireland were in the driving seat.

Yachvili gave France some breathing space with a pair of penalties and there were clear signs they were back on their game after a below-par 30 minutes. The match had regained its competitive edge too as both sides ran hard at each other.

Keith Earls almost slipped in at the right corner and it was France who were under pressure in the final stages.