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Sun 26 Feb 2017 | 05:14
Ireland get past France in Dublin round two battle

12
Comments

Ireland moved up to second on the Six Nations table after a 19-9 victory over France in Dublin on Saturday. Conor Murray scored the only try of the game, while Johnny Sexton and Paddy Jackson edged them ahead of Camille Lopez's efforts with the boot.

"They are a really good side and we were really happy to grind out that win," Ireland captain Rory Best said. "The two sides were under pressure and we were very happy to come out on top."

Ireland next take on Wales, who lost to Scotland at Murrayfield, when the two sides meet in Cardiff.

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt said that he believes Wales were unlucky and will be a far stronger challenge when they face them in two week's time.

"We've now doubt that they will be disappointed with that and will be very determined when we get to Cardiff in 13 days time," he said.

Posted By: Grant Constable

12 Comments

  • drg
    7:48 PM 02/03/2017

    tbf.... if Owens told the Irish they weren't allowed to touch the ball, you'd still moan he was biased...

  • drg
    7:45 PM 02/03/2017

    tres bien oliver....tres bien....

    *snore*

  • oliver
    8:09 AM 02/03/2017

    that does not change the fact that Irish players cleared the way in front of him....Serin was dragged by the collar by Heaslip.
    Anyways the simple fact Owens went to TMO for the French try but not for the Irish one clearly shows how biased he is.

  • arkelt
    4:24 PM 01/03/2017

    That's indeed a very clever analysis !

    I don't get why so much people are critisizing right now in France. We're not that far if you consider the poor game we played and the whatsoever not crazy gap (10 points are not much, especially considering the refering of Owens, who should just be banned from any France game from now on, and I love this ref so I'm objective on this) shows we're not that far. Ireland is a real beast at the moment, they even beat the mighty All Blacks !!!

    We clearly need more experience to be able to alternate more and adapt our "all in" game to climatic conditions and opponent strategy.
    But I really hope France will continue trying to make the ball live ! Look at the Scots, they were the beautiful losers for years and this year they already won against Ireland and Wales against all odds.

  • drg
    8:27 PM 27/02/2017

    He was not on the ground...So technically he was in the process of being held up...

  • vladimir
    6:59 PM 27/02/2017

    He may place the ball but not pump with his legs to reach the line. And his momentum was clearly halted.

  • drg
    6:50 PM 27/02/2017

    I take it back regarding Sexton being picked when being off for a while, he played his heart out... That being said, the experience between the Irish 9-10 and the French 9-10 was vast...

  • drg
    6:48 PM 27/02/2017

    Disagree regarding Murray's try in the double movement, once a tackle is completed the player may place the ball in any direction, seeing as Murray had not yet reached the ground, I'd say Murray was entitled to go for that extra drive...

  • felipeg
    1:08 PM 27/02/2017

    Only saw the second half. France was really poor. Way too many mistakes both tacticaly and technicaly. But that first failed try was interesting. Too bad for that tiny knock-on. Wonder what the game would have looked like if that try was allowed. Anyway, its again a "what if" for the french. Funny they beat the Scots who are truly brilliant.

  • vladimir
    12:57 PM 27/02/2017

    I would not say better. France was too inexperienced, but I am still optimistic about them.
    On a side note, Murray's try was a farce: ireland's 7 grabbing Leroux in front of Owens, forward pass, Heaslip in front of the ruck to prevent players from defending and obvious double movement from Murray...

  • vladimir
    12:57 PM 27/02/2017

    I would not say better. France was too inexperienced, but I am still optimistic about them.
    On a side note, Murray's try was a farce: ireland's 7 grabbing Leroux in front of Owens, forward pass, Heaslip in front of the ruck to prevent players from defending and obvious double movement from Murray...

  • colombes
    12:21 PM 27/02/2017

    Congrats to Ireland, they showed the difference between both nations:
    A team who know each other too well and respect its gameplay since 4 or 5 years
    VS a team who wanted to play a new flair rugby not adapted to weather conditions. Guess who's who?

    If fit, Murray-Sexton must be the Lions fly-halves, they impose the tempo and adapt themselves to the scenario so well. Too much experience for a talented but inexperienced duo Lopez and Serin.
    Ireland doesn't play an extraordinary rugby, but their automatism aren't ordinary, a green machine.

    Not ordinary, Nigel Owens had a bad game... Not so extraordinary, Ireland were in the good side of his decisions.

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