IRE
No.Name
15Rob Kearney, FB
14Tommy Bowe, W
13Brian O'Driscoll, C
T
12Paddy Wallace, C
11Luke Fitzgerald, W
10Ronan O'Gara, FH
3
3
9Tomas O'Leary, SH
1Marcus Horan, P
2Jerry Flannery, H
3John Hayes, P
4Donncha O'Callaghan, L
5Paul O'Connell, L
6Stephen Ferris, FL
7David Wallace, FL
8Jamie Heaslip, N8
T
Replacements
16Rory Best, H
17Tom Court, -
18Malcolm O'Kelly, -
19Denis Leamy, FL
20Peter Stringer, -
21Gordon D'Arcy, C
T
22Geordan Murphy, W

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Croke Park
12:00 PM, February 7, 2009
Attendance: 82,000
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

83'30-21 End of half
82'Dusautoir is hauled down just short and he gets turned, the Irish get the penalty and Jamie Heaslip has no hesitation kicking the ball into touch to secure a confidence boosting win for the men in green.
82'30-21 End of half
82'30-21 End of half
81'The French continue to run the ball through the forwards and Ireland are penalised for not rolling away. They have to run it.
81'+230-21 End of second half
80'France are pressing the Irish defence but it hardly matters as they can't catch the Irish now.
79'French recycle well from the lineout and it moves from one side to the other without making much territory.
79'Substitute on - Geordan Murphy , Ireland
79'Player substituted - Rob Kearney , Ireland
79'Substitute on - Benoit Baby , France
79'Player substituted - Florian Fritz , France
78'Geordan Murphy is pressured from his first touch as he receives a kick and wisely steps into touch.
78'30-21 Penalty goal - Ronan O'Gara , Ireland
77'O'Gara strokes it over making no mistake with the simple kick to restore the gap.
76'Ireland pressure the French counter attack from the kickoff and Heymans is pinged for holding on giving O'Gara a simple kick to the left.
76'27-21 Penalty goal - Lionel Beauxis , France
75'Beauxis chips the kick over reducing the defecit to just six points.
74'Good momentum from the lineout as Jauzion moves it up to the 22, a long pass to Heymans nearly creates an opportunity. The ball is back in centre field and the Irish turn the ball over illegally and it's a French penalty in front of the posts.
74'Substitute on - Cedric Heymans , France
74'Player substituted - Clement Poitrenaud , France
73'French kick through from the scrum but Kearney gathers, only to kick out on the full giving the French a lineout on halfway.
73'Player substituted - Stephen Ferris , Ireland
73'Substitute on - Denis Leamy , Ireland
72'The French try to attack from the 22 but a hospital pass to Poitrenaud who unsurprisingly knocks it on. Allowing the Irish an attacking scrum. The backs to some good work but O'Gara's kick through is collected and cleared. O'Leary kicks for touch but fluffs it and it bounces into in goal.
71'Sloppy French scrum and they just scramble the ball clear. Kearney tries to get through on the outside, he's caught and the forwards are there to support. O'Driscoll is called for accidental offside when he runs into Best and it'll be a French scrum.
71'Player substituted - Imanol Harinordoquy , France
71'Substitute on - Louis Picamoles , France
70'Heaslip gets nailed in the backfield and Horan puts a poor pass to O'Connell who knocks it on. Good, aggressive defence from the French.
69'Best throws in to O'Connell yet again and the Irish forward start to push on. The French counter strongly at the breakdown and slow things down.
69'Substitute on - Morgan Parra , France
69'Player substituted - Sebastien Tillous-Borde , France
68'Ireland are given a penalty for French foul play at the scrum and O'Gara kicks for territory, pushing play into the French 22.
67'The Irish have a scrum thanks to a French knock on and there's a pause to receive treatment and beverages.
67'27-18 Conversion - Ronan O'Gara , Ireland
67'25-18 Try - Gordon D'Arcy , Ireland
66'Ball is moved out to D'Arcy who's tackled but shows good strength to wriggle over just to the right of the posts. O'Gara sends over the conversion.
65'O'Connell drives around the fringes but it's sclow coming back. But there's a big push from Ferris and he's stopped short.
64'Beauxis can't make any ground on the clearance after being put under huge pressure inside his own in goal area. O'Connell secures the lineout and keep it tight.
63'Bit of fisticuffs at the scrum and Nigel Owens steps in to sort it out. O'Driscoll kicks a beautiful grubber into space and the French have a lineout inside their 22.
63'Player substituted - Sebastien Chabal , France
63'Substitute on - Romain Millo-Chluski , France
62'A kick over the top is nearly gathered by Jauzion at halfway but his one-handed grab isn't good enough and he knocks it on.
62'Substitute on - Gordon D'Arcy , Ireland
62'Player substituted - Paddy Wallace , Ireland
61'Chabal goes off before the scrum and Wallace goes off to be replaced by D'Arcy for good this time.
60'Good Irish scrum and it's passed through midfield out to Bowe who makes it to halfway. O'Gara chips on and Malzieu collects. The ball isn't coming out of the ruck and it's a French scrum.
59'Very lateral from the French as the Irish smother the French attack. Ferris holds up the maul and it's unplayable so the Irish have the put in at the scrum.
59'Substitute on - Benjamin Kayser , France
59'Player substituted - Dimitri Szarzewski , France
58'Nigel Owens gets in the way of the pass and it's a French scrum in the centre of the field at the Irish 22. Szarzewski goes off with a blood injury.
57'Kearney collects a box kick and clears it, but Poitrenaud returns it, France move it left through the hands before Malzieu is stopped outside the 22.
56'Heaslip knocks on the 22 drop out, and it's a French scrum. Good French scrum and it's shipped out to the backs who are quickly smothered by the Irish forwards.
55'O'Gara attempts the penalty from the far right touchline, he can't quite squeeze it in though and the score remains the same.
53'The French continue to run it from their own 22 and Poitrenaud gets isolated. The forwards get there in time but go in off their feet in their eagerness, giving Ireland a penalty.
53'20-18 Drop goal - Lionel Beauxis , France
52'The Irish defence is solid and Beauxis has to make do with a drop goal which he calmly slots over.
51'France run it from their own half running the ball through the backs, Fritz kicks on and O'Gara is only just there to cover just shy of the line, France snaffle the ball back but Ireland slow it down and the French can't get anywhere.
50'The conversion is hit wide to the right by Lionel Beauxis
50'20-15 Try - Maxime Medard , France
49'A messed up Garryowen gives the ball to Harinordoquy who makes good ground. A great cross kick from Beauxis and an extremely fortunate bounce lets Medard gather on the right hand touchline and over to score.
49'Player substituted - Jerry Flannery , Ireland
49'Substitute on - Rory Best , Ireland
48'Best comes on as Flannery comes off looking a bit dazed. Solid Irish scrum is shipped to O'Gara who tries to pin the French back. Malzieu takes it but it's scrappy.
47'Chabal knocks it on and Ireland get a turnover, which is hit to the French backline. The French counter attack stalls at halfway when Dusautoir gives a poor pass to Szarzewski who knocks it on.
46'Side to side stuff from the French until it's kicked over the top for Kearney to collect. Ball is passed back into the 22 so Fitzgerald kicks straight to Fritz who runs it back to halfway.
45'Flannery steals the French lineout at the back, it's cleared deep but run back by Poitrenaud to half way.
44'Kearney does well under the long kickoff and O'Gara clears, the French kick it back and Kearney hits it out, but it's on the full, French lineout just inside the Irish half.
44'20-10 Conversion - Ronan O'Gara , Ireland
44'18-10 Try - Brian O'Driscoll , Ireland
43'Good lineout and it's shipped to midfield, Brian O'Driscoll breaks through and uses some sensational body swerve to go over under the posts, tremendous individual try. His 33rd at international level. O'Gara gets the extras.
42'Nallet takes the lineout and the French maul it forwards, only to be driven into touch outside their 22
41'Ball is cleared from the scrum, Bowe collects, puts up the kick and collects, only to be force out outside the French 22.
41'Ireland slow the ball down and France are given the advantage, but Beauxis is back in the pocket and strokes over the drop goal to end the half.
41'Substitute on - Nicolas Mas , France
41'Player substituted - Benoit Lecouls , France
41'+113-10 End of first half
41'+113-10 Drop goal - Lionel Beauxis , France
40'O'Gara kicks off the second half and Beauxis thumps it downfield to Kearney. French let the Garryowen bounce and panic sets in, Ireland knock it on though and it's a French Scrum.
40'13-10 Start of second half
39'Heaslip takes it on yet again from the base of the scrum, the French can't seem to marshal him. O'Gara clears and it's recovered by Ireland. Another kick isn't recovered and France break through with Poitrenaud who then offloads to Malzieu who takes it to the 22.
38'Ball gets spilled by O'Driscoll before Chabal makes a sensational burst from inside his own half, finally getting hauled down at the 22. Support arrives but it's knocked on by Dusautoir and it's an Irish scrum.
37'Ball is taken by O'Connell at the lineout, cleared by O'Leary and Kearney is up to make the tackle.
36'O'Gara elects to kick to touch, pushing play up to the French 22. Ireland take to long with the lineout though and France get a free kick. Cleared upfield to the Irish 10m line.
36'Player substituted - Gordon D'Arcy , Ireland
36'Substitute on - Paddy Wallace , Ireland
35'O'Leary sends a box kick up from the restart and secure it. French are up quickly but Chabal is penalised for not releasing.
35'13-7 Conversion - Ronan O'Gara , Ireland
35'11-7 Try - Jamie Heaslip , Ireland
34'O'Gara slots the easy conversion over and it's 13-7
33'Kearney makes a half break and offloads to Bowe who makes another half break. The ball is shipped to the centre and Heaslip finds some space and uses some nice footwork to crash over.
32'Lineout secured by France. Huge kick from Beauxis that finds touch just beyond the Irish 10m line. Bowe opts not to take a quick one.
31'Restart is taken by O'Leary, O'Gara takes the ball and pings and excellent kick to pin the French back inside their 22.
30'O'Gara attempts the penalty from just inside the French half but it goes wide right. 22 Drop out.
29'Heaslip breaks from the base of the scrum and the ball is put out wide. The French get the turnover though and kick the ball away to O'Driscoll. The Irish are running at the French midfield where they get the penalty for Dusatoir not rolling away.
29'Substitute on - Gordon D'Arcy , Ireland
29'Player substituted - Paddy Wallace , Ireland
28'Ulster's Paddy Walace has gone off with a blood injury and Gordon D'Arcy comes on to the cheers of the crowd, restoring the Leinster midfield partnership that's been so successful at club level.
27'Bit of scrappy kicking between O'Gara and the French backline. Poitrenaud's kick is far too long and it rolls over the dead ball line.
26'The ball comes back and Bowe runs it back, tackled and the French are penalised for going in off their feet. Quick penalty is taken and the ball is driven through the forwards.
25'The forward make 10 metres then O'Leary kicks, run back by Medard. Beauxis kicks to Kearney but the full back can't find touch.
24'Quick French lineout leads to a sweeping move that goes from one side of the field to the other all the way up to the Irish 22. The Irish turn the ball over and O'Gara breaks from inside his 22, he's hauled down but manages to keep possession.
23'Fitzgerald clears deep into space and all the French can do is ping it back. Irish return it and the move looks promising until O'Driscoll is pushed into touch.
21'Great ball off the top of the lineout from Harinordoquy but Ireland steal the ball at the breakdown in midfield. Scrappy play here.
20'Solid French scrum but the Irish rush up quickly and Beauxis gets nailed in midfield by Brian O'Driscoll, driving them back. On the back foot Tillius-Borde kicks for territory and Kearney clears for touch.
19'Good scrum let's Heaslip run from the base of the scrum, it's spread wide but the pass to Kearney is round his feet and he knocks on
18'Maul from France collapses and the ball is unplayable, Nigel Owens awards the scrum to Ireland.
17'Box kick from the restart lets Poitrenaud counter but it's all a bit side to side.
17'6-7 Penalty goal - Ronan O'Gara , Ireland
16'France concede a penalty from the restart and O'Gara has a kick in front of the posts that he strokes over.
16'3-7 Conversion - Lionel Beauxis , France
15'Beauxis converts successfully from the touchline.
15'3-5 Try - Imanol Harinordoquy , France
14'Good hands from the French forwards puts Harinordoquy over for the first try on the left touchline.
13'First bit of aerial tennis of the evening ends with a great kick from Kearney that puts France back on their 10m line. Szarzewski throws to Nallet and the French move the ball quickly to the right. Great offload from Ouedraogo leads to a move that runs to the far touchline where great hands from the French.
12'Strong French scrum Harinordoquy breaks from the base and gets some ground but Tillous-Borde recieves the pass and is bundled into touch.
11'France turn the ball over at the ruck due to an Irish knock on. Beauxis has his kick charged down but it's back for the French scrum.
10'France take a quick lineout and go out to the left, Chabal gets some space to run but Ireland drive them back. Ball is put up and Kearney makes a great take to secure it on halfway.
9'Ferris takes the lineout and the Irish forwards rumble forward from the maul before O'Leary clears. It;s gathered and quickly shipped out wide, but Medard is caught at halfway.
8'French offside at the scrum even thouugh Ireland were under pressure and O'Gara clears to the 10m line.
7'Ireland penalised at the scrum and the free kick is taken. Ireland defend well and the ball is unplayable at the ruck and it's an Irish scrum.
6'Good work from France after the lineout, they ship the ball out wide and press the Irish line out wide on the left, but Dusautoir knocks on and it's an Irish scrum.
5'The lineout is taken at the back by Ireland and Hayes breaks out but it's cleared by Wallace.
4'France secure the lineout and Baeuxis kicks over the top and it's out for an Irish lineout at the 5m line.
3'Bit of back and forth kicking with some loose hands on both sides, ended by a shanked kick from Rob Karney that gives France a lineout on the Irish 10m line
3'3-0 Penalty goal - Ronan O'Gara , Ireland
2'Tommy Bowe takes the ball from the scrum and breaks. The forwards start to rumble towards the 22 and France are penalised for not rolling away. O'Gara converts the simple kick. 3-0
1'Beauxis gets the game under way with a high kickoff, taken by Kearney, O'Leary puts a box kick up and the ball is caught but knocked on, Scrum Ireland.
1'Marc Livremont's work-in-progress French side return to Croke Park, site of their sensational last minute triumph two seasons ago, looking to get their 2008 Six Nations campaign off to the best possible start. Meanwhile Brian O'Driscoll's men will look to give Declan Kidney a winning start to his first Six Nations match in charge of Ireland, while seeking to lift a massive psychological monkey off their backs in front of their passionate home crowd. This afternoon sees the half back partnership of Ronan O'Gara and Tomas O'Leary, so effective for Munster this season, coming up against the first time partnership of Lionel Beauxis of Stade Francais and Castres' Sebastien Tillous-Borde. Will the French cause another upset or will the Irish set themselves on the way to a possible first championship since 1985, join us at 17.00 GMT to find out.
1'0-0 Start of first half

Six Nations 2009 News