Ireland Schools 9 France Schools 3: A try would have saved us the nervy finish but led by captain David Pollack the Irish pack overpowered a French outfit that had to be literally beaten into submission last night before the Irish schools could secure a second Triple Crown in three years.
The fear right to the finish was that the visitors could spoil a perfect campaign with a late try but such was the dominance of the forward eight, with five Ulster and three Leinster representatives, it would have been a travesty if that occurred.
France arrived in Athlone keen to live up to the stereotypes of Gallic flair out wide and grunt up front. Ireland, for their part, were intent on playing intelligent 10-man rugby. Considering the talent in the three-quarters, not to mention fullback Luke Fitzgerald, the strategy seemed strange, but the end more than justified the means.
They sussed a French weakness early on when Castleknock outhalf Brian Collins launched a bomb on the visiting back three that was fumbled, and centre Mark McRea scooped up possession to give William Falloon sight of the line. Only a cover tackle from Alex Palisson prevented the try but Collins compensated by kicking a penalty after subsequent pressure.
The French had no interest in kicking for territory or posts but they clearly haven't been studying Irish schools cup competitions. All attempts to force their way over the Irish line met ferocious resistance.
Another skyscraper from Collins midway through the half saw winger Pierre Aguillon spill the ball - he glanced up just before catching to see McRea waiting to bury him. From the scrum France transgressed, allowing Collins to slot another penalty.
The reply was another heavy assault, Palisson almost evading the whole defence. Keith Earls pulled him down and when the French did finally breach the Irish line Aguillon knocked on in trying to touch down.
Such was the game's intensity it was little surprise a dust-up followed another French drive. Referee Bruce Robertson admonished both captains and tight-head Stephane Clement and gave Ireland the relieving penalty.
The rest of the first half belonged to Ireland but a combination of backline errors and persistent, and illegal, disruption of the maul denied them further scores. The obvious fear was they might regret not adding extras considering the wind advantage.
Indiscipline, however, cost the French in the second half. From the restart, half the pack were in front of outhalf Matthieu Belie and when they did win possession needless obstruction handed it back to Ireland.
Thereafter, Ireland used their powerful tight forwards, with Cian Healy particularly prominent, to rumble off rucks. Still, they needed another Collins penalty to increase the lead.
France kept the contest alive entering the final stretch, their first incursion of the half into Irish territory resulting in Belie kicking an excellent penalty.
The Irish forwards were provoked into another brawl before the finish - and won a penalty. It proved they had mastered the art of frustrating the opposition. England, Wales and now France can attest to that.
Scoring sequence: 4 mins: B Collins pen, 3-0; 19: B Collins pen, 6-0. Half-time: 6-0. 51: B Collins pen, 9-0; 53: M Belie pen, 9-3.
Ireland: L Fitzgerald (Blackrock); S Hanratty (Gonzaga), M McRea (Belfast High), K Earls (St Munchin's), V Artemiev (Blackrock); B Collins (Castleknock), A Bartholomew (Royal School Armagh); C Healy (Belvedere), C Culleton (Blackrock), M Ferguson (Sullivan Upper), T Anderson (Rainey Endowed), C McInerney (St Mary's), R Hamilton (Methodist), W Falloon (Royal School Armagh), D Pollock (capt, Royal School Dungannon). Replacements: N Simpson for Anderson, D Keogh for McInerney (both 74 mins).
France: M Ospital; A Palisson, S Ternisien, D Irazoqui, P Aguillon; M Belie, M Carabignac; J Andoque, A Vozelange, S Clement, T Dubarry, T Lassalle, J Monribot, T Combezu (capt), J Tastet. Replacements: B Sore for Andoque (36 mins), B Deschartes for Dubarry (59 mins), P Genevois for Vozelange, M Drouard for Irazoqui, M Acebes for Ospital (all 69 mins), C Litzler for Monribot (70 mins).
Referee: B Robertson (RFU).
