BRIAN O’Driscoll didn’t shirk outlining how much of a chasm there was at the Aviva Stadium – concluding that Ireland were ‘lucky’ in a way.
The final scoreline of 42-27 to the away side didn’t even fully convey how superior France were across the 80 and in particular the second half.
France rolling the dice by going with seven forwards out of eight subs reaped rewards as Ireland wilted against such unrelenting power[/caption]
Even the loss of Antoine Dupont to a suspected ACL rupture didn’t derail a magnificent display by the visitors[/caption]
O’Driscoll acknowledged that reality when coldly analysing how Ireland’s Grand Slam bubble was burst.
The Leinster great told ITV: “We were questioning before the game the risk-reward nature to it (France going with a 7-1 split on the bench).
“But my goodness it worked so well in that second half. Just as Ireland started to tire, to bring on those fresh legs.
“Ireland just couldn’t deal with it, there was an onslaught.
“The way they changed the point of contact the whole time, kept the ball alive, won the collision zone. Ireland were chasing shadows.
“You could’ve understood thinking, when Ireland did score early in that second-half, ‘Oh, the momentum’s swung now.’
“But their ability to bounce back immediately, score within a couple of seconds.
“Momentum was completely taken away from Ireland. It was all in France’s favour.
“There have been question marks always about France when they travel, but that was putting Ireland to the sword.
“It really was (among their greatest wins).
“You think about the result in Twickenham a few years ago (in 2023 when they won 53-10), the way they played over there.
“Ireland were lucky to only lose by 15 points today, that’s how big a differential there was between these sides.”
France won with power and precision, but Ireland contributed well with Ireland down to 14 men for two 10 minute periods as Joe McCarthy and Calvin Nash were shown yellows.
But unlike in Cardiff a fortnight ago when Ireland survived being down to 14 men for 20 minutes and won the game with 15, this time there was no answer.
EASTERBY OUTLOOK
Interim head coach Simon Easterby said: “We didn’t take the opportunities that presented themselves and we gave them too many opportunities to score themselves.
“They defended well, credit to them. We probably forced a few passes.
“As much as you feel like you’re on the front foot, you’ve got to deal with the defence as well. And I thought they defended well.
“I don’t think they were that much better than us. The scoreline will reflect something different.
“We were down 14 men for 20 minutes, that’s tough against any team. But against a side like France, that was really hard work.
“They’re a good side. I’m not trying to dress it up. But we will also disappointed.
“We felt at 8-6 at half-time, we felt like we could kick on. We started the second half well. But then we conceded too many times.”
And it was happened, France did that despite playing the final 51 minutes without the best player in the world; Antoine Dupont.
The France captain suffered a knee injury when Tadhg Beirne accidentally landed on him after 29 minutes with France leading 5-0 at the time.
To lose anyone to injury is unfortunate, but to lose one of the greatest of all time, and the one that makes you tick, should have been curtains for France.
But Les Bleus dug in as they won the battle up front and capitalised on Ireland’s mistakes.
