The Blues, who overall dominated the fierce fight, made a few blunders which put the Irish back in the game. The XV of France finally won narrowly 30 to 24.
At the Stade de France
What useless fears! What gifts offered to the Irish! The Blues should have won without firing a shot. Instead, they shuddered to the hilt, staying within range of the heavily dominated green men for a half plus five minutes. There was no better way to begin this clash. Two minutes of playing time before a marvel of interior transmission from Romain Ntamack, over his shoulder, to the inevitable Antoine Dupont, emerging at the entrance of the opposing 22 meters. The captain of the Blues puts the canes and presto, already 7-0. Then soon 10-0 thanks to a penalty from Jaminet. The ideal start. Before the monumental flop. On the engagement, Jaminet and Penaud look at each other as the ball falls. Mack Hansen does not need to be asked to seize it in front of the two hesitant Blues and go flatten without opposition (7e, 10-7). Everything has to be redone.
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Infuriating. Especially since the Irish will no longer create the slightest dangerous opportunity until the break. Thirty minutes of a fierce battle on the front line. Where, as they had promised, the tricolor forwards do more than compete with the famous Irish pack. The Blues often advance on impacts, push back several green charges. And, logically, recover an armful of penalties (8 whistled against the Irish, only 3 conceded by the XV of France). And as Melvyn Jaminet is aware of having to be forgiven for his blunder on Hansen’s essay, he applies himself. Investigate. 5 out of 5 in the first half for 14 points scored. And a French team which returns to the locker room with a comfortable lead (19-7). What regret a little more this try-cap, the only Irish opportunity of the first 40 minutes.
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The second period begins again with three points added by Jaminet (22-7, 43e). And serenity reigns. It was without counting without an inexplicable feverishness. On the engagement, Jelonch is penalized. The Irish choose the penaltouch and unroll a ball carried into the French in-goal (ball flattened by Van der Flier). Two attempts at zero passes for a team at Clover which is really lucky (22-14, 45e). Five minutes later ? New penaltouch and, in the heart of the fire, Gibson-Park fakes the pass, a cadet’s suitcase to embark Willemse and flatten at the foot of the posts. 22-21 and thirty minutes to play. An incredible scenario as the French dominated the confrontation.
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Fortunately, on a scraped ball in a ruck, the tricolor pillars play the movers. First charge from Uini Atonio, second from Cyril Baille, who finished in the in-goal, giving some air to the XV of France despite Jaminet’s first (and only) miss on the conversion (27-21). Long suffocating minutes will follow. Balloons torn from both sides, disintegrating tackles, charges of aurochs. It hits hard but the Blues do not break, just concede a penalty at 73e minute (27-24) to make the end of the match unlivable. It is believed that Jaminet tipped the match (77e) but the Australian referee disallows the try on the pretext that the ball was not flattened. Interpretation subject to caution. Fortunately, the back of Perpignan adds 3 more points. Only three minutes of balloon remain, one last scare and deliverance. For a deserved victory. More than the final score indicates.
