However, eight minutes later, Nicolas Pardo snatched France's first try, closing the gap to just one point. Fitzgerald was on hand again to stroke over another penalty, putting Ireland four points ahead at the break.

Julian Jeuvrey came on for the French side for the second half and put his mark on the game with an early try giving his team the lead for the first time in the match. Irish pressure paid dividends when Fitzgerald restored the home side's lead with a penatly after 67 minutes.

Ireland put the game out of France's reach with an Adrian Kirkpatrick try, which was converted to give Ireland a win on a scoreline of 22-13.