Best and O'Driscoll combined to steady the Irish lineout and give the set scrum a clear edge over the French. A penalty try and and outstretched arm from David Wallace left Ireland trailing 26-18 and when Ronan O'Gara landed a 74th minute penalty Ireland looked set for a remarkable comeback victory.

In the end they simply ran out of time as the game finished with the French vwery much on the ropes.

Ireland: G Dempsey; G Murphy, B O'Driscoll, A Trimble, R Kearney; R O'Gara, E reddan; M Horan, B Jackman (R Best 58 min), J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, M O'Kelly (M O'Driscoll 53 min); D Leamy, D Wallace, J Heaslip.