Johnston And Ireland At 100% Against France

Munster’s Bill Johnston was impeccable form with the boot in a 27-22 victory at Donnybrook.

It was a dream return to the Irish setup for Munster and Garryowen's Bill Johnston, who kicked a perfect 12-points, including three crucial penalties before the break, as Nigel Carolan's side kick-started a winning weekend for the Irish in Donnybrook.

On the other side an unfortunate clash of heads between Calvin Nash and Ciaran Frawley saw Irish captain Nash depart early, replaced by Cork Consitution's Alex McHenry. The Young Munster winger becomes third Irish skipper to be sidelined in this year's competitions, but hopes remain high for a recovery ahead of their trip to Wales in a fortnight's time.

Ireland pushed on regardless, however, in front of an impressive 4,521 on Dublin's Southside, and three first half tries from Tadgh McElroy, man-of-the-match Tommy O'Brien and Oisin Dowling had the hosts leading 21-10 at half-time, with Faraj Fartass responding for the French.

However, the visiting French refused to lie down, and after Fartass beat Frawley to finish for an unconverted try on the hour mark, the French were awarded a penalty try in the 72nd minute, making it a two point game.

However, against Munster academy fly-half Johnston proved his worth, with an excellent kick to the corner to put the French under pressure, before slotting a penalty from a subsequent offside to put an unconverted try between the teams. The Garryowen player's kicking then proved crucial as the Irish professionally held out for the win, and will be heading to Cardiff protecting their perfect record.

Ireland: Rob Lyttle (Queen's University/Ulster); Jordan Larmour (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Tommy O'Brien (UCD/Leinster), Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster), Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster) (capt); Bill Johnston (Garryowen/Munster), Jonny Stewart (Queen's University/Ulster); Joey Conway (UL Bohemians/Munster), Tadgh McElroy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Charlie Connolly (Dublin University/Leinster), Jack Regan (UCD/Leinster), Oisin Dowling (Lansdowne/Leinster), Marcus Rea (Queen's University/Ulster), Paul Boyle (Lansdowne/Leinster), Caelan Doris (St. Mary's College/Leinster).

Replacements used: Alex McHenry (Cork Constitution/Munster) for Nash (3 mins), Conor Fitzgerald (Shannon/Munster) for Frawley (8-12, temp sub), Fitzgerald for McHenry (52), Jack Lyons (Young Munster/Munster) for Lyttle (54-59, temp sub), Ronan Kelleher (UCD/Leinster) for McElroy, Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/Munster) for Regan (both 55), Sean Masterson (Corinthians/Connacht) for Dowling (62), Peter Cooper (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) for Connolly (66). Not used: Rory Mulvihill (UCD/Leinster).