Heaslip still holds faith in Irish system

An unimpressed Jamie Heaslip cut a dejected figure after France went toe-to-toe with France yesterday. He gave a candid response to the agaonising defeat which ended Ireland's championship hopes before it built up speed. "They won. They are still on course to win a Grand Slam. We can't. But I think if anyone is looking at that video we have exposed a lot. You guys have them all hyped up thinking that they are the dog's b*****ks. Well I don't think they are. We have exposed a lot of holes and I think England can definitely cause them a lot of problems."

While Ireland were clinical in breaching the French defense, they conceded nine penalties, seven of which where within kicking distance for Morgan Parra and later Dimitri Yachvili when he was introduced. "Penalties, turn overs," commented Heaslip, "two tries ahead and their still in the game. They get a try and they're ahead. We get a try and they're still ahead. You We played some very good rugby and there are lot of positives. We created chances and caused problems with the ball. A lot of positives, but the negatives are that when you score three tries to one you usually win the game."

Ireland will hope to have Tommy Bowe and Stephen Ferris fully fit for the trip to Scotland and with Rob Kearney also to return in the coming months, Heaslip believes they will bounce back.

"You have got loads of lads still injured and they are just biting at the bit trying to get back - just like myself. It was a novelty feeling a bit of pain this weekend. I have been sitting around watching games which I am not good at and it was good to get out there and I am sure from talking to Fez (Stephen Ferris), Tommy (Bowe) and some of the other guys, everyone just wants to get out and play.

"Nobody likes sitting on the couch watching games. It is not the easiest thing to get back in the squad. There is a lot of competition there and lads pushing for places and that is what we want, in the year that we have to rely on a squad. The way rugby is you have to rely on the squad. Going forward we have a very strong squad."

While defeat to a French team whose performance was rated 4/10 by their coach Marc Lièvremont could draw some disenchanement, Heaslip has no fears for Ireland going forward. "My own personal belief in the team is that there is no lack of belief, no lack of confidence. We have an exceptionally good group of players here in Ireland. One of the main reasons of me staying around is I think we are on the verge of doing something great.

"We're playing some unbelievable rugby. At times, we give teams easy opportunities to take scores and that can be frustrating and we have to marshal ourselves. Our defense and attack take care of themselves."

It may have been a fine performance in outscoring the French by three tries to one, but despite the what ifs, France still won while playing very poorly. Ireland played some brilliant rugby, but failed. If only Gordan D'Arcy hadn't allowed Aurelien Rougerie steamroll him following the French scrum in the run up to Maxime Medard's try? If only Sean Cronin hadn't knocked on with minutes remaining? If only Jonathan Sexton had kicked the second conversion to stretch Ireland's lead before half time?

Declan Kidney mentioned France's Top 14 professional teams, compared to Ireland's four, in the run up to the defeat. It may be a question about how far this team can go. There is no doubting their ability in the Autumn internationals against the Tri Nations sides (New Zealand and South Africa) and France, but the fact remains. Ireland still lost. Heaslip and Kidney both rejected any thought of casting the type of rugby that they are playing aside. That is good for the entertainment value of Irish games - everyone wants to see running rugby. However, they have to learn to win ugly against big teams, if that is what is called for.

Heaslip still believes in the type of rugby Kidney has brought to the team.

Heaslip thinks Ireland will come good. "We have a very good team. I think we are on the cusp of playing our best rugby that I have been involved in. They just show how clinical they can be. You make a mistake, they have got some brilliant kickers, they'll take the three points and keep ticking that scoreboard over. Or they make one line break and score a try. You can't deny a team being that clinical. They didn't let many penalties away so I can't take it away from them."


We are still scoring tries. Its nicer to attack then to defend, but I have faith in our defensive system. I think we have a very good defensive system. We can take a lot of pressure from teams. Around the ruck area we can cause a lot of problems. Around the tackle I think we are very strong. On the flipside, in attack we can be very good. We can play a very expansive game where you saw when we got closer to the 22 and we had to tighten it up that we were still able to create quick ball and when we did we were able to score a try. I think we are fairly comfortable on both sides of the coin."

Having showed some signs of playing well against France in their tournament opener, Scotland face Ireland on the back of a second defeat to Wales at the weekend. It will be a ferocious battle of two teams with two different aims. Ireland want to build for a proper shot at the world cup in mind. Scotland under Andy Robinson want to restore some pride in the jersey. The stage is set for a showdown in Murrayfield.

Gallant Ireland fall to defiant French

France secured their second win of the RBS Six Nations championship with a 22-25 victory as Lansdowne Road saw a pulsating return to Six Nations rugby. While the victory keeps Marc Lièvremont's Grand Slam ambitions alive, Ireland now look towards the Triple Crown with trips to Edinburgh and Cardiff to come.

Despite an incredible start from Ireland which saw them camped inside the French 22 for most of the opening 10 minutes, From the very first contact, Ireland were in control as French lock, Julian Pierre was pushed into touch after he gathered the kick off.

Ireland inched closer to the French line, first stretching the ball wide right and when it came back wide left Gordan D'Arcy passed to Luke Fitzgerald who touched down in the corner, but the touch judge deemed the pass forward.

But Ireland were not to be denied and on five minutes Fergus McFadden profited from a Clement Poitrenaud knock on inside the French 22. The Leinster man made a dash for the line but was held up short. After Paul O'Connell and David Wallace took the ball and drove towards the line, McFadden picked the ball up and got the try. Jonathan Sexton added the conversion to give Ireland a 7-0 lead.

When Wallace was penalised in the ruck Morgan Parra struck France back into the game. Sexton then stretched Ireland's lead to seven with a penalty of his own. Then Parra showed a masterclass in kicking as the French scrum half punished Ireland on three further occasions in the first half to give France a 10-12 lead.

But Ireland bounced back with a tremendous try from Tomás O'Leary three minutes before the break. A move that began with a Fitzgerald kick that gave Ireland a lineout inside the French 22, ended with Donncha O'Callghan taking in the lineout and feeding O' Leary on the run. When the ball is recycled Ireland had a man over but it seemed Ireland let the opportunity slip, when Jonathan Sexton turned inside and was held up short of the line.

But in a move reminiscent of McFadden's try, O'Leary took the ball from the back of the ruck and dived over. This time the TMO confirmed the try awarded the try but Sexton's conversion went wide of the right hand upright to give Ireland a 15-12 lead at the interval.

Two minuted after the restart the French backline came into their own and only a Cian Healy block prevented a François Trinh-Duc drop goal attempt from tying the game. Ireland cleared when French indiscipline gave away a penalty.

On 49 minutes Parra brought the French level, 15-15 when Ireland who conceded a total of nine penalties were again penalised by referee Dave Pearson. The introduction of Dimitri Yachvili for Parra on 53 minutes coincided with the French backline finding their stride.

Aurélien Rougerie was fed the ball from the French scrum and the centre ran straight through D'Arcy before offloading in the tackle to Maxime Medard who raced clear to score. Yachvili added the conversion and then added a penalty to stretch France's lead to 15-25 as Ireland introduced Ronan O'Gara.

When France kicked possession back to Ireland on 64 minutes, O'Gara found the French corner with a monstrous kick into the French 22. Ireland won the ball on the French line out and Sean O'Brien, Wallace and Tom Court - who had earlier been introduced for Healy - went for the French line.

When the ball came back to O'Gara, his grubber was blocked by a French leg, but Wallace retrieved and fed Jamie Heaslip who dived over in the corner. Again the referee went to the TMO who gave the try. O'Gara's conversion needed the assistance of the left hand upright before bouncing over.

Despite a late rally from Ireland France held Ireland at bay, as they wound the clock down to the resounding chorus of boos which echoed around the stadium. In the end the 17 errors that Ireland made was the decisive blow.

France now head to Twickenham for a top of the table clash with England which should go some way in deciding the outcome of this years Six Nations championship.

For Ireland and Declan Kidney a trip to Murrayfield now beckons in a fortnight, with Scotland starring at a possible third successive defeat in this years championship after back-to-back defeats to France and Wales.