Abandoned because of a frozen pitch a few weeks ago – because the Stade de France inexplicably has no under soil heating – France and Ireland eventually got down to a pretty entertaining draw.
It was a game that was a lazy cliché lover’s dream, with it really being a game of two halves. Ireland took a half time lead of 17-6 thanks to some excellent play – particularly Tommy Bowe’s interception – and some farcical French defending, and were all set to keep up with Wales at the top of the table. Alas it was not to be, as France came out for the second and took control to claw it back to 17-17 – with Ireland not scoring a single point in the second half.
Further bad news for Ireland is that captain Paul O’Connell and scrum half Connor Murray have been ruled out for the rest of the Six Nations with knee injuries.
At least Scotland are up next for the Irish, so they can take it easy.
As for France, they’re still right in there. Only 1 point behind Wales, it looks like BBM’s prediction (and pretty much everyone else’s, to be fair) could be fulfilled with the teams’ meeting on March 17th deciding the Six Nations winner.
By Peter Simpson
@weasel_delight
