French march over the Irish

10.20pm - By CHRIS RATTUE

FRANCE 43 IRELAND 21

A magnificent French performance against Ireland in Melbourne tonight showed why they must rank in the top drawer of World Cup favouritism.

In the sterile conditions of the closed-roof Telstra Dome, and with the pro-Irish crowd subdued, the French continued their fine tradition of cup performances.

From an outstanding scrum to Frederic Michalak's goalkicking, Bernard Laporte's side made an impressive statement - after cruising past weak pool opponents - by dismantling Ireland with their brand of total rugby.

France may have shown a few rough edges in the final stages, but the game was already won. When it counted, they were impressive.

A few had predicted a shock and they got one, but not as expected.

Nearly 24 hours earlier, a disconsolate Springbok halfback, Joost van der Westhuizen, had described how All Blacks' tactics had "pulled apart" the South African tight five.

France did that, and more, to the Irish.

There was always a feeling that not all around the Irish camp believed they could win this game, and belief was all-important to their hopes. If they hoped to trouble France by running at them with ball in hand, they never gave themselves, or were given, a chance.

When France scored in the third minute, the Irish game collapsed in apparent self-doubt as the French toyed with their defence.

By the time Keith Wood's men mounted a comeback in the third quarter, the game was over.

With so many empty seats - the punters in AFL country put off no doubt by the high prices - it was hardly enough to lift the roof or Ireland.

Irish tempers began to fray at this point, as captain Wood was warned about flying Irish boots.

Wood complained to South African referee Jonathan Kaplan that France were only pretending to roll away from ruck ball, but the more important argument was that Ireland had only pretended to mount a quarter-final assault until then.

Where was this fire and determination early on? Ireland had watched while their World Cup chances burned.

Among the rubble, centre Brian O'Driscoll did show his class to hook a one- handed try from a grubber kick from David Humphreys, who had replaced Ronan O'Gara at first five-eighth.

But this was small change. French temperament being what it is, much of the comeback could be put down to them easing off.

Hooker and former captain Raphael Ibanez was sin-binned for a blatant professional foul, an unnecessary act given the score.

The French victory, however, was comprehensive against a side who had beaten them three times in the last four meetings.

France led 27-0 at the break.

Michalak kicked an early first-half penalty, part of a haul of 23 points in a faultless kicking display.

The next scoring moment summed the game up. France played with Ireland, switching the ball from one side of the field to the other, before Olivier Magne scooped it on to his fellow loosie Imanol Harinordoquy, who looped the ball inside to prop Jean-Jacques Crenca, who scored wide out.

France had steamrolled Ireland out of the tournament by halftime, and maybe even by the 28th minute, when a long-range breakout brought wing Christophe Dominici a try.

There seemed nothing that France could not do. Wiper kicks from Michalak bounced into French hands, their scrum shunted Ireland around, they muscled up the middle, crunched it on the fringes, and hit players wide with long passes.

Among all that the French worked the angles with backs and forwards. Ireland didn't know which way to look.

Ireland - who gave up a couple of technical penalties - struggled to get hold of the ball.

When they did, their attack was slow and one-dimensional.

France had width and vision, Ireland were narrow and stifled. This made little sense, as they needed to create one-on-one situations for O'Driscoll, but he was caught in a traffic jam of confusion created by the French wizardry.

The warning bells clanged loudly by the third minute when a Michalak kick bounced awkwardly, fullback Girvan Dempsey could not collect, and it fell to New Zealand-born Tony Marsh to feed Olivier Magne, who scored.

Ireland's pivot Ronan O'Gara was then shaken by a Serge Betsen tackle, and the Cameroon-born flanker went on to play a big hand in the spell.

Aurelien Rougerie was only just halted from scoring soon after when Michalak found Betsen with a wide pass.

A Michalak penalty kept the score ticking over, and then came the blow in the 28th minute which - for all but hardened Irish fans - suggested France were well on the way to the semifinal.

An Irish attack fell down when O'Gara's pass went loose, and Magne retrieved.

A quick French interchange put Dominici away, and the little speedster took off, with lumbering Irish wing Shane Horgan no match.

No 8 Imanol Harinordoquy added a third try after a crunching run from prop Sylvain Marconnet, and it was already game, set and match.

France 43 (Olivier Magne, Christophe Dominici, Imanol Harinodorquy, Jean-Jacques Crenca tries; Frederic Michalak 5 pen, 4 con)

Ireland 21 (Brian O'Driscoll 2, Kevin Maggs tries; David Humphreys 3 con).

Halftime: 27-0.