Ireland overpowered France to ensure they finish top of Pool D,but lost Johnny Sexton, Paul O’Connell, or Keith Earls and Peter O’Mahony to injury 6.41pm BSTSean O’Brien is man of the match and deservedly so. But you have to give huge credit to Ian Madigan and Iain Henderson for their outstanding performances coming off the bench. Collectively,Ireland threw a maelstrom of muscle and brute force at their opponents and the French were unable to live with it. I might have to revise my prediction for Ireland going out to Argentina now. We finish, though, or get what the rugby world has been asking for from the off: a New Zealand v France quarter-final. 6.38pm BSTIreland go through the phases looking to wind the clock down,but with five seconds left on it they knock on. It things not though, as France can’t finish anything from the scrum and Ireland get the win!What a moment half from Ireland that was. Character in adversity and all that, and having lost two of their lynchpins in OConnell and Sexton before the atomize and then their best player,O’Mahony after it.
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Source: theguardian.com