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DUBLIN - Winger Vincent Clerc broke Irish hearts when he scored a last-minute try to earn France a 20-17 victory in a Six Nations rugby thriller today.
Ireland looked to be heading for an emotional victory in the first rugby match to be staged at Croke Park when Ronan O'Gara, who scored all their points, landed a 77th-minute penalty to earn a 17-13 lead.
But France, who had not scored since captain Raphael Ibanez's converted try in the 15th minute, summoned one final attack and Clerc broke through three attempted tackles to earn the holders a fifth successive victory over the hosts.
It was not the finale that the 81,572-strong crowd had hoped for on such an historic occasion.
All the pre-match razzmatazz seemed to affect the Irish, who were horribly off the pace in the first 20 minutes as France threatened to run away with it after a determined and forceful opening salvo.
David Skrela landed two penalties and Ibanez then brushed off a feeble attempted tackle by Geordan Murphy to charge in for a try.
O'Gara landed one penalty but the home crowd had to wait until the 32nd minute to really unleash a roar.
O'Gara started the move with a half break, Shane Horgan took it on and flanker David Wallace slipped a neat inside pass for the first five-eighth to touch down.
Two missed penalties by Skrela ensured Ireland were still in it at 11-13 down at the break and the French must have gone into their changing rooms wondering how they had not already made the game safe.
Ireland came out looking far more purposeful with the slippery Gordan D'Arcy taking the initiative in the absence of injured centre partner and captain Brian O'Driscoll.
Their pressure eventually told when O'Gara landed a 56th-minute penalty to put them in front for the first time and they continued to dominate possession.
With the tension mounting, France upped their game and replacement Lionel Beauxis struck a post with a 74th-minute dropped goal attempt.
Ireland pressed again and thought they had done enough when O'Gara's fourth penalty of the day earned what appeared a vital four-point lead.
However, as so often before, France produced something special just when it was most needed.
Straight from the restart they forced a ruck on the Irish 22 then moved the ball to Clerc, 20m out with defenders all around him.
There seemed no way through but weary prop John Hayes and winger Denis Hickie failed to get hold as the winger gleefully burst through to score under the crossbar.
Beauxis converted to leave only the small pocket of French fans singing in an otherwise stunned stadium.
- REUTERS
