KEY POINTS:
PARIS - France showed they had a team that can challenge for World Cup glory after taming Ireland 25-3 in a tense Pool D Game on Friday, coach Bernard Laporte said.
"We have a team capable of great things," Laporte said after the hosts captured the win they needed to escape the embarrassment of a group stage exit.
"We were rigorous, well organised and patient," he added. "I saw smiles in the locker rooms."
France, who put themselves in a tricky situation by losing their opening match to Argentina, would have been happier with four tries for a bonus point.
Before a partisan 80,000 crowd at Stade de France, they had to be content with two from right wing Vincent Clerc, as well as 15 points from the boot of halfback Jean-Baptiste Elissalde.
"The bonus point would have been the icing on the cake but the most important thing tonight was to win," Laporte said.
France, who had boosted their morale for Friday's clash by destroying Namibia 87-10 last Sunday in Toulouse, were helped by poor discipline from Ireland.
"It was a real showdown," said hooker and captain Raphael Ibanez. "We knew Ireland were a strong side and would be tough to beat but we showed more composure when it mattered and that was the key."
France will make sure of advancing to the quarter-finals if they beat Georgia with a bonus point in their last pool game but could still finish second and face a likely encounter with New Zealand for a place in the last four.
The two-times World Cup finalists could still avoid the All Blacks but to do that they need Ireland to beat Argentina by more than seven points and with at least four tries.
"We have to look after ourselves but we will keep a close eye on the match between Ireland and Argentina, of course," said Ibanez.
"Ireland can't go out without a fight, it's a question of pride," he added. "We can rely on them to give it all their heart."
- REUTERS
