France 20-22 Ireland: Fairytale ending for O'Driscoll and heartbreak for England as Irish hold on in dramatic 6 Nations finale

By Malcolm Folley

PUBLISHED: 13:57 EST, 15 March 2014 | UPDATED: 08:42 EST, 16 March 2014


Fourteen years after Brian O’Driscoll announced himself on this very ground as a prodigious  talent, the 35-year-old Irishman fittingly left the stage as a champion at the end of his 141st and final Test.

O’Driscoll’s and Irish jubilation came at the expense of broken English hearts. Stuart Lancaster’s team, who had thrown out a challenge to the Irish by defeating Italy 52-11 at lunchtime, watched with heavy hearts at an official post-match function in the splendour of a suite in an ancient building near St Peter’s Square, as Ireland survived a late trial-by-video.

VIDEO Scroll down for all the match highlights, including all the tries

Out a winner: Brian O'Driscoll's 141st and final Test clinched Ireland the RBS 6 Nations title

Out a winner: Brian O'Driscoll's 141st and final Test clinched Ireland the RBS 6 Nations title

Jubilation: O'Driscoll clasps hold of the 6 Nations trophy after the presentation in Paris

Jubilation: O'Driscoll clasps hold of the 6 Nations trophy after the presentation in Paris

Joy and despair: Ireland's players celebrate their win while France consider what could have been

Joy and despair: Ireland's players celebrate their win while France consider what could have been

Opener: Jonathan Sexton (right) celebrates his first try at the Stade de France in Paris

Opener: Jonathan Sexton (right) celebrates his first try at the Stade de France in Paris

Brace: The Ireland fly-half runs in the second of his two tries

Brace: The Ireland fly-half runs in the second of his two tries

Off target: Sexton's usually reliable boot deserted him at times in the crunch RBS 6 Nations match

Off target: Sexton's usually reliable boot deserted him at times in the crunch RBS 6 Nations match

Match facts

France: Dulin, Huget, Bastareaud, Fickou, Medard, Tales, Machenaud; Domingo, Szarzewski, Mas, Pape (capt), Maestri, Picamoles, Chouly, Lapandry

Replacements: Guirado, Debaty, Slimani, Flanquart, Vahaamahina, Lauret, Doussain, Mermoz

Try: Dulin, Szarzewski

Conversion: Machenaud (2)

Penalty: Machenaud (2)

Ireland: R Kearney, Trimble, B O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, D Kearney, Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best, Ross, Toner, O'Connell, O'Mahony, Henry, Heaslip.

Replacements: Cronin, McGrath, Moore, Henderson, Murphy, Reddan, Madigan, McFadden.

Tries: Sexton, Trimble, Sexton

Conversions: Sexton (2)

Penalty: Sexton

Referee Steve Walsh demanded a review of the 78th-minute pass from which Damien Chouly touched down in the corner — offering hope for France and England but silencing the songs of celebration emanating from the 15,000 green-clad supporters. Those songs of praise turned into catcalls of derision for officialdom when replays confirmed substitute Vincent Debaty’s pass had been hopelessly wayward.

In Rome, the wine must have turned to water for Lancaster’s men, while, from Dublin to New York, Belfast to Boston, tomorrow’s St Patrick’s Day parades can celebrate the retirement gift the Irish rugby team presented to O’Driscoll.

Saturday night’s French team were unrecognisable from the one who have largely stumbled through this championship. However, their performance was not quite enough.

Sometimes sport offers a compelling narrative beyond the confines of the scoreboard. Some stories are just too rich in content to be denied. And this was just such an evening.

O’Driscoll may have spurned his one chance to supplement the 26 tries he has scored for Ireland in the opening minutes of the second half. He may not have had the impact that fly-half Jonny Sexton had on the result, with two self-converted tries and a penalty; and O’Driscoll will be the first to appreciate the warrior-like performances of the forwards that assured Ireland won in France for just the third time in 42 years.

Legend: Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll does the rough work in his final Test

Legend: Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll does the rough work in his final Test

Bruising: O'Driscoll used a break in play as an opportunity to put some ice on a knock on his eye

Bruising: O'Driscoll used a break in play as an opportunity to put some ice on a knock on his eye

Champion: O'Driscoll drew the curtain on a stellar 14 year career that has seem him amass a string of records

Champion: O'Driscoll drew the curtain on a stellar 14 year career that has seem him amass a string of records

Big match-up: France's massive centre Mathieu Bastareaud hones in on a fending Sexton

Big match-up: France's massive centre Mathieu Bastareaud hones in on a fending Sexton

Run-in: Ireland winger Andrew Trimble found space to finish his side's second try

Run-in: Ireland winger Andrew Trimble found space to finish his side's second try

 

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The last triumph before this was fashioned by O’Driscoll, who scored three tries as he shone in the French capital they call the city of light. On Saturday night O’Driscoll was aglow again, a man who knew he was leaving the game at the right moment, on his own terms.

But his mere presence, as a man revered and feared, was an influence that stretched across the Stade de France one final time. More than an hour after the game he arrived in a room in the bowels of this stadium to reflect on his career still wearing his green No 13 jersey.

‘I don’t want to take it off, because I know, when I do, it will be for the last time,’ he said.

He played this year with the targets of being part of an Irish victory over New Zealand and to win the Six Nations. In the autumn, the All Blacks shattered that first dream, winning in injury time, but being crowned champion for only a second time in an Irish shirt was compensation enough.

Edging closer: France's Brice Dulin crosses for his side's only try of the first half which they led 13-12

Edging closer: France's Brice Dulin crosses for his side's only try of the first half which they led 13-12

Against the post: Referee Steve Walsh awards a try to Dimitri Szarzewski after a strong France drive

Against the post: Referee Steve Walsh awards a try to Dimitri Szarzewski after a strong France drive

Worrying: Ireland medical staff take all necessary precautions with Sexton after a clash with Bastareaud

Worrying: Ireland medical staff take all necessary precautions with Sexton after a clash with Bastareaud

Man down: Sexton is stretchered off with 12 minutes remaining in the match

Man down: Sexton is stretchered off with 12 minutes remaining in the match

‘It’s a sheer delight to have won the championship,’ said O’Driscoll.  ‘I have had a lot of good memories from the times between winning here 14 years ago and now, but to finish like this is incredibly special.

‘Not many get the chance to end their careers on their own terms. I am just thankful to have been part of a great team who have massive potential to become even better.’

After being afforded an emotional curtain call in his last game for Ireland in Dublin last weekend, O’Driscoll had received innumerable accolades ahead of his final game. If he was affected, he did not show it during arguably the most intense 80 minutes of this championship.

‘I tried to channel my emotions into my performance,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t let the occasion get the better of me. I think I played fair today — I did think I might get in for a try, but I had to come inside as I knew I didn’t have the gas to burn on the outside.’

Age spares nobody in the final analysis. But O’Driscoll had no reason for recriminations on this night or any other. He always played the game with his heart and his head.

He never lacked courage, and there were times when he influenced games like few men can.

Fine margins: France have a late try ruled out for a forward pass

Fine margins: France have a late try ruled out for a forward pass

Close call: The Paris crowd thought France had snatched victory through Damien Chouly but an earlier forward pass saw the try disallowed

Close call: The Paris crowd thought France had snatched victory through Damien Chouly but an earlier forward pass saw the try disallowed

Helpless: England's players, suited up for an official function, watch on as Ireland hold off France's surge

Helpless: England's players, suited up for an official function, watch on as Ireland hold off France's surge

Devastated: England's well-dressed stars realise their Six Nations dream will have to wait another year

Devastated: England's well-dressed stars realise their Six Nations dream will have to wait another year

Victors: Ireland captain Paul O'Connell holds the trophy aloft as his team's celebrations kick-off

Victors: Ireland captain Paul O'Connell holds the trophy aloft as his team's celebrations kick-off

Silver service: Ireland won the 6 Nations with a points difference 10 better than England's

Silver service: Ireland won the 6 Nations with a points difference 10 better than England's

‘At the end, I did have a frog in my throat, there was a fair bit of emotion,’ he said. ‘There were some great emotions in the dressing room – and I wouldn’t bet against a few tears later on after a lot of beers!’

O’Driscoll’s name is synonymous with all that is good and decent about sport. Ireland trailed 13-12 at half-time, but they were never headed again after Sexton scored his second try in the 46th minute. His evening ended prematurely with concussion, however, after a sickening collision with Matthieu Bastareaud.

Andrew Trimble collected Ireland’s remaining points with a first-half try. France scored two tries through Brice Dulin and Dimitri Szarzewski, with scrum-half Maxime Machenaud kicking two conversions and two penalties.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre said wryly: ‘Next year Brian O’Driscoll will not be here and maybe we will have the God of rugby on our side.’

But on this night, when England dreams died in Rome, O’Driscoll deservedly ended a colossal career as a champion.


 

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Well done Ireland woo hooooooooooooooooooo

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So happy for Brian. Way to go !

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Congratulations on an amazing career BOD from down under.

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BOD and the lads making Patrick's weekend perfect!

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From an England supporter I say well done Ireland and fully deserved.

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Congratulations to Ireland and Brian O'Driscoll. Well done to the England lads for a sterling effort, your time will come.

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BOD has been a fantastic stalwart of the Irish Rugby Squad as well as a brilliant Ambassador for the game and the Irish. A true Sporting Legend and Gentleman. He will be sorely missed. Am so, so delighted Ireland won - thoroughly deserved - we can celebrate St. Patrick's Day in style now!

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Wonderful that the sassenachs lost again, anybody but them!!

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Yawn!

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england did not win the six nations outright simply as a result of france's inability to convert a simple penalty-- leaving aside a forward pass that no self respecting professional rugby union player should ever be guilty of-----but probably most heinous of all was not to have scored at least 60 points against italy

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If you'd watched the match you might have seen that the try France scored under the post had been lost forward and Johnny Sexton had his worst kicking game ever. Try taking off the blinkers.

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England didn't win because they are still not good enough!

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BOD has more class in his little finger than Farrel has in his whole body.

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