{"id":25083,"date":"2022-02-13T08:35:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-13T13:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25083"},"modified":"2022-02-13T09:38:13","modified_gmt":"2022-02-13T14:38:13","slug":"farrell-proud-of-players-efforts-despite-loss-in-paris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25083","title":{"rendered":"Farrell Proud Of Players Efforts Despite Loss In Paris"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Andy Farrell took many positives from Ireland’s defeat to France (PA Wire\/PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell insists the \u201ccompetition is only just getting going\u201d after France put themselves in pole position for Guinness Six Nations glory with a pulsating 30-24 victory in Paris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ireland played their part in an enthralling evening of free-flowing rugby at a raucous Stade de France but ultimately fell short following a sloppy start as their winning run ended at nine games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

France captain Antoine Dupont scored the opening try after just 67 seconds and Farrell\u2019s men trailed 22-7 early in the second period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick-fire second-half scores from Josh Van Der Flier and Jamison Gibson-Park, following Mack Hansen\u2019s maiden Test try early on, brought the Irish back into contention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet indiscipline ultimately proved costly as six Melvyn Jaminet penalties, plus a try from Cyril Baille, helped Les Bleus take a giant step towards a first title since 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the contest was billed as a potential early championship decider, Farrell was proud of the efforts of his players and refused to be downhearted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard to take when you\u2019ve put in such a tough shift like that, especially with the fight and character that we had to come back,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the end, two good sides going at it; (at) 22-7 down people might have thought it was a step too far but these lads didn\u2019t. Their character shone through and certainly their fitness shone through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe competition obviously is slightly in France\u2019s favor, two home games that they\u2019ve played and two victories for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut the competition is only just getting going, so we\u2019ll lick our wounds and learn from what was a fighting, spirited performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt the same time, we\u2019ll be honest with each other and make sure that we learn the lessons on a few decisions that we made along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe result doesn\u2019t lie, congratulations to France \u2013 they deserved the win because that\u2019s what the scoreline tells us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ireland arrived in the French capital having not been beaten since suffering defeat to Les Bleus on this weekend last year, but without the services of injured skipper Johnny Sexton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joey Carbery filled in for Sexton to make his first Six Nations start, while lock James Ryan took on the captaincy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Munster fly-half Carbery \u2013 who has endured an injury nightmare in recent years \u2013 produced a flawless kicking display, landing three conversions and setting up a grandstand finish by slotting a 73rd-minute penalty to temporarily reduce the Irish deficit to three points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Farrell praised the performance of his stand-in number 10 and dismissed suggestions the team should have gone for touch with seven minutes to go, rather than take the three points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the right decision, there\u2019s no doubt about that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey (the players) are in the moment, they understand what\u2019s happening, there was plenty of time left. I back them to make those calls.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of Carbery, he added: \u201cI thought he was excellent. Obviously everyone was curious to see how Joey would go on his first start but it didn\u2019t surprise us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe was very confident and very assured in his performance. He kicked beautifully for goal and I think he controlled the game pretty well for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following Scotland\u2019s defeat to Wales earlier on Saturday, France are now the sole team still in Grand Slam contention going into round three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les Bleus head coach Fabien Galthie felt the game had hallmarks of his side\u2019s stunning autumn win over New Zealand, when they also held off a fightback to clinch victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen you play that sort of team you have to accept that sometimes we have a weak moment but we have to limit the damage,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s exactly what happened against the All Blacks and that\u2019s what happened again today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut we were able to take control again and have the upper hand in conditions that were physically, psychologically, statistically challenging; like the All Blacks but with a different opponent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne might say we organized ourselves the same way in the last 30 minutes of the match and that is a good thing because we won and that\u2019s very positive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Share this:<\/h3>