1.
TV PAN: France wearing blue and kicking from left to right kick-off.
0.07

2.
TV: From a scrum France gain possession, but lose ball to Irish who kick up field.
0.18

3.
TV: France in possession during a maul.
0.29

4.
GV: Crowd watch as Jerome Gallion goes over for French try. (2 SHOTS)
0.36

5.
LV: Scoreboard 4-0 to France.
0.38

6.
TV PAN: From French line-out the ball is crossed to left and kicked up field.
0.50

7.
TV: Crowd watches as Jean Michel Aguirre scores from penalty kick. (2 SHOTS)
0.56

8.
LV: Scoreboard 7-3 to France.
1.00

9.
TV: Ireland awarded penalty kick after maul.
1.18

10.
TV: Tony Ward scores penalty goal for Ireland.
1.23

11.
LV: Scoreboard 7-6 to France.
1.25

12.
TV PAN: French attack breaks down and Irish carry ball up field.
1.35

13.
TV: Crowd watches as France score penalty kick from half-way line. (2 SHOTS)
1.44

14.
LV: Scorebaord 10-6 to France.
1.45

15.
TV (SECOND HALF): Ireland attack and awarded penalty kick immediately in front of goal.
1.55

16.
TV: Tony Ward scores penalty goal for Ireland.
2.00



Initials JS/2130


SPORT: RUGBY UNION

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Rugby Union...and France has defeated Ireland by 10 points to 9 at Parc des Princes in Paris on Saturday (18 February). The match was part of this year's Five Nations Rugby Union Championships. However weather almost made officials cancel the match with the final decision to play on the icy pitch taken only hours before the kick-off.

SYNOPSIS: France was tipped to win the game and the power and strength of their pack, together with another fine performance by scrum-half Jerome Gallion, gave them a comfortable victory in the icy conditions. The game got off to a ragged start and the referee had to check players on both sides several times for misdemeanours. It soon became clear that France had the upper hand.

The French try came after 22 minutes when Jerome Gallion received the ball from a set scrum. It gave an early morale-boosting lead.

The French team has had a good season so far and came to this game two up with two to play. Gallion's try was followed up quickly with a penalty from Jean Michel Aguirre.

One of Ireland's disadvantages was having a lighter pack than France. On the slippery ice, it proved a disastrous handicap. But the game did not go entirely France's way. After suffering set backs, Ireland's fly half Tony Ward opened the Irish scoring with a good penalty kick. It was the first of three he was to give his team before the final whistle.

There were to be no more tries in the game, but two more penalties were notched up before half-time. The French penalty was, again, scored by Jean Michel Aguirre. It was followed very quickly by the second from Ireland's Tony Ward. France had a four point lead at the interval.

It was a lead the Tony Ward's final penalty. France emerged from the game at the top of the championship table with six points from three matches.