Garbajosa drives France forward.

By Ian Laybourn, PA Sport

Ireland were forced to curb their attacking flair but demonstrated a mean defensive streak to keep alive their hopes of an elusive Grand Slam.

The championship's leading tryscorers failed to break the French resistance but kept their own line intact to grind out a precious win over the reigning champions in a tense duel at Lansdowne Road.

That keeps them on course for a Grand Slam showdown with England in Dublin on March 30, although there is the little matter of Wales at the Millennium Stadium before then.

Fly-half David Humphreys, who is rapidly turning the 2003 championship into a personal triumph, celebrated his 50th appearance for his country with a second successive man of the match performance.

The record-breaking fly-half, who led the team out, was unable to unleash the star-studded Irish back line but he ran the show with a superb kicking game and landed four penalties from six attempts. He has now contributed 55 of his side's points this season.

Humphreys' opposite number Francois Gelez scored all France's points with four penalties but he crucially missed another three.

Full-back Geordan Murphy provided the other Irish points with a first-minute drop goal as Ireland made it nine wins in a row and a third victory in four meetings with France, a sure sign of their emergence as a world power.

Today's win was reminiscent of their try-less victory over Australia in November with skipper Brian O'Driscoll proving he is not just a creative phenomenon.

Ireland's magnificent defence was at its best in a frantic finish to the first half as they sought to protect a 12-3 lead.

The French were camped on the Irish line and the hugely impressive Olivier Magne looked all over a tryscorer until propelled back from the line in a tremendous joint tackle from Murphy and O'Driscoll.

Ireland were forced to overcome the loss of lock Gary Longwell with a knee injury late in the first half and their forwards battled manfully to cancel out the French eight.

Neither side came to terms with the difficult conditions and, unable to release their dangerous threequarters, Ireland all too readily resorted to the up-and-under that characterised their game of another era.

The Irish set-piece functioned reasonably well but the French back row were quicker to the breakdowns and smothered the life out of the home side's attack as Humphreys and Peter Stringer, able to call the shots against Italy and Scotland, found themselves with no time on the ball

Ireland did have their chances, with blockbusting centre Kevin Maggs dropping the ball after charging down an attempted clearance kick from Damian Traille and prop Marcus Horan went preciously close to a first try for his country with a late barnstorming run.

France's best chance came as early as the seventh minute when their pack mauled to within a couple of feet of the line but hooker Raphael Ibanez agonising knocked on with glory beckoning.

Ibanez could not have realised the missed opportunity was to be his side's last.

Teams:

Ireland: Murphy, Kelly, O'Driscoll, Maggs, Hickie, Humphreys, Stringer, Horan, S. Byrne, Hayes, Longwell, O'Kelly, Costello, Gleeson, Foley.

Replacements: Cullen for Longwell (36), A. Quinlan for Costello (67).

Not Used: Sheahan, Fitzpatrick, G. Easterby, O'Gara, Henderson.

Pens: Humphreys 4.

Drop Goals: Murphy.

France: Poitrenaud, Rougerie, Garbajosa, Traille, Clerc, Gelez, Yachvili, Crenca, Ibanez, Marconnet, Pelous, Brouzet, Betsen, Magne, Harinordoqui.

Replacements: Califano for Marconnet (51), Chabal for Betsen (74).

Not Used: Rue, Auradou, Barrau, Merceron, Castaignede.

Pens: Gelez 4.

Att: 48,000

Ref: Andre Watson (South Africa).