33 min: Harinordoquy scores in style. (Getty Images)

By Reece Killworth

Result: France 43 Ireland 21

80 min: CONVERSION - HUMPHREYS. Humphreys slots over the conversion with the last kick of an entertaining game.

80 min: TRY - O'DRISCOLL. Ireland take a quick line-out and get to within a metre of the France line before working it wide. O'Connell has to be alert as the ball squirts out but France have strayed offside anyway. Ireland tap and go quickly through Humphreys. O'Driscoll is in support and he is able to power over from close range.

80 min: France work a nice move from the back of a scrum with Galthie and Michalak linking well. That takes them well into the Ireland 22 as they seek a late try. The penalty comes to Ireland, though, as France dive off their feet a the ruck. Humphreys hacks downfield missing his touch. Brusque returns the ball and is forced out of play.

79 min: Rougerie, who has moved into the back row for the last couple of minutes after Brouzet's departure does well to win the ball at the back of the line-out, albeit with his feet firmly on the ground.

78 min: Given few options, Wood has to kick ahead, and it goes out straight into touch.

77 min: Brouzet is leaving the field. Pepito Elhorga is the man to come on.

76 min: Both sides struggling to keep possession and eventually the ball goes out, with Ireland getting the throw at the line-out as Dominici is forced over the touchline.

75 min: O'Driscoll does well to snatch the ball off of Brusque in the tackle but Ireland are looking out on their feet.

74 min: France bring Patrick Tabacco on for Harinordoquy, who has been quite brilliant. These replacements are killing the flow of the game.

73 min: France recycle the ball well through eight or so phases but an inside pass from O'Driscoll is spilled forward by Dempsey. France use the advantage to break themselves, but then knock on. Ibanez is back out of the bin.

73 min: Guy Easterby is on for Ireland in the scrum-half slot, with Stringer making way.

72 min: PENALTY - MICHALAK. Michalak slots over the penalty.

71 min: France win the line-out and get the shove on, impressively. The maul goes to ground with Ireland penalised. Michalak is going for the posts.

70 min: France bring on Olivier Milloud for Crenca.

69 min: France go for a quick one from the free-kick but Michalak knocks on. Ireland hold firm at the scrum before Humphreys finds touch down the right.

69 min: Galthie makes a sniping run around the blind side of the scrum but is forced over the touchline. Ireland's throw at the line-out, but they take too long getting it in.

68 min: A kicking battle ensues from the restart but Ireland come off the better initially as they win the ball at a France line-out. They've knocked-on, though, so it's France's put-in.

68 min: Eric Miller is on for Costello in the Ireland pack.

67 min: CONVERSION - HUMPHREYS. Humphreys converts.

66 min: TRY - O'DRISCOLL. Costello goes off the back of the scrum and gets to within a metre. Humphreys grubs a kick through and O'Driscoll bursts through. With the ball tumbling towards the dead-ball line he flings himself forward and manages to touch down with one hand.

65 min: France bring Olivier Brouzet on for Thion, who is in the blood bin, while Magne comes off to allow Yannick Bru to take his place in the front row following Ibanez's departure. Ireland are going for a scrum against the seven-man France pack.

64 min: Humphreys finds touch with his kick and Ireland win the line-out. They get the shove on to within a metre of the line. There's yet another hand in the ruck from the French this time from Ibanez. The referee dispatches him to the bin.

63 min: Ireland tap and go but France turn it over. They've done so illegally, though, and the referee has a word with Galthie about the discipline of his forwards.

62 min: Kelly forces a mistake from Brusque with a clever kick ahead which the full-back knocks on. Ireland use the advantage to get forward into the France 22, but then the French stray offside so it's a fresh penalty.

61 min: Wood hoists a kick into French territory from the restart as Ireland struggle to penetrate their opponents' defence.

60 min: PENALTY - MICHALAK. Michalak punishes Ireland.

59 min: Ireland try to spin it wide but as a ruck forms O'Connell is penalised for stamping on Galthie. Penalty to France over 40m from the Ireland posts and Michalak is going for the points.

58 min: Ireland go for a set move up front before working it through the backs. Humphreys knocks on, though, as Ireland waste a great chance to score. France use up the advantage but then hoist a poor kick which Horgan gathers.

57 min: Costello bursts through a gap in the France line-out to get within a metre. He goes again but France hold firm. They go through the three-quarters but after great passing in midfield, Dempsey knocks on with the line open. Heartbreaking stuff. There's a penalty in back play though, with France offside.

56 min: Humphreys finds touch deep inside the France 22.

55 min: France are making elementary mistakes now. This time, Raphael Ibanez fails to get the ball in straight so Ireland get the put-in. They finally are able to use their backs to take it into the French half. The penalty comes as Jerome Thion fails to roll away from the tackle.

54 min: Ireland win good line-out ball and Humphreys finds his touch down the right.

53 min: That try has lifted the crowd and has brought an error from Galthie as he chips a kick straight into touch. Sloppy work from the scrum-half.

52 min: CONVERSION - HUMPHREYS. Humphreys slots over the conversion.

51 min: TRY - MAGGS. Ireland win good line-out ball after Humphreys finds touch. The ball is worked into Maggs who runs a great line inside before switching to the outside. There are three French defenders in close attendance, but he has the power to crash over.

50 min: Ireland bring Marcus Horan on for Corrigan while France replace Jauzion with Brian Liebenberg.

49 min: After a kicking battle, the referee penalises Betsen for an illegal tackle on Maggs.

48 min: David Humphreys replaces O'Gara at fly-half for Ireland. His restart is worked to Marsh, who is driven over the touchline by Maggs.

47 min: CONVERSION - MICHALAK. Michalak adds the extras. Was there ever a doubt?

46 min: TRY - CRENCA. Ireland win the scrum and work it to O'Gara but he fails to find his touch. France work the ball to Michalak and he steps inside a couple of tackles before eventually being pulled down inside the Ireland 22. The ball comes back quickly and France get to within five metres through Crenca. After recycling it through several phases, it reaches Harinordoquy out wide on the right flank. He takes the tackle and flicks it inside to Crenca, who crashes over unchallenged.

45 min: France win line-out ball and work it wide but Rougerie spills it forward after a poor pass from Brusque. O'Gara kicks downfield, failing to find touch, so the referee pulls it back for the knock-on.

44 min: O'Driscoll bursts forward from the switched restart but his pass inside to Horgan is forward. Corrigan is penalised at the scrum again, this time for not driving straight. France take the free-kick quickly but spill the ball forward. Ireland use up the advantage before coughing up possession and France look wide. Horgan gets a hand in attempting to intercept but can only knock forward. Scrum to France.

43 min: PENALTY - MICHALAK. As expected, Michalak slots over the penalty.

42 min: Reggie Corrigan's bindings fail at the scrum and the referee pings him. Michalak is going for the posts and should have few problems.

41 min: France get the game under way again and there's an early mistake from O'Gara. After Ireland hold firm up front and work it back to the fly-half, he spills it forward. Scrum to France inside the Ireland 22.

HT: France 27 Ireland 0.

40 min: Good line-out ball for Ireland and they work it out to Maggs, who comes in on a trademark burst. He's held up but Ireland manage to recycle it and work it through several phases. Horgan is out on the left wing and carries it forward but there's little support. Eventually Costello is there, but he's forced into touch. That's half-time.

40 min: Penalty to Ireland on the French 10m line and O'Gara hoists it into touch down the left inside the France 22. One last chance before the interval.

39 min: PENALTY - MICHALAK. Michalak slots over the penalty to punish Ireland further.

38 min: France win the line-out and some good defending forces Michalak to kick over the top. Ireland have strayed offside in back play, though, and the referee has pulled it back for that.

37 min: Costello picks up and goes from the back of the scrum but can't make any real progress. The ball is worked to O'Gara and he finds touch down the right.

36 min: France win the line-out and Yannick Jauzion makes good yardage on the burst. Serge Betsen spills it forward after a great tackle from Keith Wood, though, so it'll be Ireland's put-in at the scrum.

35 min: Ireland scramble the restart back on their side but hold on in the tackle. Brusque opts to kick and finds a good touch down the left.

34 min: CONVERSION - MICHALAK. No worries for Michalak.

33 min: TRY - HARINORDOQUY. Galthie makes a sniping run and has support from Sylvain Marconnet. He gathers the ball in and passes it out to Harinordoquy, who is unstoppable.

32 min: O'Driscoll and O'Gara link up well after Ireland win clean ball at the scrum. The penalty comes to France, though, as O'Driscoll is penalised at the ruck following a great tackle by Michalak in midfield.

31 min: Knock-on from France at the restart gives Ireland the put-in at the scrum.

30 min: CONVERSION - MICHALAK. Michalak adds the extras.

28 min: TRY - DOMINICI. Ireland win good line-out ball and Maggs comes on the crash ball to take them into the France 22. Things go wrong in midfield, though, with a pass going astray and the French pick it up. They turn defence into attack in an instant with Magne going forward. Within a second there's three men in support and Dominici is the man to power forward from just inside the Ireland half and go over.

27 min: France are getting a little sloppy now. Brusque kicks this time, but he's outside his own 22 and finds touch on the full.

26 min: O'Connell just fails to nick the line-out ball but France make an error as Michalak kicks straight into touch. The referee has called it back for O'Connell's knock-on in the line, though.

25 min: O'Connell wins line-out ball for Ireland and Horgan comes in off the wing to power through the first line of defence. Simon Easterby has come in from the side of the subsequent ruck, though, so Michalak can clear his lines down the left.

24 min: Ireland win the line-out at the back and finally manage to recycle the ball through several phases. Eventually, O'Driscoll kicks into space down the right and Christophe Dominici has to be alert to kick the ball into touch five metres from his own tryline. A great chance for Ireland.

23 min: Costello peels off around the back of the Irish maul after winning the line-out but is forced over the touchline. France win the line-out and work it in to Brusque's hands. He finds touch down the left.

22 min: Ireland's backs do well to return a Michalak kick with interest in hand. France turn it over, but Rougerie has failed to roll away from the tackle and it's a penalty to Ireland just inside the France half. O'Gara finds touch to take Ireland into the France 22.

21 min: PENALTY - MICHALAK. Michalak slots over the penalty.

20 min: Costello is penalised for coming in from the side at the scrum. Penalty to France and Michalak is going for the posts.

19 min: Ireland have too many men in the line-out so despite winning the ball they are penalised. France again spin it wide after taking a quick free-kick but Brusque is taken down by Horgan. There's been a knock-on from an Irish hand, though, so it's France's put-in.

19 min: Kelly marks a high kick from Michalak and hurries a kick into touch down the left after taking a quick one. Poor decision making there.

18 min: Ireland finally get some ball in hand but O'Driscoll opts to kick ahead and the ball trickles out for a France line-out.

17 min: France win the line-out ball and Fabien Galthie opts to make a sniping run around the fringes. Paul O'Connell wraps him up, though, and Ireland get the put-in at the scrum.

16 min: Ireland transgress at the France line-out and Michalak is able to pump the ball into touch down the left.

15 min: Ireland win the scrum and O'Gara hoists the ball into touch down the right pushing France back into their own half.

14 min: France look to work a lovely move through the backs with Michalak on the loop and Brusque in the line. The full-back fails to gather the pass, though, and France's attack slows up. As they try to work it back across the field, Crenca knocks on in midfield.

13 min: Ireland get good ball from the line-out but Kevin Maggs is tackled in midfield and spills it forward so the French come again. Harinordoquy is unusually sloppy with ball in hand, though, and Dempsey is able to hoist the ball into touch down the left.

12 min: France win the line-out and Michalak opts to kick ahead. The ball again bounces for Rougerie who immediately flicks it inside to Marsh on the burst. O'Driscoll gets in a brilliant tackle to halt his rival centre and when Marsh holds on, the referee pings him. Penalty to Ireland and O'Gara finds a good touch down the left.

11 min: Ireland win the line-out but the ball is coming far too slowly for Peter Stringer to do anything with it. Eventually, there's a knock-on from a French hand and Ireland get the put-in. Good clean ball for Ireland and O'Gara dinks a kick into touch down the right to ease the pressure somewhat.

10 min: France win the ball from the line-out but dive in at the subsequent ruck just five metres from the Ireland tryline. Penalty to Ireland and O'Gara finds a good touch down the Ireland left.

10 min: Ireland just about get the ball back on their side from the line-out and Dempsey has to hurry a kick into touch. O'Gara is back on the field after a short spell out of action.

9 min: France again disrupt the Ireland scrum but Costello just manages to scrabble it back. Brian O'Driscoll kicks ahead but fails to find touch and the French come again. They work it out to the right flank yet again where Rougerie is on the end of the line. He hugs the touchline and gets the ball down, but he's been flagged - correctly - for a foot in touch.

8 min: O'Gara receives treatment after catching a nasty blow from a French knee on the back of the head. A nasty collision, but there appeared to be no malice from the Frenchman. Play resumes with an Ireland put-in at the scrum.

7 min: Good clean ball for France from the line-out and again they work it through their three-quarter line with Tony Marsh powering into the 22. There's a knock-on from Jean-Jacques Crenca, though, and O'Gara gathers. He takes it forward 10 or so metres but spills it forward.

6 min: Harinordoquy wins the line-out for France and they get the rolling maul going to within ten metres. The ball is spun wide but Brusque can't gather it. Shane Horgan is first to the loose ball and fly-kicks it out for a France line-out just over the Ireland 10m line.

5 min: Poor control up front from the French forwards after a good driving maul. A knock-on presents Ireland with the put-in from the scrum. France get a great shove on to upset the Irish scrum and Costello holds on in the tackle after picking the ball from the base of the scrum. Michalak pumps the ball into touch inside the Irish 22.

4 min: CONVERSION - MICHALAK. A routine conversion for Michalak.

3 min: TRY - MAGNE. France win the line-out and again look to use the full width of the pitch. Frederic Michalak hoists a lovely cross-kick from left to right which bounces nicely for Imanol Harinordoquy. He gathers the ball and flicks it inside. Magne is also in support and he is in for an easy score.

2 min: Good line-out ball for the Irish and Ronan O'Gara hoists a kick over the top. Nicolas Brusque covers and kicks downfield to Girvan Dempsey. He has time to set himself and finds touch down the left just inside his own half.

1 min: France spin it wide through the line to Aurelien Rougerie but he is forced over the touchline by the Irish defenders.

1 min: Olivier Magne looks far from comfortable under the kick-off and Ireland are immediately in possession following a poor kick over the top. It's spilt forward in the tackle, though, and France turn it over.

0 min: Ireland get the game under way on the first whistle of referee Jonathan Kaplan.

Pre-match: Ireland have lost Geordan Murphy, Alan Quinlan and Denis Hickie during the tournament and coach Eddie O'Sullivan has replaced Hickie with John Kelly for the clash with France at the Telstra Dome. He also brings Victor Costello in for Anthony Foley in a tactical change at number eight. France coach Bernard Laporte has stuck with the players who have established themselves of late.