PETE SALUTES YOUNG GUNS

frantic for the last 10 minutes – down to 14 with my yellow card – but we stayed with the plan all the time and we didn’t get carried away with positive or negative moments.

“It was a good start with the performance. I think a chunk of it was the young fellas.

“Guys like Calvin Nash, Jack, big Joe... some big, big performances from guys who were given the opportunity and it’s hard to pick a few guys out but I thought it was a good start.

“We let a couple of opportunities go, a couple of silly penalties on our part when we needed to be more disciplined.

“This game is about taking your opportunities and against sides as good as France, they don’t come around very often.

“I thought more often than not tonight we took those opportunities well.”

Ireland can dream of back-to-back Grand

Slams after taking out their main rivals in the Six Nations opener.

France went down to 14 men just after the half hour mark when Paul Willemse was shown a second yellow card.

For his part, Mccarthy paid tribute to Crowley for stepping into the No.10 role.

The 24-year-old had some nervy moments but directed Ireland’s attacking game in stylish fashion.

“He’s an absolute baller,” said Mccarthy. “I played under-20s with him. He’s such a competitor and a great man to lead the group.

“I’m delighted. He played unbelievable. He drove us around the pitch.

“It’s never easy in France. We probably didn’t expect to get such a high score but we’re really happy. The atmosphere is mental. It was a fantastic team performance.

‘Our set piece went well, we were in sync as a team and everyone played their part.”