Ntamack double defies an Irish fightback

ROMAIN Ntamack scored two tries as France opened their campaign with victory in Bordeaux.

The Toulouse fly-half crossed twice in a first half dominated by Les Bleuets, but they were made to sweat as Ireland hit back with three second-half tries.

However they left with nothing after Harry Byrne missed a late penalty attempt after a previously flawless night with the boot.

France started quickly with a penalty from Ntamack and it was the Toulouse No.10, son of France legend Emile, who then scored the first try, spotting a gap after the Irish defence had held out under the assault of the French forwards. Ntamack converted to make it 10-0 after 13 minutes.

Ireland responded with a good scrum, earning a penalty that allowed Byrne to get the visitors on the board but France hit straight back with a try from a rolling maul, Ibrahim Diallo peeling off the back to crash over.

Ntamack could not convert, but was soon over for his second try. The fly-half combined with his hooker Maxime Lamothe and then showed pace to gas home from 30m. From out wide, Ntamack’s conversion made it 22-3 at the break.

Ireland struck first in the second half when a clever grubber from Byrne caught the French out, and Iban Etcheverry tackled Michael Silvester without the ball, conceding a penalty try and earning a yellow card for his troubles.

Jonny Stewart spotted a gap down the flank where Etcheverry was missing to streak over and Byrne’s touchline conversion cut the deficit to five points with 20 minutes remaining.

France scored again through Jules Gimbert after confusion in the Irish back-three, but James McCarthy struck back immediately and Byrne’s conversion made it 27-24.

Their hopes of a comeback victory proved in vain, with France controlling the remaining minutes and crossing for a try through Demba Bamba before Byrne blew the chance of a losing bonus.