France win just stepping stone: coach
DUBLIN: France claimed its first win in Dublin in a decade when it beat Ireland 1513 in the Six Nations yesterday, but coach Fabien Galthie said the achievement was nothing more than a stepping stone to a greater goal.
Les Bleus, back in the mix since Galthie took over last year, scored a try through Charles Ollivon on their first incursion and defended stoutly in a tense finale to snatch their second win in two games in this year’s championship.
France, which hosts the 2023 World Cup, tops the standings with nine points, ahead of Wales on points difference. England is in third place on six points.
‘‘We were prepared to win the game, we won the game. It was our objective. That’s it,’’ Galthie, who has led France to nine victories in 11 games, said.
‘‘We have a lot of ambition, for all our games. We were ready to face the Irish. It’s interesting to tick the boxes. Each game is not a goal in itself, we have bigger goals. I think the team will continue to improve.’’
France suffered in the rucks and struggled in the lineouts in the first half but never panicked and punished
Ireland on its first foray, a series of offloads leading to a clinical try by Ollivon before Damian Penaud added another after the break.
‘‘When we have an opportunity, we convert it, although we could have done better on that front,’’ centre Gael Fickou, a veteran with 60 caps in a relatively inexperienced team, said.
Les Bleus performed under the pressure of Ireland’s high kicks, fullback Brice Dulin providing the team with a safe pair of hands.
‘‘This win is the result of all the work we’ve put in in the last 18 months. We’re not there yet, far from it,’’ Dulin said.
‘‘We’re not satisfied yet. We’re picking up steam.’’
Captain Ollivon, who praised his team’s ability to fix their lineout problems, said: ‘‘It was a ferocious battle. We’re happy and proud. It was war from the first to the 80th minute’’.
France, looking to win the
Six Nations for the first time since 2010, the year of its most recent grand slam, will host Scotland in Paris in two weeks. — Reuters