France 20-22 Ireland
Saint-Andre bemoans the cruel hand of fate
ESPN Staff
March 16, 2014
Ireland celebrate while France ponder the one that got away © Getty Images
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Philippe Saint-Andre hailed the departing Brian O'Driscoll saying he hoped the "god of rugby" would be back onto France's side next season.

Head coach Saint-Andre branded France's 22-20 Ireland defeat "very cruel", lamenting a try chalked-off for Damien Chouly and Jean-Marc Doussain's penalty miss. Instead it was the Irish who celebrated victory leaving Saint-Andre to bemoan a win that escaped his team.

"High-level rugby is very cruel," said Saint-Andre. "No one can say anymore that we don't have an enormous ambition to play the ball. In the end it's O'Driscoll that decides the tournament and leaves his last match with the trophy.

"Ireland have improved a lot, because they won the tournament, they play a quick tempo game. They've shown a lot of spirit and character throughout the Six Nations. Today they won a very, very tight game.

"I'm looking forward to playing Ireland next year in the Six Nations. Congratulations to Ireland and Brian O'Driscoll. Next year Brian O'Driscoll will not be here, so maybe the god of rugby will be on our side."

Saint-Andre said he believed his team could have finished second and now turns attention to their summer tour of Australia.

"Yes absolutely we have improved, it's a young group, we know there's still room for improvement on small details, and we're really working on it. We are a bit frustrated, we would rather have won but we can build on this and look towards to our summer tour to Australia."

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