Brian O'Driscoll dives in for a controversial try at Lansdown Road
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Matches: Ireland 22 - 15 France

Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations

Teams: France | Ireland

Ireland have finally cracked it. It has taken over 40 years for the men in green to register back-to-back championship victories over France. And Oh how sweet was the feeling.

Mind you, when France finally awoke from their slumber, the Irish had to defend like they have never defended before. But with their renewed confidence, and wanting so much to record their first victory over Le Blues in Dublin since 1983, they held out for a mighty victory. There was controversy though when the brilliant Brian O'Driscoll was awarded a 48th minute try.

The man-of-the-match charged into the left-hand corner, but as he was hit by Christophe Lamaison, he appeared unable to ground the ball properly. However, English video referee Brian Campsall, after three minutes of close scrutiny, finally gave the thumbs up much to the delight of the 48,000 capacity crowd which made the old Lansdowne Road Stadium shake to its roots. That score came at a very important stage in the game, particularly with Ronan O'Gara landing the touchline conversion and then adding his fifth penalty to push Ireland out to a 22-3 lead.

From then on it was a frentic French playing catch-up rugby which they did quite well, but fell short at the end. O'Gara didn't have the most rivetting start as he spilled two balls in the opening minutes as Ireland bathed in some creative possession. O'Gara though settled those nerves in the fourth minute when he stroked over a fine penalty after the French has dived over at a ruck.

Skipper Keith Wood would admit that he's not that a great fly-half, and he proved a point when he found himself stranded outside the French ''22'' and there was chuckle from the full house when his attempted drop goal went all of 10 metres - along the ground.

The first scrum after 10 minutes was ominous when the French shunted Ireland back on their haunches, but it was never going to be a real problem for Ireland as the game progressed. However, it was the Irish who held the upper hand in those early exchanges. France, though began to motor with some excellent line-out possession with their forwards driving at the Irish defence. France levelled the scores in the 17th minute when Malcolm O'Kely strayed offside and Christophe Lamaison stroked over the penalty, while O'Gara misshit his second effort from 40 metres range two minutes later.

O'Driscoll, the scourge of France last year in Paris, was again looking extremely sharp with some beautifully-balanced running. One break in midfield saw him place a kick deep into French territory and when the defending side were penalised, O'Gara banged over his second penalty in the 28th minute. France were then reduced to 14 men when Lamaison clobbered winger Tyrone Howe in the face with an attempted tackle, an action that saw him sin-binned in the 32nd minute.

That signalled an Irish charge to the French ''22'' and it took some stubborn defence to hold the green shirts at bay. Ireland went hunting for that opening try against the seven-man pack, but all they had to collect from their efforts was a rifled penalty from O'Gara whose strike from the half-way line was sweet and true.

Ireland immediately stretched their lead two minutes after the restart with O'Gara's fourth penalty. It all started with a line-out steal by the magnificent Malcolm O'Kelly in his own ''22''. The Irish pack drove upfield, prop John Hayes broke free. He handed on to supporting flanker David Wallace who drove deep into enemy territory and when the French again prevented the ball from emerging O'Gara did the business. However, he missed with a similar effort four minutes later and a chance to open up a 12-point gap. It didn't stop Ireland though, and O'Driscoll hammered yet anoter nail into the French coffin with that try with Mr Campsall taking an eternity to decide.

It all started with a typical Rob Henderson burst in midfield, and after Girvan Dempsey had flipped the ball to O'Driscoll the sure-fire Lions centre burst clear along the left wing and then that wait. When O'Gara converted and then stretched the lead to 22-3 with his fifth penalty and the French began to lose their cool. They didn't go to pieces completely and one surge downfield brought a try from skipper Fabien Pelous with Lamaison converting.

France were not finished either when they scored again in the 71st minute. It was the French of old with their backs and forwards playing some glorious inter-passing rugby. That style opened up Ireland and Philipe Bernat-Salles was put over in the right hand corner to narrow the leeway to 22-15. The last 10 minutes plus a sumptious amount of over-time were frentic to say the least with France going for broke and Ireland hanging on with gritty determination. But with four pairs of fresh legs on the park, Ireland had enough in their bellies to hang on with replacement lock Gary Longwell making two great tackles and taking four crucial line-out balls.

Ireland can look forward to a trip to the Millennium Stadium in a fortnight's time with ever-growing confidence.