Clerc serves French warning

France winger Vincent Clerc made a statement of intent as he scored a first-half hat-trick to see off Ireland 26-21.

Although a second-half fightback from the visitors ensured the win was not a comfortable as it might have been.

Despite coming on to score two tries against Scotland, Clerc had been due to start from the bench again at the Stade de France.

However with Clermont's Malzieu suffering an injury to his thigh in training, Clerc earned a call-up to the starting XV - and how the Toulouse flyer took his chance.

Two tries in a four-minute spell left Ireland on the rack, before he completed his treble just before the interval.

Jean-Baptiste Elissalde added three conversions, while Cedric Heymans made it a good day for Toulouse with a try.

After being bereft of ideas in the first half, Ireland finally found some form after the break with a penalty try and a score for David Wallace, plus 11 points from Ronan O'Gara's boot, ensuring there were more than a few anxious moments for the hosts.

Aurelien Rougerie had set the tone for the match with a brilliant break after just four minutes - forcing Ireland to kill the ball.

Toulouse No.9 Elissalde missed his shot at goal, however he made no mistake 10 minutes later after Clerc had scored his opening try.

Beautifully

The Toulouse scrum-half produced a beautifully weighted box kick to the corner, and with only Denis Leamy covering, there was only one winner in the foot race - Clerc scooping the ball up to dive over in the left corner.

And on 18 minutes Clerc had gone over in the same corner. The French backs attacked at pace - and although Ireland halted the initial break, the home side moved down the blindside at pace for Clerc to apply the finishing touch.

O'Gara slotted over two penalties either side of Clerc's second try to keep Ireland's hopes high - however by the break France were 19-6 in front.

This time it was another Toulouse man who set Clerc up, with Heymans hitting the line at pace, before slipping the scoring pass to his club-mate. Elissalde added the conversion.

And France seemingly killed off the match on 49 minutes when Elissalde's hacked the ball ahead through the legs of Brian O'Driscoll for Heymans to score. Elissalde's conversion stretched the lead to 20 points.

However Ireland finally found a way into game with a series of drives at the French line - and although the home side saw off the initial threat, they were exposed at the scrum on 57 minutes.

After a series of collapsed scrums, referee Nigel Owen finally saw enough to award a penalty try. O'Gara added the extras.

David Wallace then added to the French jitters on the hour-mark when he crashed over in the corner. Fortunately for France, O'Gara's kick was sliced wide meaning Ireland trailed by eight points.

However, O'Gara made no mistake with five minutes left with a penalty to silence the Stade de France.

Ireland battered away at the French line - however the home defence courageously held out