Watertight in defence and lethal in attack, the French were just too much for their Irish opponents in the sudden death quarter final winning 43-21 at Melbourne’s Telstra Dome.
The 27-0 first half performance of France was cemented 10 minutes after the break when prop Jean Jacques Crenca helped his side go to 37 points to nil.
But with the vocal Irish supporters covering the stadium en masse the men in green showed they had no intention of this match being their last of RWC 2003.
Ireland won the second half, scoring three times, once through Kevin Maggs and twice through Brian O’Driscoll but it was too late and the unrelenting French go into the semi finals in Sydney on Sunday 15 November as feared opponents.
The first half French dominance
For the first 25 minutes Les Bleus battered the Irish line, their tight five securing 63 percent of the possession and 74 percent of the territory and whilst making only one successful incursion in that period, wore the Irish down.
From there the two teams were more evenly placed by means of time with the ball but on the scoreboard it was all France as they eased out to 27 unanswered points at half time with Olivier Magne, Christophe Dominici and Imanol Harinordoquy scoring tries.
The Irish make a game of it
After the break and Crenca's early try, Ireland lifted their game to the delight of their supporters.
Kevin Maggs refused to listen to French reasoning, choosing a great angle and bullocking 25 metres through the defence for Ireland's first try.
Then O’Driscoll in the 65th minute dived full stretch over the tryline from a David Humphreys grubber kick, grounding the ball with one hand just millimetres from the deadball line.
The players
In a game littered with brilliant individual French performances, it was the leadership of Fabien Galthie in his fourth Rugby World Cup, the kicking game of French fly half Frederic Michalak who scored his 100th tournament point, and the ever present flanker Olivier Magne who showed France to be a real chance to take out this RWC.
Ireland have now played their last match of the RWC 2003 but will fly home with the heads of O’Driscoll and captain Keith Wood held high after gutsy performances to help their side win the final 40 minutes.
France 43
Tries: Olivier Magne, Christophe Dominici, Imanol Harinordoquy, Jean Jacques Crenca
Conversions: Frederic Michalak (5)
Penalties: Frederic Michalak (4)
Ireland 21
Tries: Kevin Maggs, Brian O'Driscoll (2)
Conversions: David Humphreys (3)