Eddie O'Sullivan's side avoided a humiliating defeat by touching down four times in a stunning 16-minute spell in the second half as the hosts visibly tired, but a defeat it was nonetheless. Unfortunately, by the time of the first Irish try from fly half Ronan O'Gara,who moved ahead of David Humphreys (560) in the all-time points-scoring stakes - his 16-point haul pushed the record up to 563, les Bleus were already 43-3 in front.