In my preview of today's match I stated: " I can't see another match like the extraordinary one of 2006, when Ireland came back from 43-3 down to finish 43-31." Well, I got that wrong! Like 2006, today's match, as anyone called Trevor might say, was a game of two 'alves.

It can be summed up thus - France were lucky, but Ireland weren't smart enough.

The bounce of the ball favoured France today. Indeed the bounce off the balls favoured them too. David Skrela put through a little grubber early in the second half that bounced off the O'Driscoll family jewels, and popped up perfectly for Cederic Heymans to collect and run in under the posts.

One thing I did get right was that Vincent Clerc is usually good for a try or two against us. Today, he went one better and got three before half-time.

All in all it was a vastly improved performance by Ireland, and much closer to the form they showed in last year's Six Nations than what was on offer at the World Cup. Several players showed up today. Our back row was excellent. This should be the starting 6.7 and 8 for the rest of the tournament, with Gleeson on the bench. I thought Reddan was a bit ponderous in the first half, but he improved after the break. The scrum did very well, and unlike last week, our lineout was interested in poaching French ball.

During the week, ROG gave an interview to RTE radio that showed his leadership credentials. He said that Ireland shouldn't keep trying too many power plays, but should be patient, keep chipping away, and as the game develops, the chances will come. It's exactly how Munster managed to prevail in the Pool of Sharks of this year's Heineken Cup. It seems to me that Brian O'Driscoll is Captain in name only these days. He does the press conferences and all the other shite that captains have to do.

But there is one leader on the pitch, and on his back is the number 10.