What a bloody game. The tension, the agony. Ireland lost four key players due to injury, but others stepped up. It shows how deep Irish rugby is, and how fortunate we are that we have a coach that gets the best out of them.
Ireland now face Argentina in the quarter-finals, and we are very thankful of an extra days rest.
15. Rob Kearney 8
You beautiful, beautiful man.
14. Tommy Bowe 8
From the brilliant break to his fantastic aerial supremacy over Brice Dulin. That's the Tommy Bowe we know and love. What a hero.
13. Keith Earls 7
People will remember his dropped pass, but it was an otherwise solid game for Earls. The big question would be whether he could handle the challenge the challenge of Bastareaud and he did exactly that. He made ten tackles and two turnovers. Can he play 13? Yes.
12 . Robbie Henshaw 8.5
What a break in the second half. That's what Ireland needed and the young centre stepped up in spades. A coming of age game for Henshaw.
11. Dave Kearney 7.5
Consistently used to get Ireland over the gainline, and that's exactly what he did. Continued his great form.
10. Johnny Sexton 7
It was every Irish fans nightmare. Ireland's hopes are meant to be dependent on Sexton. We'll need Sexton to recover if we want to go any further - especially with potential long term injuries to Paul O'Connell and Peter O'Mahony.
9. Conor Murray 8
What a smart player Conor Murray is. Ireland needed leaders, and Murray was that. His try showed fantastic quick thinking, and his wingers made his kicks look good.
1. Cian Healy 6
Not Cian Healy's best performance. It raised some eyebrows that he was picked over the in form Jack McGrath and even today McGrath out shone him in less time. Healy conceded two penalties early on, and once that stopped Ireland started to exert their dominance.
2. Rory Best 8
When it matters - Rory Best steps up. He acts like an extra flanker around at the breakdown, and he was a thorn in the side of France all day. What a great performance.
3. Mike Ross 7
The Irish scrum has been absolutely brilliant this tournament. Mike Ross was nearly down and out last January, but his performances have been amazing.
4. Devin Toner 8
Toner more than stood up after his controversial selection over Henderson. Toner's carrying was massive, and his pairing with Henderson next week could be huge.
5. Paul O'Connell 7
Not Paulie. This isn't how it was meant to end. He was playing well, but Ireland managed to win without him. Can they do it again next week?
6. Peter O'Mahony 9
What a performance. O'Mahony was everywhere causing an absolute nuisance, and his injury could be just as big an impact as Sexton's and O'Connell's going forward. That was O'Mahony's best performance since his tour de force against Wales in 2014.
7. Sean O'Brien 8.5
His game did not start well, and he'll be a big miss for Ireland. When O'Connell and O'Mahony left with injuries, it was O'Brien that took up the mantle in the front half.
8. Jamie Heaslip 8
What a massive performance from Heaslip. He assumes the captaincy in the absence of O'Connell, and he seems more ready for it now than he was before. Heaslip stood up and lead from the front.
Replacements:
16. Richardt Strauss -
Strauss came on with four minutes to go and the game over. He had zero stats.
17. Jack McGrath 7
Jack McGrath has been a colossus in this tournament. His scrummaging is far superior to Healy's and he should start against Argentina.
18. Nathan White 6.5
Ireland's dominance over France was most obvious in the second half in the scrum. They earned several penalties.
19. Iain Henderson 8
Paul O'Connell down and out with injury? No problem, Iain Henderson steps up. Bloody hell.
20. Chris Henry 7
Henry will be a key player next week. Ireland lost no impetus when our man of the match Peter O'Mahony went off. Henry put himself about and was very good.
21. Eoin Reddan -
Like Strauss, Reddan wasn't on long enough to make a difference
22. Ian Madigan 7.5
That was a little shaky at times for Madigan - but when Sexton went off, Madigan rose to the challenge. There were some bad moments, not least a near intercepted pass.
23. Luke Fitzgerald 7
Like Earls, Fitgerald comfortably held out everything that France through at them, and Bastareaud was a non-factor.
See Also: The Standing Ovation That Paul O'Connell Received As He Was Stretchered Off
See Also: The Nation Held It's Breath As O'Connell's Hamstring Stretches The Wrong Way
