Les Bleus going through the phases, using Mathieu Bastareaud's strength in midfield, but the visitors come unstuck as Yoann Huget spills the ball. Ireland, so far, holding firm under intense pressure.

Will Smith:, external Ireland still look very beatable, set pieces aren't working for them

Mark Wilkins:, external Every time France start to look like the running French sides off the past, they throw the ball away

Andy Heys:, external France letting themselves down again with poor discipline, but should have been red.

France are now back to full strength, and have seven minutes to make the most of their man advantage. France coming up against an Irish brick wall, though, every time they barge forward.

Denis Hickie
Former Ireland winger on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, AFP

"That is one of those moments when you utter the phrase 'I'm not sure this is going to be France's day'. Plenty of rugby left, the game just seems to be going a little bit away from the French."

Phillip Matthews
Former Ireland captain on BBC One

"It is very difficult for Rory Best to get away there and unfortunately in trying to do so he has made contact with Thierry Dusautoir.

"This game is full of turns. This new French front row is making a difference to the scrums. Philippe Saint Andre brought them on just as Ireland seemed to be getting on top and it has turned the tide."

A dreadful attempt by Camille Lopez, screwing his effort wide of the uprights and Ireland hold on to their nine-point advantage.

Momentum swinging this way and that. Ireland now reduced to 14 men, Rory Best penalised for tripping Thierry Dusautoir while hiding underneath a mass of bodies at the breakdown.. Camille Lopez can now reduce the arrears.

France's giants in the front-row are putting Ireland under pressure in the scrum, and Mike Ross receives a talking to from Wayne Barnes after he awards a penalty to the visitors. But Camille Lopez misses touch!

Sir Clive Woodward
Former England coach on BBC One

"The decision on Pascal Pape could have gone either way, but from a coaching point of view it robs France of the momentum they were building. You cannot have players doing undisciplined things like that under pressure. That is what costs you big games, World Cup knockout games."

All sorts of dark arts happening in the scrum and Ireland are deemed to have collapsed it. France, once again, are able to kick their way out of danger. It's been a stop-start couple of minutes, and just four minutes remain of Pascal Pape's sin-bin.

Denis Hickie
Former Ireland winger on BBC Radio 5 live

"If Sexton had put it behind Jared Payne Ireland had a big overlap. Poor technique and the wrong option. A missed chance. That could have been the game right there."

The tryline is looming for Ireland... Jonathan Sexton in space, but the outside-half is caught in two minds and his pass hits Jared Payne in the face. Whack. Had the centre gathered he would have strolled unchallenged over the line. France with a put-in at the scrum near their own posts.

Image source, PA

Someone has flicked the switch and France have come to life in this second half, ever since they changed the front row it should be said. But Mathieu Bastareaud is penalised and that gives Jonathan Sexton the chance to kick to touch.

Denis Hickie
Former Ireland winger on BBC Radio 5 live

"A real opportunity for Ireland now to punish France for that Pascal Pape infringement. If Ireland can get another point on the board all of a sudden France heads will start dropping and it will be a long way back."

Phillip Matthews
Former Ireland captain on BBC One

"I think that a knee to the back, to the kidneys is potentially worse than a punch to the head. Pascal Pape is a very lucky boy not to be seeing red."

Pascal Pape is off for 10 minutes, but Eddie Butler and most of the pundits believe the second-row is lucky not to have seen a red card. "I believe that was deliberate," says Wayne Barnes while showing the Frenchman the yellow.

Pascal Pape could be in trouble. Did he deliberately knee Jamie Heaslip? Replays currently being shown. The crowd hissing with every slo-mo.

Denis Hickie
Former Ireland winger on BBC Radio 5 live

"Looks like France are going to change it up in the front row with three huge, huge men coming on."

France, by the way, changed their front-row before Ian Madigan aimed at the uprights with the giants Uini Atonio and Vincent Debaty replacing Eddy Ben Arous and Rabah Slimani - and hooker Guilhem Guiardo also coming off.

Rory Kockott caught holding on in the tackle and Ian Madigan is the man changed with aiming at the posts while Jonathan Sexton is away from the pitch. There's 33m separating the ball and the posts but it could be 50m so confident is the replacement.