A nervous French fan waits for the start of the crucial pool match against Ireland at the Stade de France

French president Nicolas Sarkozy and Republic of Ireland prime minister Bertie Ahern enjoy some pre-match banter in Paris

France totem Sebastien Chabal looks stern-faced during the pre-match warm-up in Paris

France full-back Clement Poitrenaud nearly scores the first try of the match but is ruled to be in touch

Chabal, playing in the second row rather than at number eight, soars to take a line-out

Both sides launch a series of high balls as France take a 12-3 half-time lead at the Stade de France

Chabal lasts just five minutes into the second half before being replaced by Lionel Nallet

Ireland prop John Hayes goes on the attack but France manage to stretch their lead to 15-3

Vincent Clerc is denied this time but the Toulouse wing grabs two tries in quick succession as France stretch clear

Clerc's first comes from a sublime disguised chip by mercurial France fly-half Frederic Michalak

Clerc's second try puts France 25-3 up and they run out easy winners to revitalise their quarter-final hopes