15. Rob Kearney: 8.5
Settled into the game after an slightly shaky start and went on to claim all of Michalak’s probing kicks with confidence. Ran hard all night and was rewarded for his efforts with a well-taken try.

14. Tommy Bowe: 7.5
Unbeatable in the air and ventured off his wing at every opportunity, carved clean through the French line in the first half to set up what should have been Ireland’s first try and went on to make plenty of ground with some clever lines and adept timing.

13. Keith Earls: 6.5
Butchered a certain try when he dropped Bowe’s pass in the first half but looked threatening and energetic until he was withdrawn with injury after the break and he may miss out on the quarter finals.

12. Robbie Henshaw: 9
Carried with power and intent throughout, battered his way through the French defence with some surging runs and hammered anything in a blue shirt that dared to carry down his channel. Arguably his best international performance.

11. Dave Kearney: 5
Left out in the cold as his side kept it tight for most of the match. Skipped past a few defenders in the first half and never gave up the chase when his side put boot to ball, but rarely got his hands on it, despite regularly straying off his wing to find work in the midfield.

10. Jonny Sexton: 6.5
Slotted his first two attempts at goal and caused France a few problems with some deft chips and and accurate high balls. But was forced off the field with a groin strain in the first half and is now a doubt for Ireland’s quarter final clash with Argentina.

9. Conor Murray: 8
After a very shaky performance against Italy, Murray kept his cool against an aggressive French defence and guided Ireland forward with a steady hand throughout. Orchestrated his side’s effective brand of route-one rugby and scored a try which secured the win.

1. Cian Healy: 7.5
Reclaimed his starting spot with a commanding performance. Stepped up on countless occasions to carry into the colossal French fringe defence and get his side over the gainline with an array of abrasive carries. Scrummaged well and hit hard in defence.

2. Rory Best: 8.5
Tormented Les Blues as the breakdown, competed for everything on the floor and forced a few turnovers. Typically unrelenting in the loose, made some of his trademark choke tackles and several strong carries after being hammered backwards by a huge double tackle early on. Accurate at the line out as well.

3. Mike Ross: 7.5
Cemented the scrum and worked hard in the loose. Ross was always quick to the clean out and he rucked with vigour all evening. He also confronted the French carriers with huge physicality.

4. Devin Toner: 8
Controversially picked ahead of Henderson but reaffirmed his class with an immense performance. Imperious at the lineout and very effective with the ball in hand, he stormed over the gainline whenever his was called on to carry and bumped off a few French tackles.

5. Paul O’Connell: 7
Hit the ground running and lead from the front as he always does but it wasn’t supposed to end this way for the 108-cap veteran. The nasty leg injury he suffered in the first half is likely to put an end to his tournament and an incredible international career.

6. Peter O’Mahony: 8
Unrelenting and indomitable, O’Mahony was central to Ireland’s breakdown dominance and he burst through gaps in the French defence with a few dynamic carries, but was stretchered off with a suspected knee injury and is unlikely to take any further part in the competition.

7. Sean O’ Brien: 9
Undoubtedly Ireland’s best player. Fought fiercely for everything on the floor and frustrated the French by slowing down and snaffling their ball at the breakdown. Set the tone with a typically combative performance and intensified when his partner in crime (O’Mahony) was stretchered off. But the citing panel will almost certainly put an end to his tournament when they review the gut punch he gave Papae.

8. Jamie Heaslip: 8.5
The dried blood around his nose and raw emotion in his voice during the post-match interview summed up Heaslip’s seismic effort. Stepped up to lead the side after the rest of Ireland’s key men were taken off with injury and never took a backwards step. Carried with conviction all evening and topped the tackle count with 12.

Replacements: 8
Ian Madigan slotted in seamlessly for Sexton, marshalled the Irish back line with confidence and engineered plenty of openings in the French line. Iain Henderson made an immediate impact and charged over the gainline with almost every carry. Jack McGrath bolstered the Irish scrum and dominated his opposite number after replacing Healy, while Luke Fitzgerald looked lively after being introduced.

By Nathan Hyde (@NathanHyde2)

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images