A big thank you to Conor Mosedale for stepping into the breach to review the Ireland performances at the weekend.

1. Jack McGrath – 6
Early scrums looked ominous for Ireland but ultimately, this was not where the game was decided. As always, put himself about in the loose and let nobody down. Competing with Mako Vunipola for that Lions Loose-head shirt.

2. Rory Best – 6.5
Solid shift from the Captain. Rarely perfect at the lineout but good enough and always puts in a shift at the coalface, with some excellent mauling, thankless carrying and diligent tackling. Odd decision not to take three points (on several occasions) in the first half, a tactic which has already sunk Alun Wyn Jones this tournament, but Best got away with it this time.

3. Tadgh Furlong – 7
Along with McGrath, struggled in some early scrums, but held his own overall. Skittled a few Frenchmen with his familiar brute strength. His rise from unknown to Lions tighthead elect has been phenomenal and did not loosen his grip on the shirt on this occasion.

4. Donnacha Ryan – 6
If you’re looking for glamour, the Ireland engine room is the wrong place to look. One of the most unheralded players in the squad went about his job with a grizzled determination, rucking, mauling and tackling all day long. Every team needs at least one player of his ilk. Must have wondered what was going on when he found himself involved in an intricate Ireland attack in the second half!

5. Devin Toner – 6
Same as ever from Toner. He used all his lineout nous in securing Irish ball but also used his enormous frame to disrupt the French throw in. Vital in the tight exchanges but conceded a needless penalty in the closing stages. Surely a Lion in the summer, though the jury is out on whether he’s ready to start…

6. CJ Stander – 8
The man is an absolute brute. Annihilated an abject Italy last game but the question was whether he could maintain such a high performance level against a rejuvenated French team. Oh yes he could. Barrelled over the gain line time and again and ended joint top of the tackle count as well. Plays like he’s genuinely proud to represent his adopted country, which not all ‘project players’ can boast. He’s Irish enough in my eyes.

7. Sean O’Brien – 7
Didn’t grab the eye quite so much as Stander but remains valuable to this Irish team. Seems to have stepped up a level at the breakdown, with one first half turnover, as France were building pressure, standing out. A willing carrier, though didn’t make as many metres as he sometimes does.

8. Jamie Heaslip – 6.5
Heaslip’s most telling contribution came in the first half, as he raced back to snatch Serin after the scrum half’s electric break. Otherwise overshadowed by his back row colleagues, but rarely did anything wrong and racked up 11 tackles, joint top of the charts.

9. Conor Murray – 9
A consummate Scrum Half performance. Masterful kicking from hand mixed with a real sniping, darting threat. Perhaps a little lucky his try wasn’t considered a double movement but you make your own luck. Streets ahead of anyone in the battle for the Lions number 9 jersey.

10. Johnny Sexton – 8
Rust? No such luck for the French as Sexton pulled the strings beautifully on his return. It is a tribute to his effectiveness that he deploys the same loop around trick in almost every game and yet still, it seems, nobody knows how to counter it. Sweetly struck drop goal but one kick out on the full and wasted a good penalty position with a tap and go. One of few players who can be allowed to get away with such errors, such is his talismanic status. Now let’s just hope for a decent run without injury…

11. Simon Zebo – 5.5
Something of a curate’s egg from Zebo. Produced some sublime hands that almost conjured a try in the second half and line speed is blinding, but also coughed up possession, launching a dangerous French attack. Such a shame Ireland play with a relative lack of width, as there is far more to come from the Green Flash. Should move to full back for the next week.

12. Robbie Henshaw – 7
The Trojan got through a mountain of work and, crucially set the platform for Murray’s try. Reminds me a little of England’s Jack Nowell in terms of excellent work-rate and skill set.

13. Garry Ringrose – 8
Even though O’Driscoll only retired a little over 2 years ago, there have been several players championed as ‘the next BOD.’ Well, ladies and Gentlemen, we just might have found the genuine article. Fast feet always kept the French honest and not afraid to put his head where it hurts.

14. Keith Earls – 6.5
Another to suffer from Ireland’s lack of width, as he rarely got an opportunity to really rev the engines. It was however a solid defensive performance from Earls, something he has not always been able to provide.

15. Rob Kearney – 5: Not a bad game, per se, from Kearney, but he rarely got an opportunity to prove his worth. The French kicked surprisingly little, so no chance to showcase his aerial prowess, and, for the most part, he was shackled when carrying back at the French.

Replacements:
Like England, Ireland’s bench packs a serious punch, with Cian Healy and Peter O’Mahony impressing in particular and gnarly old winger Andrew Trimble helping steady the ship after Kearney’s departure. Paddy Jackson and Niall Scannell also came on and did everything required of them, though both remain very much second choice. 6/10.

By Conor Mosedale