France 25 Ireland 3

THE success of the World Cup tournament, let alone the hopes of France, was salvaged by the home nation's 25-3 win over Ireland on Friday night.

Had France lost, they would have been doomed to missing the quarter-finals. But their World Cup hopes are still alive after their two-tries-to-nil effort at Stade de France in Paris.

"It was an exceptional conquest. We are happy. There was so much pressure on us," said French winger Vincent Clerc, who scored both of his team's tries.

However, the chagrin had they lost would not have been theirs alone. It would have been everyone's, bar the Irish players and supporters.

France's feared exit would have sucked the life out of what has so far been a thrilling competition - much like the sudden departure of the host would basically ruin a party. But now this World Cup gig can continue.

Such was the significance of France's win over the Irish, who curiously under-utilised the penetrative power of captain and outside centre Brian O'Driscoll.

And, judging by the crowd in Paris, all of France - reassured about their side's ability after their shock loss to Argentina - will maintain the rage. France are virtually assured of a quarter-final berth after their final pool game in Marseilles against Georgia, who they should easily beat.

And with that, French World Cup organisers can feel confident a nation that has otherwise favoured soccer rather than rugby can now perhaps show it has room in its heart for two football codes.

All that remains to be seen is who France will play, which is far from being answered as first place in their pool is still up for grabs.

If they finish second, a quarter-final against the All Blacks appears their destiny. But if Argentina fall into a hole and lose their must-win final pool clash against the Irish in Paris, France could still finish first.

Against the Irish, France did well to close out the game in the second half, after going into half-time 12-3 up but without a try.

Yet with the cracks starting to appear in Ireland's discipline and confidence late in the first half, when both sides duelled with their kicking games, it was only a matter of time before they would fold.

France's two tries might have come from the backs - well, officially from one back in Clerc, off kicks in the 59th and 69th minutes - but it was their forwards who truly dominated the Irish.

The French joy when they scored was like a World Cup final, which it very much was for France considering the likely ramifications of defeat.

French coach Bernard Laporte could hardly contain himself in the coach's box, surrounded by a crowd of paying punters and high-profile personalities that included John McEnroe wearing an Irish scarf and sitting near French tennis legend Guy Forget.

It was a major victory for his charges and one very much attributed to a French pack that was clearly dominant over Ireland's eight, not to mention France's solid defence against every challenge by the Irish.

FRANCE 25 (Vincent Clerc 2 tries; Jean-Baptiste Elissalde 5 pens) bt IRELAND 3 (Ronan O'Gara drop goal)