Video & Pics: A Memorable Day In Cardiff

From Heineken Cup wins for Munster in ’06 and ’08 and Leinster in ’11, to Ireland’s Grand Slam Triumph of ’09, Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium has played host to some magnificent days for Irish Rugby. We look back at another yesterday as Ireland overcame France to win Pool D of RWC 2015.

With tries from Rob Kearney and Munster’s Conor Murray, two penalties from the boot of Johnny Sexton and a further two penalties and a conversion from replacement fly-half Ian Madigan, Ireland ran out deserved 9-24 winners against Philippe Saint-Andre’s France.

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The intensity and physicality of the game came at a cost however with Sexton, captain Paul O’Connell and Munster’s Peter O’Mahony all sustaining injuries. In a statement issued earlier, the IRFU confirmed that Munster captain O’Mahony (knee ligament) would miss the remainder of the tournament while O’Connell (hamstring) and Sexton (groin) will undergo scans later today to determine the extent of their injuries.

When asked yesterday about the prospect of losing such a talismanic captain in O’Connell, Munster scrum half Murray said, “If we do end up losing Paulie it will be a huge loss to the squad.
“He’s a great person to have around. He is great for morale.

“He lifts spirits when things are low and outs you at ease when you might be stressing out about a game or a certain aspect of a game.

"We just have to wait and see.”

“But losing him and Johnny Sexton in that game means we can take an awful lot of pride and confidence in the way we kept on playing.”

Also speaking at the full-time whistle yesterday, France Head Coach Philippe Saint-Andre added, “They more than deserved victory.

"As for us, we will have to recover, analyse, knowing that we're still in the World Cup, and get ready for a great game on Saturday night against the All Blacks."

Ireland again return to the Millennium Stadium this Sunday to face Argentina in the quarter-final of RWC 2015 – KO 1pm.