Irish display in France defeat disappoints Kidney
Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Ireland coach Declan Kidney refused to be cheered by an improved second-half performance in the 19-12 World Cup warm-up defeat by France in Bordeaux.
"I'd hate to go back into the past and say that I'm glad we had a really good second half," said Kidney.
"That's the sort of thing we would have said in the past. We lost the game and that's what we need to look at it.
A groin injury picked up by Irish full-back Rob Kearney in the game is not believed to be serious.
Kearney, who returned from a serious knee injury only last weekend, had a scan on Sunday.
"At the outset, the injury does not seem too serious," said Ireland manager Paul McNaughton.
Les Bleus looked like World Cup contenders as they raced into a 13-0 lead with some outstanding rugby capped by Vincent Clerc's try.
But they fell away in the second half and Ireland took advantage by staging a fightback inspired by Ronan O'Gara that ultimately fell short.
"In the first half we did a bit of damage to ourselves because we didn't hang on to the ball too well," said Kidney.
"At the start France played well and we didn't play like we're capable of - when you put those together you'll end up doing a lot of defence.
"Our defence has had a lot of practice over the last couple of weeks.
"We must look at doing more of what we did in the second half, but one half doesn't count - you must do that for 80 minutes."
