It may have been a second successive defeat but Ireland's preparations for the forthcoming Rugby World Cup received something of a boost in Bordeaux last Saturday night.
At the finish, Declan Kidney's team had to settle for yet another defeat in France, this time by 19-12. But it could have been so much worse.
For much of the first have they looked like they were being demolished. Ireland trailed 13-0 at one stage and, most worryingly, their line-out was a complete mess.
Yet, they turned things around to the extent that they only trailed by 13-12 going into the final quarter. Indeed, at that stage there were genuine reasons for hoping for an overdue away success against France.
But it was France who secured the game's last two scores through the boot of their accurate goalkicker Dimitri Yachvili for what was ultimately a hard-earned success.
The arrival as substitutes early in the second half of Paul O'Connell and Jamie Heaslip did much to change matters, as did the accurate goalkicking of O'Gara who landed four penalties. O'Connell was simply immense.
Other worthwhile points were the performances of Ronan Kearney, before being substituted, and Andrew Trimble. There was also the fact that hooker Jerry Flannery again came on as a substitute and did not have any injury problems.
What's more, coach Declan Kidney had reason to feel pleased with the way the Irish defense stood up against a lot of intense French pressure in the first half. The only time the home team got through for a try was through Vincent Clerc after some slick passing.
But somehow Ireland held firm and began to fight their way back into the game. Indeed, they had a chance to take the lead but O'Gara saw a difficult penalty from the touchline drift wide.
In the final minutes, their line-out again let them down when they had a great attacking platform close to the French line, leaving the feeling that this was, in some ways, one that got away.
Kidney commented: "At least we are getting in the positions in the second half. What we need to do now is convert." Ireland get their chance to do exactly that when they face the French again at the Avivia Stadium on Saturday.
