Ireland led 12-8 at the break after James McKinney struck over four penalties compared to one from Bosch and a brilliant running try from centre Mathieu Lamoulie.

But after the break French muscle was rewarded by the dead-eye kicking of Bosch to secure a valuable win.

Ireland took the lead in the seventh minute when fly-half McKinney slotted a penalty after French hooker Mickaël Ivaldi had been pinged.

The hosts were back on level terms as Bosch's expert penalty brushed the posts and it was not long before they went ahead on 20 minutes.

John Cooney's box kick did not get the required distance and the ball was returned with interest by a devastating counter attack.

Julien Fritz and Clément Lagain combined to put Lamoulie over in the corner although Bosch was off target with the conversion.

Ireland though quickly re-established their initial advantage as McKinney took advantage of two French indiscretions to put the visitors 9-8 ahead.

A fourth McKinney penalty, for another French offence at the ruck, gave the Irish a 12-8 advantage at the break.

The French coached by Five Nations legend Philippe Sella came out fired up for the second half and immediately found an improvement in the set piece.

Soon Bosch started to find his range with the boot to convert France's second-half superiority into points.

A penalty just after halftime from his boot made it a one-point game and by the midway point of the second half he added two further penalties compared to one from Irish replacement Brian Kingston to give the home team a narrow five-point lead.

It was an advantage Ireland struggled to threaten as France's defence held firm in the close stages.