Ireland's Jamie Heaslip scores a try during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire.

Jamie Heaslip has revealed it was his conviction that Ireland are on the brink of producing something special which persuaded him to reject the opportunity to play in France.

Heaslip recently turned down lucrative offers from Top 14 clubs to extend his contract with the Irish Rugby Football Union until 2014.

The 27-year-old’s comeback from an ankle injury yesterday was shrouded in disappointment as Ireland slipped to a 25-22 defeat by France at Aviva Stadium.

Frustration reigned as an ambitious display containing some electrifying moments was hampered once more by an uncharacteristically high error-count.

Ireland believe their bold new attacking gameplan, introduced in November, offers their best hope of being competitive against top sides.

And Heaslip insists they are tantalisingly close to seeing their endeavour rewarded with success.

“It’s always the same against France, I don’t think there’s much between us,” he said.

“We have a very good team which is on the cusp of playing its best rugby since I’ve been involved. There’s no lack of belief or confidence in the squad.

“We have an exceptionally good group of players here in Ireland.

“One of the main reasons for me staying around is that we’re on the verge of doing something great and playing some unbelievable rugby.

“There’s no question of us losing faith in our style because we’re still scoring tries.”

Ireland were left stricken by the realisation they had allowed a superb opportunity to register a rare victory over France slip through their fingertips.

Tries from Fergus McFadden, Tomas O’Leary and Heaslip failed to prevent Les Bleus from setting up a momentous showdown with England, the Six Nations’ only other unbeaten side, at Twickenham.

Ireland head to Edinburgh on Sunday week knowing they are now unlikely to challenge for the title, but convinced they are in reasonable health.

“We scored three tries to one but still lost the game. It was frustrating. The penalties and turnovers hurt us,” said Heaslip.

“We played some very good rugby and there are lot of positives. We created chances and caused problems with the ball.

“But the negatives are that when you score three tries to one you usually win the game.

“We have a very good defensive system and I have faith in it. We can take a lot of pressure from teams.

“We cause problems in the tackle and are very strong in the ruck area.

“On the flip side, in attack we can be very good. We played a very expansive game when we got close to their 22.

“We got quick ball and when we did that we scored tries. We’re fairly comfortable on both sides of the coin.”

Heaslip has a healthy respect for France but refuses to place them on a pedestal, backing England to cause them problems on February 26.

“France won, they’re still on course to win the Grand Slam. We can’t win a Grand Slam,” he said.

“France have been heavily built up by people, but I don’t think they are as good as that. We exposed a lot of holes.

“England will definitely cause them a lot of problems.

“In fairness France stayed in the game against us, they took their scores, forced the penalties…I can’t deny it’s very frustrating.

“They are very clinical, kept the scoreboard ticking over. They make one line break and score one try.

“It’s hard to deny a team that is that clinical and disciplined.”

Ireland's Jamie Heaslip scores a try during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire.

Brian O’Driscoll voiced Ireland’s heartache following their agonising 25-22 RBS 6 Nations defeat by France at Aviva Stadium.

Tries from Fergus McFadden, Tomas O’Leary and Jamie Heaslip were not enough to prevent the champions from leaving Dublin with a second win of the tournament.

And O’Driscoll viewed the afternoon as a missed opportunity after Ireland were once again undermined by their error count.

“We had a chance with three minutes to go. We were 10 yards from their line, they were scrambling but we coughed up another ball,” said the captain.

“I thought we were going to do to them what they did to us at Croke Park four years ago when they won in the last minute, but again we coughed up the ball too easily.

“When we scored our tries we had taken it through a number of phases, but when you turn it over after three or four it’s hard to build momentum.

“The chance was there for us to take it but we didn’t. That’s a bitter enough pill to swallow.

“We felt like we had massive capability to score tries. The chances were there but we weren’t clinical and that’s what’s killing us.

“There are just little things that need tweaking, but these are the fine lines between winning and losing Test matches.”

Ireland staged a late do-or-die assault but France responded with some desperate defence to secure their ninth victory in the last 10 meetings between the Six Nations rivals.

Head coach Declan Kidney refused to take consolation from an ambitious and at times scintillating display undermined by the number of mistakes.

“The feeling is that’s an opportunity lost. We had too many turnovers,” said Kidney.

“We won the try-count 3-1 but still lost the match so we’ll have to look again at the penalties to see which ones were under our control.

“We need to keep playing this way and get used to doing it at Test level. It is the right way forward for us.

“There’s no point crawling away now and just trying to play a damage limitation game. That won’t win us anything.

“The try count is of no consolation to me. People have paid to get in and are looking for us to win.

“An improved performance means you’re not in the doldrums, but at the same time we want to win.”

France coach Marc Lievremont was pleased with his side’s response each time Ireland ran in a try.

“We’re very satisfied with the outcome. In the last few minutes there were mistakes due to impatience and this made the match stressful,” he said.

“They managed to score tries and put us under pressure over 80 minutes.

“With more patience we’ll learn to find solutions to these problems.

“I liked the way we bounced back. It could have been a totally disastrous match but we fought our way back.

“Ireland could have won but overall we played well.”

Tries from winger Fergus McFadden and scrum-half Tomas O’Leary helped them to a 15-12 half-time lead and the Grand Slam champions appeared ripe for the taking.

Winger Maxime Medard crossed to help France back into the driving seat until number eight Jamie Heaslip crashed over in the right corner to set up a grandstand finish.

Ireland launched a late do-or-die assault but the visitors’ defence, criticised in the build up to this match, was magnificent.

It was an agonising outcome to a gripping showdown but Ireland’s struggle against their nemesis continues with today’s defeat their ninth in their last 10 meetings dating back to 2003.

The result puts a large dent in their hopes of winning the Six Nations title, but they will take comfort from a brave and ambitious performance.

Had they made fewer mistakes when dominating possession, France would have fallen further behind and this encounter will be viewed as yet another chance missed against their rivals.

Blessed with attacking options, both teams looked to move the ball wide whenever possible and the new Lansdowne Road was treated to a nail-biting spectacle that ebbed and flowed throughout.

The tone was set from kick off, Ireland making an explosive start with Luke Fitzgerald crossing after two minutes, only for Gordon D’Arcy’s final pass to be adjudged forward.

Two minutes later they breached the whitewash, capitalising when full-back Clement Poitrenaud dropped the ball as France launched a kamikaze attack from their own 22.

McFadden, playing his second Test, pounced on the loose ball and then reappeared a few phases later to burrow over from close range.

Jonathan Sexton converted and France’s disastrous opening continued when they sent the restart straight into touch, though a mistake from O’Leary eased the pressure.

It was the champions’ turn to attack and Ireland defended until straying offside and Morgan Parra landed the penalty.

Back on the offensive, Declan Kidney’s team almost released McFadden into space but Sexton’s pass was too weighted.

An almighty cheer sounded in the 16th minute when France’s scrum, fresh from pulverising Scotland last week, collapsed.

It was a moral victory for the much-maligned Irish front row and Sexton kicked the ensuing penalty to rub salt into the wound, though Parra replied in kind soon after.

Ireland looked sensational at times but, as in Rome, they were making unforced handling errors at key moments, preventing them from building momentum.

Adding to their problems was the pinpoint kicking of Parra, who rifled over a third penalty.

O’Leary continued to suffer with the Munster half-back, who has been struggling with a back injury this week, sending an inexplicable chip straight into touch.

There was no let up from referee Dave Pearson, either, with Donncha O’Callaghan conceding another penalty and Parra booting France ahead for the first time.

Ireland struck next, the rejuvenated O’Leary charging through France’s defence to start the move before later finishing it by breaking a tackle and forcing the ball over the whitewash.

Francois Trinh-Duc had a drop-goal attempt charged down by ubiquitous blindside flanker Sean O’Brien moments after France centre Damien Traille almost broke free down the left.

Ireland’s scrum continued in the ascendancy, winning a free kick and then shoving the French pack backwards, but a fifth Parra penalty levelled the score.

A 20-metre scrum offered a great attacking platform for Ireland but an over-complicated backs move was easy for Les Bleus to contain.

France showed their opponents how it should be done from a similar position in the 55th minute, though they were helped by a weak tackle from D’Arcy.

Aurelien Rougerie ran straight at D’Arcy, sent the Leinster centre cannoning backwards, and dashed forward before drawing Fitzgerald and supplying Medard with the scoring pass.

Substitute scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili landed the conversion and at 22-15 ahead, France were in a strong position.

Yachvili slotted a penalty but Ireland refused to give up hope and were rewarded with a 68th minute try from Heaslip.

It took 26 phases close to the whitewash before France cracked, a poorly executed kick from substitute Ronan O’Gara falling into the arms of David Wallace who sent Heaslip in at the corner.

O’Gara’s conversion struck the left post on its way over, setting up a nerve-shredding climax.

Heart rates soared with two minutes to go when Keith Earls chipped ahead and Ireland hunted in numbers, but France’s scrambling defence was superb.

Last-ditch tackles held firm and when substitute hooker Sean Cronin knocked on, Les Bleus were able to breath a sigh of relief.

The Melbourne Rebels say they would love to speak to Brian O'Driscoll should he express an interest in joining the club.

New Super 15 franchise the Melbourne Rebels have revealed their interest in securing the services of Irish captain Brian O’Driscoll after the 2011 World Cup.

Such a signing would result in a dream combination at centre for the franchise, who have already secured former Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock and other big name signings such as English fly-half Danny Cipriani and Brumbies star Julian Huxley.

Rebels assistant coach Damien Hill said that the club would love to meet with the 31-year-old Test veteran about a possible shift to the southern hemisphere.

“He’s an amazing footballer and if he were to express an interest we’d be more than happy to have a chat,” said Hill.

“He’s such a high quality player who sets high standards for himself and has good leadership skills too.”

Also on the Rebels’ radar is fellow Irish international Jamie Heaslip, who is currently serving a five-week suspension after his brain snap in New Plymouth which cost Ireland heavily in their record defeat to the All Blacks.

“Jamie’s a great player and of course we’d be interested in having a chat,” Hill added.

Jamie Heaslip says he would consider playing aborad after the 2011 Rugby World Cup, with a move to Super 15 franchise the Melbourne Rebels still veyr much a possibility.

Ireland’s star No 8 Jamie Heaslip has hinted that he might be interested in a move to Melbourne to play for the Rebels if such an offer came his way.

It’s highly unlikely that Heaslip would move to play in the Super 15 before the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand but it seems he could be tempted into a move after 2011.

“I’d like to play abroad at some stage,” the Grand Slam winning star is quoted as saying in the Irish Independent.

“I don’t know where but France might be interesting. Or some Super 15 stuff. I’d like a crack at that.

“I’d like to mix it up. I’d find it hard to play for another team in Ireland because I’m Leinster through and through.

“I want to experience things, go somewhere for a season.

“I’d be up for that.” he added.

Ireland will wrap up their Six Nations campaign against Scotland in Croke Park this weekend.

Live coverage of that game kicks off at 4am on ESPN HD.