Match report
Full time! Ireland 19-9 France
By these two’s standards that is quite the margin of victory but while Ireland certainly did not run away with it, you always got the feeling that they were comfortable and had France at arm’s length. France were impressive early on and can take credit for not wilting but Joe Schmidt has really developed some strength in depth for Ireland now and that helped his side see the match out.
Johnny Sexton was excellent on his return, Conor Murray was similarly imperious and that was the difference really - the polish and poise of Ireland’s half-backs compared to the relative inexperience of France’s.
Guy Noves will come under pressure now and anything other than a victory over Italy is unthinkable whereas Ireland will go to Cardiff a week on Friday buoyant that they can still reclaim the title they won in 2014 and 2015. It appears all roads will lead to Dublin on 18 March.
That’s all from me, thanks very much for reading. Paul Rees’s match report from Dublin will be here shortly so stay tuned for that. Bye!
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80 mins: Zebo grubbers and Huget has to take the ball into touch. We’ll have time for the lineout as Owens calls ‘last play’. It’s scrappy but Ireland have it again and it’s with the forwards again. France are holding firm though but Marmion, recently on for Murray, has had enough and boots the ball out.
79 mins: Ireland keep the ball with the forwards, then Henshaw has another bust. Ireland are happy to keep this up for a minute or two.
78 mins: Toner carries but France pounce on the loose ball. Illegally according to Owens so Jackson will wind down the clock by kicking to the corner.
77 mins: Yet another Murray box-kick troubles France before Henshaw kicks down the left flank.
Penalty! Ireland 19-9 France (Sexton)
76 mins: Ireland have it just where they want to be, on the France 22. Picamoles is pinged at the breakdown and the penalty is pretty much dead straight, on the 22. It’s going to be one of Paddy Jackson’s first involvements but he can’t really miss and this should be the match. It’s on target.
Penalty! Ireland 16-9 France (Lopez)
74 mins: Lopez takes aim at goal, he’s just to the left of the posts and inside the 22 and makes no mistake. France are back to within seven, surely not another draw ...
73 mins: France have it near the 22. Le Devedec has a carry, then Ollivon. Machenaud flings it to no one in particular but he has it again and snipes, Picamoles now on the left. His offload is forward but France have the penalty.
71 mins: Machenaud box-kicks to the corner so Ireland have another lineout. Ireland gather it but not cleanly. Though Murray eventually clears to touch.
70 mins: France need to make something happen quickly. They have the lineout just outside the Ireland 22 but it’s stolen and Murray clears.
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69 mins: Fickou produces an excellent kick to the corner so Ireland have a lineout near their own line. Sexton goes off to a loud round of applause. Unsurprising considering his lay-off but that’s one full 80 minutes in his last 23 caps.
67 mins: Sexton finds touch on the French 10-metre line. Stander picks and goes. Toner has a carry, then O’Brien. But France have forced the turnover.
66 mins: It’s a bit messy but France have it through Lopez, Nakaitaci has it down the right, and offloads to Spedding. Now Picamoles has it down the left. It’s a draining passage of play, the ball keeps on going to ground, but backwards. Sexton is everywhere at the moment and Murray is just as prominent. Looks like it’s a penalty against Atonio.
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64 mins: France have the advantage as they approach their 10-metre line. Advantage over as they reach halfway.
63 mins: France secure the ball on their lineout but are shoved out so it’s Ireland with the lineout, about 10 metres out. Stander has a run but France have turned it over and break through Nakaitaci.
62 mins: Ireland have a penalty in their own half so Sexton finds touch. Best throws in and Henshaw, who has got through a huge amount of work, trucks it up. Murray then finds a perfect touch, off the flag and out.
60 mins: We’ll have a scrum, Ireland to put in after Huget knocked on. Chavancy is on for his France debut at centre. It’s going to be reset.
59 mins: Zebo wriggles down the left, Ireland are up to 14 phases but can’t find a way through. Sexton is back up and wants to ball but McGrath knocks on and Spedding breaks through the middle ... now Serin has it, and Lamerat down the right but eventually, after a breathless period of play, the ball goes to ground.
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57 mins: Sexton tries to catch Spedding out but the ball sits nicely for the France full-back, but Ireland come down the left through Zebo, Murray and Heaslip. Excellent interplay after they were released by Sexton, who is down after a late hit.
56 mins: Trimble, who replaced Kearney, fields the restart and Murray produces an excellent clearance. France can’t get out of their own half and Nakaitaci is forced to kick down field. Trimble brings it up over halfway.
Penalty! Ireland 16-6 France (Sexton)
54 mins: Sexton will go for goal and if he’s on target, France are more than a score behind. It’s a straightforward kick and it’s straight through the posts.
53 mins: Murray puts in as Fields of Athenry rings out. Ireland have the advantage and we’ll come back for the penalty.
52 mins: Kearney goes off for Ireland as Best throws into the lineout. Toner takes it and Sexton goes high - and is slightly late - as Spedding knocks on again. Scrum time. Ireland are turning the screw.
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51 mins: O’Brien takes the restart and barrels foreard. Murray kicks high but Lopez gathers and gets away. Ireland scramble and Murray kicks over the top before Spedding boots another big clearance into touch. Murray’s influence is growing as France ring the changes.
Drop-goal! Ireland 13-6 France (Sexton)
50 mins: It’s loose but Guirado pounces on it. Serin goes high and Earls gathers and runs in back into the French half. Zebo has it on the left and with Ireland playing advantage, Sexton has a crack at the drop-goal - and nails it. Sexton has been excellent so far on his comeback.
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49 mins: Murray puts in and while France get the shove on, Heaslip keeps calm and picks up, finds Murray who clears well. We’ll have a France lineout just outside their own 22.
48 mins: France are being patient but it’s a bit stop start and comes to an end when Nakaitaci passes forward to Fickou.
47 mins: Fickou finds Spedding inside him and France are closing in on the Ireland 22. Huget now, the n to Fickou. France are trying to prize an opening but Zebo times his tackle on Lamerat well.
Penalty! Ireland 10-6 France (Sexton)
46 mins: Straight through the posts. France will need a response or Ireland will fancy putting the squeeze on here. Toner takes the restart but is shoved out into touch.
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45 mins: France put into the scrum. Picamoles picks up but Serin is penalised for obstruction (pulling back Murray). So Sexton will go for goal from right in front of the posts. Cheap from a French point of view.
43 mins: The lineout is overthrown but Sexton gathers and gets whacked. Ireland are called up for accidental obstruction. It’s hammering down with rain now, by the by.
42 mins: Sexton goes high and Spedding is in all sorts of trouble. Sexton’s ability to drop those bombs just outside the 22 is unerring. The end result is an Ireland lineout on the France 22.
Peep!
41 mins: Sexton gets us back underway. Picamoles fields it and Spedding eventually finds a typically monstrous touch.
Interesting ...
Ireland have targeted a bonus-point win in this game. No other explanation for rejecting shots.
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) February 25, 2017
Craig Trainor has emailed in ...
Nigel Owens may aswell be commentating on this game the amount I’ve heard from him. His communication with the players around decisions is magnificent and I think the players are afraid to give him lip in case they get it back. Not since Pierluigi Collina has it been such a joy to watch a referee in action.
Half-time Ireland 7-6 France
It’s scrappy, and a bit of an arm wrestle but after an impressive start from France, Ireland have exerted their authority whereas France have tired. They will take heart from the fact that they hung on at the end of the half though and will be no doubt looking for another fast start after the break.
Ireland have been a touch wasteful considering the amount of lineouts they’ve had in the France 22 but Sexton and Ringrose are linking together very nicely indeed. You’d expect Ireland to make their possession count as France tire further in the second half but they need to be more clinical.
On a separate note, here’s some half-time reading for you.
40 mins: France have it on the left. It’s loose and it’s scrappy - France have been bundled into touch so we’ll have an Ireland lineout before the interval. It’s another drive before Sexton and Ringrose link together superbly. Ireland are up to the 22. Sexton to Ringrose again. Ireland are being patient here and going through the phases. Murray almost gets there again. Stander has a rumble but Ireland have knocked it on. France, to their credit, cling on and will go into half-time very pleased about that.
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39 mins: Toner takes the lineout. Here’s another drive but it’s well countered by France who are awarded a penalty this time. Vahaamahina credited with that one by his team-mates.
38 mins: Here comes the drive ... Best has it but he’s not going to get there. It’s another penalty though. Ireland will be desperate to make this count before half-time against a tiring France side. Ireland kick to the corner again as Owens warns France over their discipline.
36 mins: Ireland take it quickly. Earls is a couple of metres short but they collectively make a mess of it. They have a penalty though. It’s wide on the right and so Ireland kick to the corner.
35 mins: Kearney has a dart, and Ireland have the penalty. They’re playing advantage though. Toner loses it forward after a big hit from Picamoles but we’ll come back for the penalty.
34 mins: And eventually O’Brien wins the penalty for Ireland. Sexton finds touch on the left. Henshaw takes it up the middle again.
32 mins: France come straight back at Ireland down the left. There are some huge hits coming in but Ireland are holding firm.
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Converted try! Ireland 7-6 France (Murray)
31 mins: Murray feeds Henshaw who smashes up. He’s short but Murray picks up and goes himself and forces his way over. Ireland are on the board!
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29 mins: Penalty to Ireland. They opt for another scrum.
28 mins: Oooh that’s delightful. Finally Ireland pierce the French line and Sexton gets around the outside of Fickou. He chips to the corner and Huget can’t gather it but Nakaitaci beats Earls to the loose ball. Ireland scrum five metres out though.
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27 mins: Serin finds touch and Best will take the lineout a few metres inside France’s half. Ireland try to get the drive going again.
26 mins: Ireland are struggling to make much headway up the middle. They’re running out of steam and France are ferocious at the breakdown. There’s a break in play as Furlong seems rattled. But we’re back with the French lineout. This one is taken cleanly.
25 mins: Lopez finds a conservative touch so Guirado will throw-in. But Ireland have it near halfway. Kearney comes up from full-back and Ireland work it well from right to left. Sexton chips over the top and gets a good bounce.
24 mins: This will most likely be a driving maul. Yep. But Ireland have knocked it on. That will be hugely frustrating for Joe Schmidt. France to put in. And they are awarded another penalty.
22 mins: Toner takes the lineout and France get the drive on. Murray then snipes and takes it into the 33. Ireland have a penalty and aren’t happy with a tackle from Lamerat on Stander. But Owens is. Sexton kicks to the corner.
21 mins: Furlong has a carry as Sexton links with Henshaw. Ireland are closing in on France’s 22 as RIngrose makes some headway again. Lamerat has turned it over though and Spedding clears.
20 mins: The ball is clearly very greasy as the rain comes down and France can’t gather the restart properly. But Lopez does make a good touch - Earls opting against trying to keep it in near halfway.
Penalty! Ireland 0-6 France (Lopez)
19 mins: France come back for the penalty though. This one is just to the right on the 22 and Lopez is on target again.
18 mins: France opt for another scrum. Bullish. Serin puts in again and eventually Picamoles picks up and charges. Ireland hold firm but have infringed again. Owens plays advantage and Lopez kicks out to Huget on the left. Huget can’t get there and the ball comes loose but Lamerat collects it from Fickou and runs around the outside and over. Owens is checking with the TMO ... it’s marginal but no try. Fickou is adjudged to have knocked on before passing to Lamerat. Owens isn’t very popular in France and that will have won him no admirers.
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16 mins: Nigel Owens is giving the packs a bit of a ticking off. But the clock is back on. Serin puts in, and France are awarded the penalty.
15 mins: Ringrose again. Furlong has a charge and then O’Brien. Ireland loose it forward though and Spedding launches the kick downfield. Zebo tries to keep it in but in doing so concedes a five-metre scrum to France. That was an enormous kick from Spedding.
14 mins: Best finds Stander with the lineout. Sexton finds Zebo inside and then fizzes a pass to the stepping Ringrose.
13 mins: Ireland knock-on Sexton’s restart but France are playing the advantage. Through the hands again. Eventually Spedding boots clear.
Penalty! Ireland 0-3 France (Lopez)
12 mins: Lopez goes for goal from just to the left of the posts, inside the 22. And he gets France up and running.
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11 mins: Fickou wriggles down the right and offloads so Nakaitaci comes forward. Serin breaks clear and produces a lovely sidestep but he’s lacking support. We’re playing advantage so Spedding tries to chip over the top. He can’t but we’ll come back for the penalty.
10 mins: It’s a bit scrappy from Ireland, who are back to halfway. Ireland can’t make much headway so Sexton tries to turn France around but he kicks out on the full. We’ll have a French lineout around halfway.
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8 mins: It’s lost forward by Le Roux so we’ll have another scrum. Good defence from Ireland. Sexton finds touch on France’s 10-metre line.
7 mins: Spedding finds a decent touch and Guirado will take the lineout. France get the drive on but it doesn’t come to much - Stander made sure of that.
6 mins: Picamoles has wrestled the ball back for France who work the ball to the right. France are showing an intent to play with width from the off. Earls gives away a penalty at the breakdown.
5 mins: Ireland still have and Sexton goes high. It comes loose but Serin mops up. An excellent garryowen from Sexton. Ireland will have a lineout in France’s half. Stander has his first bust up the middle.
4 mins: Lopez can’t hold a loose pass from Serin though so we’ll have a scrum. Ireland to put in. Sexton gets it and goes up the middle. Picamoles brings him down. Ringrose again has a go, he’s started brightly.
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2 mins: Cheeky crossfield kick from Lopez to Lamerat on the right - hopefully that’s a sign of things to come from France who wotrk it to the right with Picamoles who has a strong carry.
Kick-off!
1 min: Peeeeeeep! Lopez gets us up and running and O’Brien can’t gather it. But Ireland keep hold of it and Ringrose has a dash in midfield. Murray goes high and Fickou mops up.
France’s anthem is first, it’s another good’un. Now both of Ireland’s.
Much like Scotland and Wales, both these sides begin today’s match with one win and one defeat so it’s effectively winner takes all again. Ooosh. Game on.
Not long to go now. Exciting. I’m just catching my breath after Scotland’s first win over Wales in 10 attempts but it’ll be anthems time in Dublin in no time at all.
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Preamble
Hello world! We are 40 minutes away from the halfway point of the 2017 Six Nations and a further 40 from knowing if Ireland’s campaign remains on course. To keep it that way they will need to overcome a France side showing some green shoots of recovery and a four-try bonus point would not go amiss either, considering England will almost certainly get one against Italy.
Ireland’s matches against France are almost always close though. Eight of the last nine have been settled by seven points or less and honours were even in both 2012 and 2012. Ireland took their frustrations out on Italy last time out after a poor opening half against Scotland and welcome back Johnny Sexton as well as Rory Best and Jack McGrath. All eyes will be on Sexton, not least because whatever France say publicly, they will go after him - regardless of their history of doing so they would foolish not to test out an opposition fly-half that has been sidelined for a month.
Meanwhile, up front the battle will be intriguing. These two are the strongest scrums in the tournament - both marmalised Scotland’s pack - and whoever can get the edge may find themselves coming out on top at full time. France make three changes as well - Bernard Le Roux, Rabah Slimani and Yoann Huget all come in for Guy Noves, who has been put under pressure to claim a first away win in the Six Nations by his boss, Bernard Lapore. He and Bernie have rarely got on and Noves was quick to shoot down questions about it but France will have the bit between their teeth for this one.
Kick-off for this one is 4.50pm Dublin time, which is 5.50pm Paris time or 4.50pm GMT. Here are your teams.
Ireland: Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Simon Zebo; Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack McGrath, Rory Best, Tadhg Furlong, Donnacha Ryan, Devin Toner, CJ Stander, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Cian Healy, John Ryan, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Kieran Marmion, Paddy Jackson, Andrew Trimble.
France: Scott Spedding; Yoann Huget, Remi Lamerat, Gael Fickou, Noa Nakaitaci; Camille Lopez, Baptiste Serin; Cyril Baille, Guilhem Guirado (c), Rabah Slimani, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Yoann Maestri, Bernard Le Roux, Kevin Gourdon, Louis Picamoles.
Replacements: Christopher Tolofua, Uini Atonio, Eddy Ben Arous, Julien Le Devedec, Charles Ollivon, Maxime Machenaud, Henry Chavancy, Djibril Camara.
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