Match report
I’ll leave you with our match report, with more to follow from Paul Rees. Thanks for joining me. Bye!
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The final round of games are all taking place next Saturday, starting with Italy v France at 12.30pm. Then it’s over to Cardiff for Wales v Ireland (2.45pm), where the hosts will aim to complete the grand slam before England v Scotland at 5pm. If Ireland deny Wales, they can still win the title – but only if Scotland win at Twickenham for the first time in 35 years. Otherwise, it’ll be England’s title.
Here’s what Rory Best has had to say, after what’s likely to be his last home Six Nations game:
“I think we had chances to add to our score, but the way we controlled the game, we’re happy. You can’t underestimate how physical that French team are, and they’re young but they’re learning.
“We know going to Cardiff, with a six-day turnaround, we’ll look at how we can be better. That was closer to the level of performance we expect. It’s a tough place to go anyway, without them chasing a grand slam.”
Here’s the table with one round of games to go. Each of the top-half teams have more points than the bottom half put together.
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Iain Henderson has been speaking to ITV: “We prepped on what we thought France would do and it worked out, we scored some nice tries and worked hard. Coming back here and being able to rectify some things against England, it was motivation for the boys.
“It’s going to be a massive game [in Cardiff] next week. We’ll need to put in a great performance all game, not just a 50, 60 minute performance.”
Full time: Ireland 26-14 France
In the end, quite extraordinary that Ireland only won that by 12. But a win’s a win, and they got the bonus point. More to the point, they were hugely improved, keeping France under constant pressure until the result was beyond doubt.
TRY! Ireland 26-14 France (Chat)
Replays show that France may have held themselves up – wouldn’t that be fitting? An awkward moment for the TMO, who can’t get a clear look at it and has to stick with the on-field award of a try – even though the referee didn’t seem convinced himself. Serin converts.
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France get a late maul rolling, and look to have added a second try, Camille Chat crashing over. O’Keeffe sends it to the TMO, and suggests he may have been held up...
79 mins: France back to their full complement as James Ryan is named man of the match for a relentless effort in the pack today.
TRY! Ireland 26-7 France (Huget 77')
France avoid the embarrassment of a shut-out, winning a lineout in midfield and finding space through the middle. Belleau finds a gap for Alldritt and he offloads to Huget, who skips into acres of space and scores. Belleau converts; he’s already done more than Ntamack.
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76 mins: Ack, the lineout is picked off by Dillane, and the chance has gone.
75 mins: Ringrose, one of Ireland’s most impressive operators today, is penalised and France kick for the corner. Andrew Conway comes on, replacing Keith Earls while for France, Anthony Belleau is on for Ntamack, who made no impact at all.
73 mins: Can France get a point here? Tell you what, if they do bring relegation into the Six Nations, they’ll be looking over their shoulders on this evidence.
72 mins: Baptiste Serin and Camille Chat come on, replacing the unfortunate Dupont and the captain, Guilhem Guirado.
71 mins: Lovely stuff from Larmour, sidestepping his way infield and turning French defenders inside out, before Bastareaud stops him short of the line.
69 mins: Demba Bamba, who had gone off after more problems with a cut, will return to the front row. Louis Picamoles makes way. France win the scrum, to the Dublin crowd’s disbelief, and manage to clear the danger.
66 mins: The game has descended into a farcical set of aborted scrums. France are repeatedly penalised, with Aldegheri the culprit. “I’ve penalised him three times now,” O’Keeffe tells Guirado. The Toulouse prop immediately does it again, and he’s off to the sin bin.
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63 mins: Jack Carty has picked up where Sexton left off, sending a testing diagonal kick in behind. A couple of changes for France – Sebastien Vahaamahina and Thomas Ramos are off, with Paul Willemse and Maxime Medard looking delighted at the prospect of coming on.
61 mins: Dillane goes in at the side to give France a penalty, from which they set up and win a lineout. Ntamack’s kick is straight down Stockdale’s throat, and although France get it back, Iturria’s dismal attempt at a grubber kick concedes possession again.
59 mins: With the game very much won, Joe Schmidt more or less empties his bench. Niall Scannell and John Ryan replace Best and Furlong in the front row, and Ultan Dillane comes on for Iain Henderson. It’s also the end of the game for Sexton and Murray – John Cooney and Jack Carty replace them with Cardiff in mind.
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TRY! Ireland 26-0 France (Earls 55')
Oh, this is a lovely, clever move from Ireland. Keith Earls is lurking with intent at the lineout, and a reverse pass from Stander opens up a clear path for Earls to score. He still has to put the afterburners on to get clear of the last man, going over to secure a bonus point. Sexton converts.
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55 mins: More blood and thunder as Ireland win the lineout and try to blast their way over. France hold firm and Murray’s offload to Henderson catches the forward out. France scrum, not before a few angry words and felt collars. Their forwards are getting frustrated.
53 mins: Ireland keep pressing, Jack Conan bursting off the back of the scrum before the ball just gets away from Ringrose. Bastareaud is called offside, and both Sexton and Murray try quick tap-kicks. The referee calls them back both times, but Ireland will have another attacking lineout.
51 mins: Cian Healy is off, replaced by Dave Kilcoyne. Another crafty kick in behind has Dupont chasing back, collecting close to him own try line. He looks like a rabbit facing up a fleet of lorries, and Ringrose hauls him down. Ireland scrum, and a chance to seal a bonus point...
49 mins: France win the lineout, but more good work from the forwards is undone by Dupont’s indecision. France run out of steam and O’Mahony forces an error.
48 mins: Ireland back on the front foot but France get some joy at the breakdown, Vahaamahina putting pressure on Conor Murray and winning a penalty. It’s kicked precisely into the corner, and France will have a dangerous lineout...
47 mins: Ringrose sends a delightful kick along the floor, half the length of the field, forcing a tired Ramos to trudge back and fetch it.
45 mins: The rain is coming down now as France win a lineout. Ntamack plays a high crossfield kick that slips away from Ireland hands – but as France start to line up their backs down the left, the ball is spilled and claimed by O’Mahony.
43 mins: France are in Irish territory, the turf at that end of the Aviva Stadium getting a proper workout today. Bastareaud makes ground but Dupont dithers in possession and Ringrose is on him again, fairly this time. Ireland will have a scrum. “France are getting in their own way,” opines Gordon D’Arcy on ITV, which is a neat summary.
41 mins: Dupont skips through a gap and is felled by Ringrose’s high tackle – on the 5’9” scrum-half, it looks more like a clothesline. France penalty, which they kick downfield.
Peep!
We’re back under way.
@niallmcveigh The Green Machine back up & running as my late father used to say “we’re motorin now”
— John McEnerney (@MackerOnTheMed) March 10, 2019
A few of you asking about possession stats. Ireland had a Guardiola-esque 77% in that first half, and 89% territory.
Another killer stat from Gracenote’s Simon Gleave:
“Ireland have never had a bigger half-time lead than this against France in the competition’s history. France last failed to score in the first half against Ireland in 1999.”
The Six Nations may be nearing an end, but with the World Cup coming later this year, you’ll want to keep updating on all the goings-on in rugby union with our free weekly email, The Breakdown. Sign up below!
Half time: Ireland 19-0 France
France enjoy a rare moment with the ball, with Gaël Fickou introducing himself to the match. Ireland force the turnover a second after we go into the red – it rather sums up how in control they are of this match.
39 mins: France have made well over 100 tackles in this first half, and spent five seconds inside the Irish 22.
TRY! Ireland 19-0 France (Conan 36')
Ireland appear to be back. They have an overlap on the right, but don’t even need it – Murray offloads to the substitute, Jack Conan, who is too strong and powers over the line. Sexton misses a tough old conversion.
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35 mins: Sexton’s grubber kick takes a deflection but is claimed by French hands – Iain Henderson quickly forces a turnover though, and push for a third try before half-time, Sexton jinking and shimmying this way and that...
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Have Ireland added another try straight away? Ramos comprehensively fails to deal with a high ball, and Ringrose picks his pocket and races for the line, pursued by Dupont. He touches down, but replays show he lost control as he slid beneath the posts. No try!
31 mins: Tadhg Furlong is down with what looks like an arm injury. O’Mahony isn’t happy that Iturria, who has boiled over a couple of times, targeted Furlong as he was lifting him. It’s another penalty, but no more. Ireland, by the way, have spent more than half of the game inside the French 22.
TRY! Ireland 14-0 France (Sexton 30')
But this time there’s a different outcome, as Ireland find the passing move from a maul to break France’s resistance. Murray moves the ball out wide and with Huget caught out of position, Ringrose and Sexton exchange passes. The fly-half goes over, and adds the conversion!
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28 mins: Ireland have been camped in the French half for more than 10 minutes, but they just can’t find a gap in the defence. France turn over and clear, and Stockdale’s quick throw allows Larmour a running start. He skips beyond a couple of challenges, but the move breaks down again. Iturria gets caught offside, Sexton kicks for the corner, rinse and repeat...
The referee, Ben O’Keeffe, has a word with Guilhem Guirado, the France captain. He warns him about his players constantly slowing the game down, and says the next perpetrator will get a yellow card.
25 mins: The pressure from the Irish forwards is relentless, and they force another turnover deep in France territory. Ringrose can’t quite collect a looping pass, before Murray tests Huget with a cross-field kick. He collects, but Ireland have a prior penalty in the locker.
23 mins: No mistake from the next Irish lineout, O’Mahony claiming before Sexton is bundled out by Dupont. There are words exchanged on the touchline after that, while Josh van der Flier is going off with a knee injury. Leinster’s Jack Conan replaces him.
21 mins: Bamba’s first act is to go into a ruck at the side, but from the lineout, Ireland make a rare error as Best overthrows! It so nearly falls for Sexton, but he can’t gather it in. France pick it up, but Healy again has Dupont under pressure. It’ll be a French scrum, five metres out.
20 mins: Demba Bamba is back on, but his front-row counterpart Jefferson Poirot is off with a, er, mystery ailment.
19 mins: Ireland penalty, which Sexton will kick to touch. Can they turn the pressure into points?
17 mins: Conor Murray knocks on as he tries to put pressure on Dupont, and France have a chance to end this spell of defence. They don’t get very far, Keith Earls collecting a kick and powering forward...
NO TRY! The TMO rules that Healy didn’t get downward pressure on the ball, rolling it forward instead. France get away with one, there.
Good grief, France take an age to dig the ball out – the scrum half, Dupont, culpable. As he dallies, Cian Healy dives in and tries to get a touch, with the ball sitting on the line. Is that a try?! They’re taking a look...
15 mins: Huget’s clearance is not the best, though – and Ireland stay deep in French territory. Larmour is held up though, with Stockdale begging for the ball to his left. France hold firm and turn it over...
14 mins: Penaud fails to collect an up-and-under from a tap-kick, and Ireland have a chance – but Sexton’s high, crossfield kick is held by Huget.
13 mins: Another France replacement – Demba Bamba is off, with Dorian Aldegheri on. Bamba is dealing with a blood injury, and should be OK to return.
12 mins: Bastareaud crashes into Ringrose and strips the ball, and France try to swing it around again – but it’s turned back over by Ireland, only for Ringrose to knock on. Both sides perhaps being over-ambitious with the slippery ball.
11 mins: Penaud involved again as France sweep the ball across the field, before being forced into touch. A France forward – ‘Good King’ Wenceslas Lauret – has picked up an injury, and is replaced by Gregory Alldritt. It looks unlikely Lauret will return.
9 mins: More attacking pressure from Ireland, but after fine work from Best and Sexton, Jacob Stockdale’s kick through is overcooked.
“Re: Spanish Sevens,” writes Mike Gibbs-Harris. “In the late 80s there used to be a sevens tournament in Sydney. As a Welshman, I remember watching Spain beat England in one of the pool games. The memory still brings a chuckle”.
6 mins: Damian Penaud goes up for a high ball with Larmour and sees it scoot through his fingers. He grabs the rebound, though, and bursts downfield, laying the ball off to Ramos, who breezes under the posts. Even France players suspect a knock-on from Penaud, however – and the TMO confirms it.
Ireland 7-0 France: Sexton nails the conversion from out on the touchline. Impressive, but could he do it in Wakefield?
It’s erm, taken a turn for the worse here pic.twitter.com/VVilPcjR1M
— Aaron Bower (@AaronBower) March 10, 2019
TRY! Ireland 5-0 France (Best 3')
It pays off in style, Henderson claiming Best’s throw then returning to the hooker, who barrels through a gap down the flank. A superb start for the hosts!
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2 mins: France penalised, but Sexton goes for the corner rather than take the three points. Ireland starting aggressively...
1 min: Jordan Larmour, making his first Six Nations start, gets off to a fine start with a crafty diagonal kick in behind, and Ireland have a dangerous early lineout...
Peep!
We’re off at the Aviva.
It’s anthem time – here’s another quick stat from Simon Gleave, head of sports analysis at Gracenote:
“Seven of the last eight Six Nations matches between Ireland and France have ended with seven points or fewer between the teams. The only exception (19-9 to Ireland in 2017) had seven points between the teams with six minutes remaining.”
“The prospect of relegation might do something to sharpen up Italy,” writes Brian O’Connor. “But it’s hard to believe that Georgia, or whoever, wouldn’t face similar shellackings if drawn into the competition.”
After England gave Italy a thorough chasing at Twickenham yesterday, Eddie Jones raised the issue of relegation and/or restructuring in the Six Nations. Thoughts? Is it time for a second division, and who should be in it? Is it time to expand across the northern hemisphere, and open the door to Japan, the US or Canada? After the week’s rumblings, how about inviting a Pacific Islands team? Thoughts welcome.
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An interesting pre-game stat, courtesy of Simon Gleave at Gracenote.
“Ireland have selected 13 of the 15 who played in Paris last year (it would have been 14, had Kearney started) and exactly the same pack. The only other team to pick the same pack in two consecutive fixtures against an opponent (in the tournament’s professional era) was France against Wales, in 2010 and 2011. The eight involved were Domingo, Servat, Mas, Pierre, Nallet, Dusautoir, Bonnaire and Harinordoquy.
Team news update: A late injury blow for Ireland, with full-back Rob Kearney ruled out with a calf problem. Jordan Larmour steps in, with Munster’s Andrew Conway joining the replacements.
Away from the Six Nations, how’s this for a scoreline? New Zealand 24-26 Spain – in the rugby sevens over in Vancouver. Spain won it with a lovely last-minute try too:
The teams
Ireland: J Larmour, K Earls, G Ringrose, B Aki, J Stockdale, J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best (c), T Furlong, I Henderson, James Ryan, P O’Mahony, J van der Flier, CJ Stander.
Replacements: N Scannell, D Kilcoyne, John Ryan, U Dillane, J Conan, J Cooney, J Carty, A Conway.
France: T Ramos, D Penaud, M Bastareaud, G Fickou, Y Huget, R Ntamack, A Dupont; J Poirot, G Guirado (c), D Bamba, S Vahaamahina, F Lambey, W Lauret, A Iturria, L Picamoles.
Replacements: C Chat, E Falgoux, D Aldegheri, P Willemse, G Alldritt, B Serin, A Belleau, M Médard.
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Preamble
Ireland return to Dublin five weeks after the chastening home defeat to England. It’s been a hard road since then, with Joe Schmidt’s team digging out workmanlike wins at Murrayfield and in Rome.
This campaign has fallen short of high expectations, but Ireland still have a distant hope of retaining the trophy – at the very least, they will have a say in the final reckoning when they go to Cardiff next weekend, looking to spoil Wales’s party and restore their own reputation.
First, France must be overcome. Jacques Brunel’s team have been good for 60 minutes, and terrible for the other 60, so far in this tournament. They were impressive against Scotland, awful against England and both against Wales.
This assignment looks a step too far for their rebuilding project – they have been terrible travellers, and haven’t won in Britain or Ireland since the 2015 World Cup. Win today, and Ireland will feel they’re really in trouble.
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