France 17 – 38 Ireland

Eire produced a powerful show in Marseille as they registered a primary Six Nations win in France since 2018

Eire started life within the post-Johnny Sexton period in excellent vogue as a terrific Six Nations efficiency noticed them to a bonus-point 38-17 victory over France in Marseille. 

Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, lock Tadhg Beirne, wing Calvin Nash, hooker Dan Sheehan and alternative hooker Ronan Kelleher scored tries on the Stade Velodrome towards a French aspect who noticed lock Paul Willemse proven a purple card throughout the first half for 2 yellows – each excessive tackles.

Eire fly-half Jack Crowley, 24, began nervously however grew in confidence and into the competition, kicking one penalty and 5 beautiful conversions, whereas additionally producing a beautiful attempt help for Beirne in a file factors complete and successful margin in France for Eire.

Damian Penaud and lock Paul Gabrillagues scored France’s tries, who continued to combat exhausting and by no means appeared really out of it – Eire’s Peter O’Mahony was sin-binned within the second half with the hole seven factors – however they in the end needed to swallow a house defeat.

For a lot of within the sport, France vs Eire was the Rugby World Cup remaining that by no means was again in October’s Paris showpiece, and though France carved out the primary threatening assault, Eire have been far the faster to settle into their groove.

Crowley edged Eire into an early lead with a close-range penalty, and after Willemse collected his first yellow for a excessive hit to the pinnacle of Andrew Porter, the guests notched the opening attempt.

Bundee Aki did magnificently for it, charging ahead and liberating his fingers to dump for Gibson-Park to dash in.

Eire scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park scored the primary attempt after nice work from Bundee Aki

An enormous attempt probability was spurned by Eire after Beirne charged down Antoine Dupont’s alternative Maxime Lucu to win a turnover simply after a France maul – Crowley and Aki taking part in slender when a large ball would have resulted in a sure attempt down the left.

Inside moments, Crowley missed poorly off the tee for the prospect to go 13-0, with Thomas Ramos then putting on the different after a scrum penalty.

Maybe illustrating a measure of his mentality, Crowley disregarded a troublesome couple of minutes to play Beirne in for Eire’s second attempt through an exquisitely disguised short-ball.

Tadhg Beirne scored Eire’s second attempt after being brilliantly performed in by Crowley

Crowley then transformed for 17-3, with Willemse – solely lately again on – then proven his second yellow, which was upgraded to a straight purple following a bunker evaluation, after connecting with the pinnacle of Caelan Doris in Eire’s first carry following the restart.

France lock ahead Paul Willemse was purple carded for committing two yellow card offences – a really uncommon incidence

Again-to-back penalties on the ruck towards Eire invited France ahead, nevertheless, and although Beirne stole a lineout, a expensive scrum penalty towards the pinnacle ultimately resulted in Penaud diving over as French persistence in kicking to the nook was rewarded seconds earlier than the break.

Damian Penaud hit again for France with a attempt seconds earlier than half-time

After Ramos uncharacteristically dragged a penalty extensive, Eire scored by Nash within the nook after they sprung the play extensive and Robbie Henshaw had stepped, accelerated and offloaded brilliantly for Doris to seek out the championship debutant.

Calvin Nash scored Eire’s third attempt on the event of his Six Nations debut

Crowley produced a sensational conversion off the touchline for 24-10, however France have been again inside a rating seven minutes later, after a protracted TMO evaluation noticed Gabrillagues awarded a try to O’Mahony sin-binned for a cynical act in trying to disclaim him.

Eire composed themselves to get again up the opposite finish, although, and after the courageous resolution to kick to the nook as an alternative of for factors, Sheehan flew over the try-line from a maul for his or her fourth.

Dan Sheehan’s attempt wrapped up the bonus-point and put Eire on agency course for victory

There remained time for one final attempt, and it was virtually an identical to Sheehan’s as Kelleher managed possession behind a maul which romped over.

Fittingly, the boot of Crowley was the ultimate scoring act through the extras.

Farrell: A particular Irish victory | O’Mahony: I am proud – the younger gamers an enormous half

Eire head coach Andy Farrell to ITV Sport…

“Any victory right here, on a Friday night time to start out the Six Nations off is at all times going to be a tough activity however I feel coming away with a bonus-point win is particular.

“I used to be pleased with the efficiency as a result of we stored on taking part in for the total 80 minutes and we received what we deserved ultimately.

“While you play towards 14 males, the tendency is typically to close up store however we stored on taking part in.

“These are guys which have been in across the squad for the previous couple of years so we had little doubt they’re able to play.

“A few of them their type ensures they’re going to be in. However it’s a 23-man sport.”

Eire captain O’Mahony to ITV Sport…

“It’s exhausting to sum up. It was a severe Take a look at match.

“I’m very pleased with the lads for the management of the sport. We have been cool, composed, may need been a bit frantic within the final 10 minutes all the way down to 14, however we stayed to the plan the entire time.

“We did not get carried away with constructive and detrimental moments and I believed it was begin.

“I feel an enormous chunk of the efficiency was the younger fellas, Calvin Nash, Jack Crowley, large Joe [McCarthy]. Some large, large performances from guys getting a possibility.”

What’s subsequent?

Eire are in motion subsequent Sunday, February 11 for the second spherical of the championship, internet hosting Italy on the Aviva Stadium in Dublin (3pm kick-off GMT).

France journey to face Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh subsequent Saturday, February 10 (2.15pm kick-off GMT), in Spherical 2 of the Six Nations.

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