Men’s Six Nations
Ireland (6) 27
Tries: Sheehan, Healy, Conan Cons: Prendergast 3 Pens: Prendergast 2
France (8) 42
Tries: Bielle-Biarrey 2, Boudehent, Jegou, Penaud Cons: Ramos 4 Pens: Ramos 3
Rampant France took control of the Six Nations title race as they scored 34 unanswered points to beat Ireland in Dublin and end the home side’s Grand Slam hopes.
Despite losing captain Antoine Dupont to injury after 30 minutes, France scored three second-half tries to move two points clear of Ireland at the top and avenge last year’s defeat in Marseille.
Tournament top scorer Louis Bielle-Biarrey crossed twice for Les Bleus while Paul Boudehent, Oscar Jegou and Damian Penaud all scored in a stunning bonus-point triumph.
Dan Sheehan’s early second-half try put Ireland – who temporarily lost Joe McCarthy and Calvin Nash to yellow cards in either half – 13-8 up but France’s response was emphatic as they put themselves in pole position before hosting Scotland in their final game.
Ireland, however, must beat Italy in Rome next week and hope other results go their way as they chase an unprecedented third straight Six Nations title.
England, currently in third, can move above Ireland with a home victory over Italy on Sunday (15:00 GMT).
Early pressure fails to produce Irish try
This was a devastating defeat for Ireland – their first at home in the Six Nations since France won in Dublin in 2021 – and for retiring trio Peter O’Mahony, Cian Healy and Conor Murray.
Their woes began before kick-off when they lost James Lowe to a back injury sustained in the warm-up, the wing replaced by Calvin Nash as Jamie Osborne switched wings.
Lowe’s last-minute withdrawal did not rattle Ireland, who started with serious focus and intent.
However, despite 13 minutes of sustained pressure, the champions failed to pocket an opening score – fly-half Sam Prendergast’s first kick at goal struck a post – before France showcased their devastating counter-attacking threat.
After Penaud stole Hugo Keenan’s attempted pass to Bundee Aki, the winger sped away and fed scrum-half Dupont, who left Prendergast in his wake to score. But following a lengthy TMO review, the try was ruled out for a knock-on.
From there, the momentum shifted dramatically, and after McCarthy was yellow carded for cynically pulling back Thomas Ramos, France immediately capitalised on their numerical advantage as Dupont sent Bielle-Biarrey over for his sixth try of the tournament.
That would be one of Dupont’s last acts, though, as a knee injury sustained in a collision with Ireland hooker Sheehan forced the French captain off to be replaced by Maxime Lucu, France’s solitary backline replacement after head coach Fabien Galthie opted to pack seven forwards on to his bench.
Within five minutes of Dupont’s exit, Ireland finally got on the scoreboard through Prendergast’s penalty, and while Irish obstruction straight from the kick-off enabled Ramos to respond, the Ireland out-half’s dead-eyed kick from halfway cut France’s lead to two at the break.
France blow Ireland away in second half
Like they did in the first half, Ireland came flying out of the traps after the restart and scored within three minutes when Sheehan touched down in the corner from a maul.
Prendergast converted and Ireland led 13-8, but that was as good as it got for the hosts as France hit back swiftly through Flament.
Ireland felt Flament should have been penalised for taking out Peter O’Mahony off the ball and their frustrations deepened when Nash was shown a yellow card for head-on-head contact with Pierre-Louis Barassi.
From there, France seized control, Bielle-Biarrey racing on to his own kick to score his second at the end of another electric counter-attack.
Replacement flanker Jegou sealed the visitors’ bonus point, and while Flament was sin-binned soon after, Penaud compounded Irish misery with a signature breakaway score.
After Ramos intercepted Prendergast’s pass, Penaud ecstatically dove over the line as he equalled Serge Blanco’s French record of 38 tries.
Despite a second-half collapse, Ireland scored late tries through Healy and Jack Conan. It was not enough to secure a try bonus, though, on an afternoon the holders will want to soon forget.
Line-ups
Ireland: Keenan; Nash, Henshaw, Aki, Osborne; Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Bealham, McCarthy, Beirne, O’Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).
Replacements: Herring, Healy, Clarkson, Ryan, Conan, Baird, Murray, Crowley.
Sin-bin: McCarthy (20), Nash (47)
France: Ramos; Penaud, Barassi, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Ntamack, Dupont (capt); Gros, Mauvaka, Atonio, Flament, Guillard, Cros, Boudehent, Alldritt.
Replacements: Marchand, Baille, Aldegheri, Meafou, Auradou, Jegou, Jelonch, Lucu.
Sin-bin: Flament (74)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
