Ireland beat France in Six Nations

Ireland beat France in the Six Nations. Photo: Getty Images.

Ireland send massive World Cup warning to Springboks with spectacular Six Nations win

Ireland remain on course for a Grand Slam Six Nations title after an enthralling 32-19 bonus-point win over France in Dublin on Saturday.

Ireland beat France in Six Nations

Ireland beat France in the Six Nations. Photo: Getty Images.

Ireland remain on course for a Grand Slam Six Nations title after a clinching an enthralling 32-19 bonus-point win over France in Dublin on Saturday.

Ranked as the two best teams in the world, this showdown was earmarked as a potential Six Nations Grand Slam title decider. Further to that point, this fixture was also set to determine which way the balance scale tips in determining which of France or Ireland will be inserted as World Cup favourites.

And it turned out, Ireland emboldened their status as the No. ranked Test team in the world and strengthened their World Cup credentials with a stunning victory earned from a game for the ages.

This performance and result should serve as a warning for the Springboks, who have been grouped in the same World Cup pool as the dominant Irish as well as an ever-improving Scotland, who have also forced their way into the top five in the Test rankings.

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Coming into this showdown, France sat on a perfect 14-match winning streak and had last tasted defeat well over a year ago, in 2021. And if they had overcome Ireland today, they’d have been favoured to clinch back-to-back Grand Slam titles. But it wasn’t to be as a poor second half display led to their downfall.

In a riveting opening 40 minutes, both sides contributed to make it one of the best halves of rugby in recent memory. France and Ireland went blow for blow, with every world class player making world class plays despite the high intensity and pace the game was played at.

Ireland scored three magnificent tries and could have had more, but they were held up by brilliant France defence at least thrice. France bagged just one try, a top-notched team effort, finished by Damian Penaud, but the accurate boot of Thomas Ramos meant they went into the break trailing by 22-16.

The intensity of the first half took its toll on both sets of players, as evidenced by the players mostly walking around as kicks flew over the top. That change in proceedings undid France, as Ireland came out on top in the tactical kicking exchanges.

Ramos and Ross Byrne exchanged three-pointers off the boot, but France never really got going in the second stanza and were mostly pinned in their own half and deprived of ball possession.

The result was put to bed when Garry Ringrose danced his way through three French defenders after a Caelan Doris turnover to score the fourth and final try.

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IRELAND VS FRANCE SIX NATIONS SCORERS AND TEAMS:

Ireland — Tries: Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Andrew Porter, Garry Ringrose. Conversions: Johnny Sexton (2), Ross Byrne. Penalties: Sexton, Byrne.
France — Try: Damian Penaud. Conversion: Thomas Ramos. Penalties: Ramos (3). Drop goal: Ramos.

Ireland — 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (captain), 9 Conor Murray, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Andrew Porter.
Subs: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Bundee Aki.

France — 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Ethan Dumortier, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Anthony Jelonch, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille.
Subs: 16 Gaetan Barlot, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Francois Cros, 21 Sekou Macalou, 22 Baptiste Couilloud, 23 Matthieu Jalibert.

Ireland fans celebrate Six Nations win. France fans sad
Ireland fans celebrate their team’s Six Nations win, while France fans are dejected. Photo: Six Nations.