Goalden wonder!
FRANCE ..... 13 IRELAND .... 15
JOHNNY SEXTON snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a magnificent long-range drop-goal with the last kick of the game at the Stade de France.
Teddy Thomas’ converted 71st minute try looked to have sealed a smash and grab victory for France.
But Sexton, having missed a 62nd minute penalty that would have delivered the cushion of a nine point lead, stepped up to deliver the killer blow in a thrilling ending.
Ronan O’gara’s last minute drop-goal that earned Munster victory against Northampton in the Heineken Cup in 2011 came after 41 phases.
Remarkably, as the clock crept into the red, the build-up to Sexton’s effort that just cleared the crossbar from midway between the half-way line and the French 10 metre line was also 41 phases.
Ireland displayed nerves of steel to retain possession in those circumstances to kick off their latest attempt at landing a Grand Slam.
But Schmidt won’t be fooled, despite this first success in Paris since the title-clinching 2014 win.
For while his side deserved the win - their first opening game success in three years - they almost shot themselves in the foot.
French indiscipline helped the cause of Schmidt’s charges but Ireland constantly dispayed poor decision-making and individual errors.
That left the home side within touching distance in what became a nervy arm wrestle in rainy conditions.
With only one point separating the sides in their previous three championship meetings, a close encounter always looked likely.
The boot of Sexton put the men in green 9-3 ahead at the break and ultimately French indiscipline proved costly in Jacques Brunel’s first game in charge.
Brunel had pledged that he would shave off the moustache he has sported for 40 years if France won the Grand Slam.
There was little chance of that happening and this defeat marks the first time since 1975 that the hosts have lost their first game at home in the championship. It’s also only the fourth time that Ireland have won in the French capital since 1952. The Ireland backs got their hands on the ball in the opening moments, with 6 Nations debutants Bundee Aki (inset) and Jacob Stockdale doing well, but as conditions worsened the visitors reverted to their trusted territorial game. Sexton kicked them ahead in the third minute and he doubled that lead in the 22nd minute when Iain Henderson wasn’t released in the tackle. James Ryan, who had an impressive opening half in his first championship appearance, was nonetheless rescued by Rob Kearney after the lock’s loose pass allowed Rabah Slimani to kick deep into Ireland’s 22.
The French suffered a blow when debutant out-half Matthieu Jalibert was forced off after a clash of knees with Aki on the half hour.
But they rallied and began to cause real trouble at the breakdown, earning a penalty successfully kicked by Maxime Machenaud after last man Kearney was penalised for holding on too long.
Ireland lost Josh van der Flier with a knee injury three minutes before half-time. His replacement, Dan Leavy, made a big impact as Sexton kicked the visitors six points ahead before the break.
The lead was extended to nine by Sexton on 47 minutes, Sebastien Vahaamahina for the second time - and not the last - infringing at the ruck.
But the French defence held when Tadhg Furlong was denied close to the try line and, when Machenaud made it 12-6 and Sexton pulled his next penalty kick wide, the game was still in the balance.
Thomas slalomed his way past Kearney, Stockdale and Earls to score and replacement out-half Anthony Bealleau’s conversion put France ahead for the first time.
But Bealleau missed a late penalty - and Ireland made him pay dearly with their famous finale.