Ireland back in groove and keep faint title hopes alive against ragged French
Ireland rediscovered their 2018 mojo yesterday to thump France 26-14 and sustain their slender Guinness Six Nations title hopes.
Captain Rory Best, talisman stand-off Johnny Sexton, Jack Conan and Keith Earls all crossed as Joe Schmidt’s men returned to form, with Yoann Huget and Camille Chat claiming late consolations for the disorganised French.
Ireland’s bonus-point win means victory against Grand Slam-chasing Wales in Cardiff on Saturday could yet win the title, though that would also require an England slip-up against Scotland.
Ireland’s blistering start yielded a rapid try for Best, the skipper ploughing over after a penalty lineout and Sexton converting for a 7-0 lead.
Ireland were handed a reprieve when wing Damian Penaud knocked on despite beating Jordan Larmour to a high bomb, with Thomas Ramos’ resulting finish chalked off.
But after that, the half proved one-way traffic, Ireland spending the middle third creating then bungling any number of scoring chances. Finally, Sexton ghosted home on a simple midfield wraparound as the monumental pressure told, the fly-half converting again.
The outstanding Gary
Ringrose almost bagged a third, only to knock on in the act of grounding after a stunning high-ball field.
Undeterred, the relentless Irish pressed, punishing France’s slack alignment in the field’s central third with Conan stealing over on the right. France started the second half at pace but were easily subdued by the hosts. And when Earls raced in for the bonus-point score, any remaining French resolve allbut evaporated.
Sexton posted the conversion for a 26-0 lead in what proved his final act.
Schmidt replaced Sexton, Conor Murray and skipper Best, emptying his bench with next weekend’s final-round clash in Cardiff well in mind.
That the job was already considered complete against Les Bleus inside the hour speaks volumes about the lowly state of France’s Test rugby.
Dorian Aldegheri was sinbinned for scrum infringements as Ireland sustained the onslaught in the final quarter. But with 14 men France finally troubled the scorers, Huget romping in before Chat capped a driving maul.
SCORERS:
IRELAND: Tries: Best, Sexton, Conan, Earls. Cons: Sexton 3.
FRANCE: Tries: Huget, Chat. Cons: Serin 2.
IRELAND: Larmour, Earls, Ringrose, Aki, Stockdale, Sexton, Murray, Healy, Best, Furlong, Henderson, J Ryan, O’mahony, Van der Flier, Stander. Replacements: Conway for Earls (76), Carty for Sexton (58), Cooney for Murray (58), Kilcoyne for Healy (51), Scannell for Best (58), J Ryan for Furlong (58), Dillane for Henderson (58).
FRANCE: Ramos, Penaud, Bastareaud, Fickou, Huget, Ntamack, Dupont, Poirot, Guirado, Bamba, Lambey, Vahaamahina, Lauret, Iturria, Picamoles. Replacements: Medard for Ramos (63), Serin for Dupont (72), Chat for Guirado (72), Willemse for Lambey (63).
REFEREE: Ben O’keeffe (New Zealand).