Outstanding Irish go in for the thrill
Ireland 32
France 19
IRELAND propelled themselves into pole position for Six Nations glory with a gripping 32-19 bonus-point victory over France in Dublin yesterday. Tries from Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Andrew Porter and Garry Ringrose helped the Irish register a record 13th successive home victory.
Damian Penaud’s sensational score plus 14 points from the boot of full-back Thomas Ramos ensured the visitors remained in contention for most of a tense encounter at Aviva Stadium.
Andy Farrell has now beaten each of rugby’s major nations as Ireland head coach, with flyhalves Johnny Sexton and Ross Byrne contributing seven and five points respectively on another landmark day.
Scores of fans were seeking spare tickets ahead of kick-off, underlining the significance of the first time the world’s top two countries had met in a Six Nations fixture.
This year’s World Cup hosts were on the back foot for large parts of a breathless and bruising first-half of rugby which ebbed and flowed.
A pair of Ramos penalties kept them in contention in the early stages, coming either side of Keenan racing clear to claim the opening try courtesy of a fine Finlay Bealham offload.
The lively capacity crowd contained a sizeable French contingent and they were soon saluting a stunning breakaway score from Penaud.
The Clermont wing collected the ball deep inside his own 22, burst clear to exchange passes with flanker Anthony Jelonch, before holding off Conor Murray and Mack Hansen to complete a sensational diagonal dart to the left corner.
The home fans erupted minutes later when a lengthy review concluded Lowe had grounded the ball with an outrageous dive for the left corner before Penaud could propel him into touch.
Prop Porter marked his 50th Test cap by bulldozing his country’s third try of the afternoon.
The home side were 22-16 ahead at the interval after Ramos and Sexton exchanged penalties.
Byrne briefly stretched Ireland’s lead before Ramos quickly reduced his side’s deficit back to six points with a drop goal. But French resistance was broken nine minutes from time when Ringrose evaded three tackles and dotted down.
IRELAND: H Keenan; M Hansen, G Ringrose, S McCloskey (B Aki 66), J Lowe; J Sexton (capt) (R Byrne 49), C Murray (C Casey 57); A Porter (D Kilcoyne 70), R Herring (R Kelleher 26-), F Bealham (T O’Toole 62); T Beirne ( I Henderson 46), J Ryan; P O’Mahony ( J Conan 57), J van der Flier, C Doris.
SCORERS - TRIES: Keenan, Lowe, Porter, Ringrose Cons: Sexton (2), Byrne Pens: Sexton, Byrne.
FRANCE: T Ramos ( M Jalibert 62); D Penaud, G Fickou, Y Moefana, E Dumortier; R Ntamack, A Dupont; C Baille (R Wardi 57), J Marchand (G Barlot), U Atonio (S Faletea 57); T Flament, P Willemse (R Taofifenua 46); A Jelonch, C Ollivon (F Cros 70), G Alldritt (S Macalou 52).
SCORERS - TRIES: Penaud Cons: Ramos Pens: Ramos (3) Drop Goal: Ramos.
YELLOW CARD: Atonio (25).
REFEREE: Wayne Barnes (England)