- Ireland dominates with 38-17 win
- France struggles, makes errors
- Ireland heavy championship favourites
Over the past two seasons, the victor of this matchup has also been victorious in the grand slam. Considering Ireland’s approach to their 38-17 victory in Marseille, it is possible that they will demand a great deal of stopping power once more this season, possibly more than any of the other four teams competing in the championship.
Three months after the conclusion of the World Cup, the contest was framed as a brief preview of the potential final. Indeed, the Irish were the only team that resembled the form in which they had begun that tournament. In essence, the game provided an initial glimpse into the responses of these two teams to the question that has plagued them since the final moments of the knockout rounds: what comes next? France has manifestly not yet generated a response, as their performance was disorganised and riddled with handling errors and missed challenges.
They terribly missed the leadership and game-changing ability of Antoine Dupont when the tide was stacked against them. In contrast, Ireland began the match as robust and nimble as ever, with an even greater proficiency in setting pieces.
Ireland Dominates Early Game
It was evident that Ireland had been undertaking maintenance on their lineout, as it had become considerably precarious by the conclusion of the World Cup. Early on, France attempted to contact the ball; however, the Irish prevailed with a throw to Tadhg Beirne and two more within the following minutes. Hugo Keenan tackled Damian Penaud into touch in their own 22nd minute, while Peter O’Mahony judiciously elected to have Jack Crowley convert a penalty into the corner of France’s 22nd. Crowley converted a penalty kick just in front of the posts to extend their lead by three goals following that lineout.
First blood to the Irish, and the mere sight of it appeared to fortify them. A few minutes later, they gained one man. Paul Willemse received a yellow card and was dismissed to the bunker for colliding with Andrew Porter on the head. At that moment, Porter was engaged in a tackle on Mathieu Jalibert. As he advanced, Willemse charged through him and struck him directly in the mandible with his shoulder. Nine minutes later, the French were granted a small measure of solace when the referee, Karl Dickson, informed their captain, Gregory Alldritt, that Willemse would be permitted to return to the game. Evidently, only temporarily so.
Alldritt was pressed for time to fully appreciate the positive news. Subsequently, Jamison Gibson-Park scored the inaugural try for Ireland. It came from two huge rushes by Bundee Aki, who brought his World Cup momentum into the competition. France has one of the beefier midfields in Jonathan Danty and Gaël Fickou, but Aki made hamburger out of them.
French Struggle, Irish Surge Ahead
Already by their fingertips, the French were clinging to the game due to the Irish’s lightning-fast start. A few minutes later, they narrowly prevented Ireland from regaining the lead when Crowley was stopped just short of the line and the ball was held up by Tadhg Furlong after he had dived over it. Tomas Ramos scored the French’s first three points after Crowley’s missed penalty from in front. It signified yet another shift in the game’s momentum, as the French immediately encountered a significant decline in circumstances.
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Subsequently, Peato Mauvaka delivered a hefty challenge to Crowley, which would have been advantageous had Crowley not already passed the ball to Beirne, who stormed through the gaping aperture Mauvaka had created in the French defence to score unopposed beneath the posts. Willemse was sent off for a second shoulder charge on Caelan Doris after the score reached 17-3. Naturally, as an additional Irishman famously stated, what is once considered a misfortune becomes apparent as negligence twice over.
Ireland’s Tactical Triumph Unfolds
A lip-reader will be required to determine whether Porter was murmuring that as Willemse exited the field. France, who were 14 points behind with only 14 men remaining, began to play at this juncture. Despite having only converted two opportunities, their finest attack of the half was orchestrated. And they created a four-on-two overlap that Penaud utilised to score, extending the lead to 17-10. Early in the second half, Ireland extended the play and their lead when Calvin Nash scored in the corner.
That should have been enough to win, but France played better with 14 than 15, as usual. They mounted a comeback when Paul Gabrillagues scored off a pick and go that was awarded after an endless series of replays, and Ireland lost O’Mahony in the same passage of play when he was dismissed for maul collapse in the build-up. When down to 14, Ireland scored again when Dan Sheehan drove over after kicking another penalty to touch.
O’Mahony was sent to the sin bin for failing to finish a maul in the run-up. Ronan Kelleher completed the defeat in the dying minutes with an additional goal generated from a comparable pass. Therefore, Ireland are already heavy favourites for the championship, while the French have much more deliberation to do.
