Ireland put their World Cup disappointment behind them and started their Grand Slam defense in style with a 38-17 win over France in Marseille.
The defending Guinness Six Nations champions looked to be back to their best form as they held off France on home soil and secured a bonus point as Ireland secured their fourth away win over France in 40 years. The visiting team led from start to finish against the hosts, but the hosts were second best in all categories except scrums.
Joe McCarthy has announced that he will try rugby. The 22-year-old brought a new level of physicality to the Irish pack and was named player of the match on his Six Nations debut, while Jack Crowley was a daring performer, albeit with just one hit. He hit 6 of 7 shots off the tee. Rough around the edges.
Ireland held the man advantage for most of the match after French lock Paul Willemse was shown a red card in the 32nd minute. The second-rower received two yellow cards for overhead hits on Andrew Porter and Caelan Doris. Fortunately his first yellow remained and after being introduced by the TMO banker, the second could not save him and France paid dearly for their lack of discipline.
Tries from Jamison Gibson-Park and Tajig Beirne gave Ireland a commanding 17-3 lead at the Orange Velodrome, but just before half-time Damien Penault fired back for France as Fabien Galthie’s side returned to within 7 points and within touch distance.
But every time France reversed, Ireland had an answer. Calvin Nash scored Ireland’s first try on his Six Nations debut, Dan Sheehan dived in for the bonus point and Paul Gavrilags pulled one back for France.
France had some good moments and did some work in Ireland’s scrum, but they never looked like winning and Ronan Kelleher’s late try sparked Ireland’s fine victory.
It was a relief to see Ireland entrenched in the fight after a great velodrome that fueled the match.
Lowe’s interception resulted in a penalty against France for offside, and after securing a lineout in the France 22, another penalty was awarded just under the post. Crowley got into the game with an easy tap over and seven minutes later it was 3-0 up against the visitors.
France’s discipline was poor early on and they conceded another penalty at the breakdown after some great work from O’Mahony right after the restart. However, things took a turn for the worse when replays showed Willemse hit Porter in the head with a shoulder and Dixon wasted little time issuing a yellow card and bunker review.
Willemse survived the review this time, but Ireland were still able to punish the sin-bin, with Gibson Park firing in for the opening try in the 16th minute.
The match started with Ireland’s lineout after a poor clearance by France, and some deft handling by Lowe who brought it into midfield. After securing a fast ball, Henshaw’s late pass sent Aki into space and the center played the ball back inside for the running scrum-half to score the opening try. Crowley scored this to make it 10-0.
Ireland almost got their second try in the 22nd minute when a deft blindside move from a scrum kept Van der Flier on the line, but moments later Crowley kicked from the front of the sticks. He scored and missed the additional point buffer. Drift wide to the right.
To compound these missed chances, a dominant French scrum resulted in Ramos converting a long-range penalty to make it 7-3 and denying the hosts their first goal of the match in the 25th minute. did it.
For a moment, it felt like the momentum had shifted, but Ireland never got the memo. They returned to the French 22 and their forwards were busy with the ball, with Doris and Furlong in particular recording big carries.
Beirne equalized through a tackle from Mauvaca, but a few phases later the French hooker had the last laugh when he stepped up to the line and tried to tackle Crowley. With quick handling, Beirne charged through the gap and Ireland scored their second try. Crowley’s conversion made it 17-3 at the 30-minute mark.
Trailing by 14 points, the hosts’ challenge increased immediately after the restart after Willemse received a red card which he luckily avoided. This time, the second row took down Doris with a headshot, resulting in a second yellow card and a permanent sending off. A bunker review won’t save him this time.
The French were second in all categories apart from the first-half scrum, and a second penalty against Porter gave them room to mount a late attack before the break. More penalties followed, and a quick tap from Maubaka forced France to the line before Penault made a short pass and dived in to score the opening try.
Ramos’ conversion curled inside the left post, with France’s 14 men cutting the score to 17-10.
Two minutes into the second half, Ireland were given a penalty for sneaking in a maul, and they almost cut Ireland’s lead by another three points, but this time Ramos’ long-range shot went wide.
Porter, who had given up two scrums, was the trump card with a jackal penalty, giving Ireland their third try in the 44th minute.
Once Ireland established possession in the 22nd minute, the lineout looked stable again, but McCarthy put Ireland in front with two strong carries. With the French defense in disarray, Ireland quickly passed to Henshaw and after a dominant carry, the center flicked a nice offload to Doris, whose pass to the touchline gave Nash his first try for Ireland. . Crawley’s conversion from the touchline was perfect and Ireland re-established their 14-point advantage.
France hit back with a try in the 52nd minute and it was shaping up to be a classic match, with back-to-back penalties on Crowley and Bale forcing France into a corner and Gavryag creeping in with a pick-and-go. Ramos scored to make it 24-17, but Ireland captain O’Mahony was sin-binned for bringing down a maul just before scoring.
By the hour mark, both teams had exchanged blows. Crowley played a high ball to France’s number 22, his team attacked the French defense and forced a turnover, but the French defense could not resist and was close to offside.
With a bonus point on the horizon, Ireland went for a corner, secured a lineout and a maul blasted France away, allowing Sheehan to break free and dive for his fourth try. For the second year in a row, the Crowleys converted a successful touchline conversion, giving the team a two-try buffer at 31-17.
The game was open and chaotic with France chasing the score, but the visiting team continued to play at their own pace, slowing down the game as much as possible and kicking deep to corner France.
In the 77th minute, he delivered a decisive blow. France were penalized in midfield and Ireland went back for a corner, with another successful maul and Kelleher scoring his fifth try.
The final word went to Crowley, who split the post to take his personal record to 13 on the night and round out Ireland’s stunning win.
France: Thomas Ramos Damian Penaud, Gaël Fickou, Jonathan Danti, Yoram Moefana. Mathieu Jalibert, Maxime Luk. Cyril Baille, Pete Mauvaca, Wini Atonio. Paul Gavrilags, Paul Willems. François Clos, Charles Olivon, Gregory Aldritt (captain).
Replacement: Julien Marchand, Leda Wardy, Dorian Aldegueri, Posolo Tuilagi, Cameron Woki, Paul Boudéin, Nolan Le Garrec, Louis Biel-Bialley.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan. Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundy Aki, James Lowe. Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson Park. Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong. Joe McCarthy, Taj Beirne, Peter O’Mahony (Captain), Josh van der Vlier, Caelan Doris.
Replacement: Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley.
Referee: Carl Dixon (English)
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