Ireland took a large step in direction of the Six Nations Grand Slam by beating title-holders France 32-19 in a pulsating encounter between the world’s prime two sides at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.
The Irish secured a successful bonus level with 4 tries, with Andrew Porter scoring one on his fiftieth cap, in what was a document thirteenth successive residence Test victory.
France noticed their goals of a successive Grand Slam success dashed whereas their nationwide document run of 14 consecutive Test victories got here to an finish.
The win additionally noticed head coach Andy Farrell safe his first win over France since he took over after the 2019 World Cup.
“It was two great teams going at it with the French going for an unbeaten record and us going for the home record,” Farrell advised ITV.
“At the end of the day it is a victory in a competition that we want to do well at.”
France skipper Antoine Dupont admitted the group was dejected over the loss.
“For the moment, obviously it’s a lot of disappointment, we can see the result, they have the bonus point, we have no defensive bonus point,” he mentioned.
“We will have to recover and continue this tournament because it is not over. We know that a lot can happen.”
France struck first with Thomas Ramos slotting over a penalty in the fifth minute.
The Irish stormed into the lead with a elegant strive when prop Finlay Bealham bought a dummy cross to Conor Murray and fed fullback Hugo Keenan who burst by way of the French defence to the touch down.
Irish skipper Johnny Sexton transformed for 7-3 in the tenth minute.
The trusty boot of Ramos lowered the hole on the quarter hour mark, changing a penalty for 7-6.
France then produced a dream strive which started inside their very own 22 earlier than Anthony Jelonch handed to Damian Penaud who dismissed Murray earlier than working in for his twenty second Test strive. Ramos transformed for 13-7.
There was a direct reply from the Irish as they regained possession when Ramos’s clearance kick was deflected.
The ball got here out large to James Lowe, who nonetheless had work to do however someway managed to the touch the ball down in the nook along with his legs over the touchline however crucially along with his ft not on the bottom.
– Emotional Sexton –
Sexton did not convert, leaving the French 13-12 up.
The momentum of an engrossing recreation swung again to the Irish after French prop Uini Atonio was sin-binned for a excessive sort out on Rob Herring.
However, the hosts took benefit instantly with Porter burrowing over. Sexton transformed for 19-13.
The French have been on the again foot however thankfully for them Ramos was as soon as once more readily available to maintain the scoreboard ticking over. The fullback transformed an extended vary penalty for 19-16.
The Irish rounded off an unimaginable first-half with Sexton slotting over a penalty for a 22-16 lead.
Ramos had the primary alternative of the second interval however he failed for the primary time with the boot, his lengthy vary penalty dropping simply quick.
However, with simply over half an hour to go the hosts misplaced their talisman.
A clearly upset Sexton trudged off, his head in his arms. He had acquired remedy to his left leg early in the second interval.
Ross Byrne assumed the playmaking position and he landed a penalty simply previous to the hour mark to increase the result in 25-16.
Ramos made one final telling contribution earlier than being changed by dropping a purpose to convey the deficit again to six factors at 25-19.
However, it was the Irish who turned on the stress and acquired deserved reward when man of the match Caelan Doris discovered Garry Ringrose on the left wing and he fended off French defenders to the touch down.
Byrne transformed for 32-19 leaving the French an enormous job with simply six minutes remaining of conserving their hopes of the Grand Slam alive.
It was to not be as one closing French assault petered out and Sexton rose from his seat pitchside to have fun what will probably be his final Six Nations victory over the French.
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