France 17 – 38 Eire

Eire produced a powerful show in Marseille as they registered a primary Six Nations win in France since 2018

Eire started life within the post-Johnny Sexton period in preferrred trend, as a terrific Six Nations efficiency noticed them to a bonus-point 38-17 victory over France in Marseille. 

Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, lock Tadhg Beirne, wing Calvin Nash, hooker Dan Sheehan and alternative hooker Ronan Kelleher scored tries on the Stade Velodrome towards a French aspect who noticed lock Paul Willemse proven a purple card throughout the first half for 2 yellows – each excessive tackles.

Eire fly-half Jack Crowley, 24, began nervously however grew in confidence and into the competition, kicking one penalty and 5 beautiful conversions, whereas additionally producing a stunning attempt help for Beirne in a report factors whole and successful margin for Eire in France.

Damian Penaud and lock Paul Gabrillagues scored France’s tries, who continued to struggle laborious and by no means appeared really out of it – Eire captain Peter O’Mahony was sin-binned within the second half with the hole seven factors – however they finally needed to swallow a house defeat.

Jack Crowley, Johnny Sexton’s Eire alternative within the No 10 jersey, pulled the strings to victory within the Stade Velodrome

For a lot of within the sport, France vs Eire was the Rugby World Cup remaining that by no means was again in October’s Paris showpiece, and though the hosts carved out the primary threatening assault, Eire have been far the faster to settle into their groove.

Crowley edged Eire into an early lead with a close-range penalty, and after Willemse collected his first yellow for a excessive hit to the top of Andrew Porter, the guests notched the opening attempt.

Centre Bundee Aki did magnificently for it, charging ahead and releasing his palms to dump for Gibson-Park to dash in.

Eire scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park scored the primary attempt after nice work from Bundee Aki

An enormous attempt probability was spurned by Eire after Beirne charged down Antoine Dupont’s alternative Maxime Lucu to win a turnover simply after a France maul – Crowley and Aki taking part in slim when a large ball would have resulted in a sure attempt down the left.

Inside moments, Crowley missed poorly off the tee for the prospect to go 13-0, with Thomas Ramos then hanging on the different finish after a scrum penalty.

Maybe illustrating a measure of his mentality, Crowley disregarded a troublesome couple of minutes to play Beirne in for Eire’s second attempt through an exquisitely disguised short-ball.

Tadhg Beirne scored Eire’s second attempt after being brilliantly performed in by Crowley

Crowley then transformed for 17-3, with Willemse – solely just lately again on – then proven his second yellow, which was upgraded to a straight purple following a bunker evaluation, after connecting with the top of Caelan Doris in Eire’s first carry following the restart.

France lock ahead Paul Willemse was purple carded for committing two yellow card offences – a really uncommon incidence

Again-to-back penalties on the ruck towards Eire invited France ahead, nevertheless, and although Beirne stole a lineout, a pricey scrum penalty towards the top ultimately resulted in Penaud diving over as French persistence in kicking to the nook was rewarded seconds earlier than the break.

Damian Penaud hit again for France with a attempt seconds earlier than half-time

After Ramos uncharacteristically dragged a penalty broad, Eire scored by means of Nash after they sprung the play broad and Robbie Henshaw had stepped, accelerated and offloaded brilliantly for Doris to seek out the championship debutant.

Calvin Nash scored Eire’s third attempt on the event of his Six Nations debut

Crowley produced a sensational conversion off the touchline for 24-10, however France have been again inside a rating seven minutes later, after an extended TMO evaluation noticed Gabrillagues awarded a try to O’Mahony sin-binned for a cynical act in making an attempt to disclaim him.

Eire composed themselves to get again up the opposite finish, although, and after the courageous choice to kick to the nook as an alternative of for factors, Sheehan flew over the try-line from a maul for his or her fourth.

Dan Sheehan’s attempt wrapped up the bonus-point and put Eire on agency course for victory

There remained time for one final attempt, and it was nearly an identical to Sheehan’s as Kelleher managed possession behind a maul which romped over.

Fittingly, the boot of Crowley was the ultimate scoring act through the extras.

Farrell: A particular Irish victory | O’Mahony: I am proud – the younger gamers an enormous half

Eire head coach Andy Farrell to ITV Sport…

“Any victory right here, on a Friday night time to start out the Six Nations off is at all times going to be a tough job however I believe coming away with a bonus-point win is particular.

“I used to be happy with the efficiency as a result of we stored on taking part in for the total 80 minutes and we bought what we deserved ultimately.

“Whenever you play towards 14 males, the tendency is usually to close up store however we stored on taking part in.

“These are guys which have been in across the squad for the previous couple of years so we had little doubt they’re able to play.

“A few of them, their kind ensures they’ll be in. However it’s a 23-man recreation.”

Eire captain O’Mahony to ITV Sport…

“It’s laborious to sum up. It was a severe Take a look at match.

“I’m very happy with the lads for the management of the sport. We have been cool, composed, may need been a bit frantic within the final 10 minutes all the way down to 14, however we stayed to the plan the entire time.

“We did not get carried away with optimistic and destructive moments and I believed it was a superb begin.

“I believe an enormous chunk of the efficiency was the younger fellas, Calvin Nash, Jack Crowley, massive Joe [McCarthy]. Some massive, massive performances from guys getting a chance.”

What’s subsequent?

Eire are in motion subsequent Sunday, February 11 for the second spherical of the championship, internet hosting Italy on the Aviva Stadium in Dublin (3pm kick-off GMT).

France journey to face Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh subsequent Saturday, February 10 (2.15pm kick-off GMT), in Spherical 2 of the Six Nations.

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