France 17 Ireland 38 (FT) - as it happened

France 17 Ireland 38

We’ll bid you adieu on our live blog and leave you with Gerry Thornley’s match report. He calls is Ireland’s best ever win in the Six Nations. It’s tough to argue.

[ Ireland stun France with best ever Six Nations victory on French soil ]

As for the last two Irish scores, well, they were indicative of how they at times overpowered this France pack. Not a sentence anyone thought they would utter tonight. The loss of secondrow Willemse no doubt played a huge role here.

This was arguably the try of the night. The decision to pass to Henshaw here was a poor one, surrounded as he was by defenders. Instead of panicking, he takes the contact, goes to floor and buys enough time for his support. As France look to swarm at the breakdown, Henshaw offloads off the deck before they get there, allowing Doris to send Nash over in the corner.

Chapeau, Monsieur Crowley. For the second try, he drew Mauvaka out of the line, waited on him to bite and made the right call to go front door to Beirne with Danty too busy watching the runner behind him.

Let’s run through the Irish tries again. It all started with this Gibson-Park effort. Clever backline play in the build-up, before Aki’s footwork and offload created the gap.

The postmatch content continues. Here’s Johnny Watterson with the player ratings.

On Tadhg Beirne: “Standout game from his poaching to lineouts and in the first half a try from 20 metres out. He also disrupted the French lineout in an all-round top-class effort from the Irish lock. Rating: 9″

[ France 17 Ireland 38: How the Irish players rated ]

Haven’t had your rugby fill? Join us over on Twitter shortly where Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan will talk through Ireland’s win.

Full-time: France 17 Ireland 38

The night ends fittingly with Ireland disrupting a French lineout. Murray launches the ball into the stands and that is that, Ireland have laid down a big marker to start this competition.

TRY RÓNAN KELLEHER

France have run out of puff. Baird takes a lineout throw 10m from the line. The maul gets going, Lowe comes in to throw his weight into it and France cannot get anywhere near the ball. Easy try for Kelleher.

Once again, Crowley converts from out wide. What a night for him.

Joe McCarthy has been named player of the match. A romantic decision, given it’s the new boy on the block. Tadhg Beirne has been by far their best player.

76 mins: Crowley’s cross-kick is to no one in particular and Le Garrec can mark and clear. Ireland run the ball back and Nash has taken a bang, he’s getting treatment. Crowley kicks in behind with Ireland going nowhere and Tamos returns the favour. France are offside in the kick chase - Fickou of all people - and with that you think France’s chances are gone. Ireland will kick into the corner and eat into the clock.

74 mins: Tadhg Beirne. Wow. He wins another steal on the deck and Ireland are away on the counter. Conan, of all people, chips in behind and under pressure in his own 22, Jalibert can only kick the ball out to prevent the score.

72 mins: Ferocious defence from Ireland. Ryan and Beirne chop multiple bigger runners, preventing big carries. Le Garrec is on for France, he has upped the tempo from nine but his link with Bielle-Biarrey doesn’t work down the shortside, the Bordeaux winger spilling the ball forward.

This won’t be at the forefront of the players’ minds, but a record is on the cards here.

70 mins: Keenan saves Ireland again. France have broken from deep brilliantly through Bielle-Biarrey. They go wide to Boudehent and Keenan throws himself into the tackle, taking him down in a manner that prevented a try-scoring offload.

France opt to kick in behind, but it’s the wrong option. Ireland regather and clear through Gibson-Park.

68 mins: Ireland make another change. McCarthy has been very impressive and his day is done, James Ryan on for him.

Meanwhile France continue to make errors. Fickou throws a big, wide ball to Penaud but he has over-run the pass. He leaves the ball behind him and Dickson gives Ireland the scrum following the knock.

65 mins: Ireland look to play from deep. Gibson-Park chips ahead for Keenan to chase. Boudehent gathers and is tackled, but Dickson still lets him get back to his feet. France look to play quickly but it’s scrappy and Bielle-Biarrey spills forward.

Ireland opt to change their whole frontrow, Healy, Kelleher and Bealham on for Porter, Sheehan and Furlong. O’Mahony’s card has expired, but Baird comes on instead of him.

TRY DAN SHEEHAN

Wow. Ireland have been bullied at the maul and the scrum for the last 10 minutes but not here. Beirne takes the lineout, the maul gets going with Furlong leading the way and Sheehan peels for the score. A bonus point try for Ireland.

Crowley nails another touchline conversion. Huge moment in this match.

61 mins: Ireland’s attack is purring once again. Playing under advantage, Aki and Crowley are linking beautifully. Doris gets a good ball out the back, one more pass would see a score but the rush shuts the move down. The penalty for playing the ball on the deck comes. Ireland turn down three and go for the corner. A decision about eating into O’Mahony’s card more than anything.

57 mins: That’s outstanding from Lowe. He reads the play exactly right, shifting off one decoy to hit the next runner man and ball. Henshaw and van der Flier flood in to hold Ramos up and Ireland earn a scrum.

I’m not sure how much of a win that is though, given France’s dominance in that set piece.

55 mins: Nash nearly hits back straight off the kick-off, grabbing the ball in the air. He’s unable to hold on as he comes to deck and France get a scrum. The new frontrow does untold damage, Ireland popping up and giving away the penalty.

Beirne rises high at the lineout, though, to again pilfer the ball. Ireland needed that.

What they didn’t need was a mistake immediately after. Gibson-Park launches a kick out on the full. France lineout on halfway, again.

France have rung the changes, bringing on the big guns. Wardi, Aldhegeri and Marchand are on in the frontrow, Tuilagi in the secondrow.

TRY GABRILLAGUES

Try stands. What’s worse for Ireland, O’Mahony sacked the maul in the build-up. He goes to the bin even though France scored on advantage.

Ramos slots a beauty from the touchline. Game back on!

53 mins: TMO CHECK! Gabrillagues thinks he’s scored but we are going to check. The assistant says he’s seen a grounding so on-field decision is try.

It looks like Gabrillagues may have spilled it but it’s not conclusive. If the decision was no try, it would stand so it seems this score will count for France.

50 mins: The French crowd are going mad. They think Crowley takes out Fickou in the air off a Gibson-Park chip, Dickson says fair contest. France then go in the side as Doris threatens for a jackal, allowing Crowley to kick into the 22 with the penalty.

NOT SO FAST! The TMO intervenes, saying Crowley wasn’t in a position to win the ball and therefore contact with Fickou in the air was illegal. The penalty is reversed, and now Jalibert kicks up towards the 22.

TRY CALVIN NASH

What a score. The momentum comes from a McCarthy over the gainline. Ireland go wide shortly after, but Henshaw is all on his own. He draws two tacklers and times his offload perfectly, waiting for Doris to take the pass and send Nash over in the corner. Brilliant from Henshaw, incredible decision making and good skills from Doris to react and take the pass when he was lining up to clear a ruck.

Crowley slots a brilliant conversion from the touchline.

44 mins: After giving away four penalties in the first half, Porter gets a decision to go his way. It’s touch and go if he put his hands on the floor, but by the time Dickson got around to the right side of the ruck to see, all that was visible was Porter in over the ball in a jackal. Dickson gives Ireland the benefit of the doubt and Crowley kicks into the corner.

42 mins: Early chance for France in this second half. They get a strong maul rumbling along, Atonio barrelling his way through Irish jerseys. McCarthy gets the ball, but illegally so. Ramos launches hic kick but it’s wide and short. A let-off for Ireland.

41 mins: Here we go again. France are still in it, but how much of a role will that red card play? We’ll find out over the next 40 minutes. Jalibert kicks the ball into the 22 where Doris is waiting. Gibson-Park clears, finding a good touch up towards halfway.

Half-time: France 10 Ireland 17

Ireland have been comfortably the better team but will be frustrated to be just seven points ahead at the break. Their attack has been powerful and skillful in equal measure, while the lineout has functioned better than expected.

France have been poor, dominated in the collisions while falling off tackles.

That said, the hosts have a clear advantage in the scrum and that is what has them still in it at the break, Porter’s indiscretions gifting a series of kicks into the 22 - Ireland couldn’t hold out forever.

40 mins: For all the talk of Ireland’s struggling lineout, they disrupt France again. Illegally so, O’Mahony playing Ollivon in the air.

TRY PENAUD

France strike back before the break. Mauvaka takes the penalty quickly and Ireland never get set after, Penaud forcing his way over after a handful of lightning quick phases.

Ramos converts.

39 mins: France have advantage as Porter gives away an offside penalty, that’s his fourth indiscretion already. Keenan bails his teammate out of touch with a massive tackle on Penaud, driving the wing back 10+ metres. Dickson has enough and goes back for the penalty. Decision time for France... they go to the corner again.

37 mins: Porter gives away his second scrum penalty of the day. France will have a chance to hit back before half-time as Jalibert kicks back into the corner.

35 mins: STOLEN! Porter had given away a penalty for failing to roll away, allowing France to kick into the corner. Eight metres from the line, France were threatening but Beirne gets into the air to pilfer. Lowe finds a good touch with his clearance.

32 mins: Crowley has been good in spurts, but also a touch error prone. After his brilliance for the try, he now sends a kick out on the full.

RED CARD!

Paul Willemse is gone. He hits Doris high in the tackle, it’s a second yellow so the bunker is irrelevant. France are down to 14 for the rest of the game!

France are imploding!

TRY TADHG BEIRNE

France’s defence is all at sea. Doris puts in two big carries to get Ireland going, working past Mauvaka with ease. A few phases later, the line looks to be well set but Mauvaka again makes the error. He flies up out of the line to hit Crowley, Danty doesn’t know whether to sit on Beirne or push wider. When the short pop comes from Crowley, Danty guesses wrong, allowing Beirne to coast in untouched. Crowley converts.

27 mins: Ramos makes no mistake. From just inside the Irish half, he curls it beautifully inside the right post. France are on the board!

26 mins: Problems for Ireland at the scrum. Porter goes down and Dickson sticks the arm out. Henshaw flies out of the line to shut down Fickou, so back we go for the advantage. France will take the shot at goal.

25 mins: A mistake to compound a mistake. After the Crowley miss, McCarthy spills a routine pass before contact. All of a sudden, France have a scrum just inside the Irish half.

24 mins: He’s missed it! It was a simple opportunity, in a central position outside the 22, but Crowley has pushed it out to the right.

22 mins: CLOSE! Crowley carries up to the line off the scrum as the France defence is passive, sitting off him. Van der Flier crashes over and says he’s grounded it, but Dickson decides he was held up. Off the restart, Alldritt tries to pilfer but plays it off his feet. Crowley has another shot here from a very central position.

21 mins: CHANCE! Beirne charges down a Lucu kick and Ireland are threatening. Aki spills a Crowley ball, it looked to have taken a flick off Mauvaka in the tackle but Dickson doesn’t see it. The TMO intervenes and the put-in is given to Ireland, just outside the 22.

Porter has passed his HIA and is back on. As is Willemse, whose card has expired.

TRY JAMISON GIBSON-PARK

Ireland’s backline carves France open. It starts with Aki’s ball out the back to Crowley gets Ireland over the gainline. A phase later, Aki pops up again, stepping onto a soft shoulder before offloading brilliantly. There is Gibson-Park to take the pass and score. Crowley converts.

Willemse survives! The bunker has made the call and it stays as a yellow. A significant drop in height is the mitigation, says Dickson. Willemse will be back on in three minutes.

14 mins: McCarthy really is impressing. This time he flies out of the line to smash Alldritt back in the tackle. Going backwards, France go to the air but it’s too long. Lowe calls an easy mark before clearing.

12 mins: Poor from Crowley. Ireland earn momentum with a big McCarthy carry but Crowley’s attempted kick in behind has too much on it, the ball rolls dead. France take the restart quickly and find a good touch all the way up towards the Ireland 22.

11 mins: Ireland keep the pressure on. They go wide, Nash chips in behind. France are forced into a rushed clearance and Lucu slices it out of play. Ireland lineout just outside the 22.

TMO check! Willemse has made contact with the head of Porter in a ruck. Clear head contact, only question is what colour is the card?

YELLOW CARD - Willemse is sent to the bin with the TMO bunker now to decide if the card stays at yellow, or is upgraded to red.

Porter is gone for a HIA, Healy on in his place.

8 mins: More momentum for Ireland. O’Mahony releases Ollivon after hauling him to ground, quickly getting in over the ball to win the penalty. Ireland have settled well after an initial French onslaught.

6 mins: O’Mahony does well to hold onto the lineout after juggling. Ireland’s maul looks well set but stumbles, Sheehan picking off the back. Lucu intercepts a long, wide pass but Baille had been caught offside. Ireland have an easy chance for three, Crowley knocks it over from straight in front.

Ireland strike first.

4 mins: Interception! James Lowe led the Six Nations last year for turnovers and he’s forced an early one here, rushing up to pick off a pass. He’s tackled immediately, so no breakaway, but Mauvaka strays offside. Crowley could opt for a tricky kick but instead goes to the corner.

2 mins: Ireland’s lineout is secure, but what follows isn’t. Crowley attempts to chip in behind but is charged down. Ireland survive as France kick it away. Lowe returns the favour.

CHANCE! France break from deep as Jalibert steps passed one man and creates the space. It takes a fantastic tackle from Keenan to knock Penaud into touch and save Ireland’s blushes.

1 min: We are underway in Marseille! Jack Crowley has the ball, referee Karl Dickson gives the instruction and the ball is launched long into the 22. France play a phase before clearing. Lucu finds touch up towards halfway.

Right then, anthems done, it’s time.

Here come the teams. They weren’t lying about Marseille, that was some welcome for the players.

The boffins have had their say...

France comfortable favourites with a 65 per cent win probability, according to stats company Opta.

We mentioned Lucu, and here is a profile of the man handed one of the most difficult tasks in world rugby: replacing Antoine Dupont.

[ Who is Maxime Lucu, the man set to replace Antoine Dupont? ]

A reminder of tonight’s teams. Jack Crowley, Joe McCarthy and Calvin Nash all start in their first Six Nations matches for Ireland.

France have an all-Bordeaux halfback pairing of Maxime Lucu and Matthieu Jalibert. They did make a late change yesterday to the 23 which was originally named. Posolo Tuilagi, who is still eligible for their U20s, has been called up to the bench in place of Romain Taofifenua, who is ill.

Not that it means much, but Ireland will be the side kicking off in just over half-an-hour’s time.

“In this competition every game is colossal and that’s an understatement, Make of it what you want but all of us are out there tomorrow to win the game and to set us up for a bit of momentum for the rest of the campaign. As I said, it’s a huge occasion.”

—  Ireland captain Peter O'Mahony

[ Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony: ‘All of us are out there tomorrow to win the game’ ]

Ireland are underdogs tonight, but what can they actually do on the pitch to secure a win? Which tactics might expose the French? The article below uses data to attempt to highlight a number of areas where Ireland might be able to gain the upper hand.

[ Six Nations 2024: Five ways Ireland can beat France in Marseille ]

The dream World Cup final that, alas, remained just that. Now, having been the round two Six Nations title decider in all but name for the last two seasons, in some respects the pity is the organisers have shoehorned it on to opening night.

—  Gerry Thornley

Rugby correspondent Gerry Thornley previews tonight’s clash.

[ Margins likely to be minuscule as Ireland meet France in Six Nations showdown ]

We begin with our new podcast. Two episodes old, The Counter Ruck is – if I may say so myself – all the listening required during this year’s Six Nations. On Monday, we heard from Bordeaux attack coach Noel McNamara, the Clare man who coaches just the four members of France’s backline at club level.

On Thursday, I spoke to our man in Marseille, Gerry Thornley, who gave a pitchside analysis of where the game will be won and lost for Ireland.

Gerry Thornley in Marseille ahead of France vs Ireland

Listen | 22:22

Happy Sixmas to all!

Whether it’s “to all a good night” remains to be seen as Ireland take on France with the underdog tag draped around their neck.

It’s Peter O’Mahony’s first game as Ireland’s full-time captain. Jack Crowley’s first start at 10 in the post-Johnny Sexton era. Joe McCarthy’s first Six Nations game having manhandled his way to a starting berth. It’s France’s first game in how long without Monsieur Antoine Dupont.

There is intrigue aplenty as two countries with shared World Cup trauma line up in a rematch of the final that never was last November, the match-up that so many wanted.

Nathan Johns here to tell you what’s what as the action unfolds in Marseille. Kick-off is at 8pm but until then, we’ll be building things up with preview content. Stay tuned for analysis, interviews, podcasts and video from our team of writers.