Ireland 27-42 France: No Dupont, no problem as France take charge of Six Nations
DUBLIN, Ireland — France have finally smashed through their ceiling. Just one Six Nations title in five years was a miserly return for this group, but they should add another championship crown next weekend after they put in a generational performance to hammer Ireland 42-27 in Dublin.
This was a colossal, thrilling Test match, but it was an exercise in the brutal splendour of French rugby. No wonder at the full-time whistle the French celebrations were muted. The players were exhausted, but this was one of the great Six Nations performances.
This match will be dissected for days, if not months and years. There were so many pivotal moments to pick through: the late withdrawal of Ireland wing James Lowe, France’s remarkable defensive stand in the first 15 minutes, to Antoine Dupont‘s exit with a knee injury in the 29th minute and then the way Irish discipline slipped, how the TMO calls went against them, and the manner in which France secured the try bonus point with a forward in the centres as they somehow hit a new level of intensive rugby. And that’s just the half of it. Phew.
This was as much a triumph for the French system and their incredible ability to mix beast and beauty as it was for their head coach Fabien Galthie. He made the bold decision to go with a 7-1 split on the bench between forwards and backs and the risk paid off.
Ireland simply couldn’t cope with the power of the French forwards, and then the wonderful sleights of hands in the backs as Damian Penaud and the wondrous Louis Bielle-Biarrey tore up this corner of Dublin. In the final few minutes, with France having scored 34 unanswered points before a late Irish flourish, you could hear La Marseillaise ringing out at the Aviva. Ireland’s thunderous start seemed like it was from a different match, or championship, or even decade.
The fans were split pre-match on how this would go. For every pessimistic Irish or French supporter, there were those on the flipside believing their respective stars were aligning. But to a fan, regardless of whether they were wearing green or blue, they were united in predicting it would be a thriller.
It was perfectly set — Ireland were three from three, a Grand Slam still on the cards as they looked for a historic third Six Nations title on the bounce. France had hammered Wales and Italy, but fell to England in round 2 after a display of bizarre profligacy.
A France win meant they’d be in the driving seat heading into the final weekend such was their hefty points difference. No wonder they were giving out free stress-balls outside the Aviva. “Here, take one, it’s going to be one of those days,” said the chap handing out these miniature green foam relievers. He was right.
Ireland were clearly emotionally charged. Before the lengthy meet and greet with dignitaries, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray and Cian Healy led the team out on what was their final match for Ireland at the Aviva Stadium ahead of impending retirement. They have 371 caps between them, five Six Nations titles to their names, and an astonishing legacy in the green shirt.
After the trio got their rightful acclaim, Caelan Doris, Jack Conan and Finlay Bealham followed, all on their 50th cap. Nostalgia was interspersing with the sizeable task ahead of the group as they sought to overcome France and keep their bid for a Grand Slam and Six Nations history alive.
And they threw everything at France. After 16 minutes, France had made 81 tackles, Ireland had put in just four. France’s discipline was disintegrating. It was complete dominance from the hosts; wave after wave of green pummelled away at France’s line. But the Gallic wall stood resolute and unbowed, and Ireland had just bruises to show for all their endeavour and territory. They simply weren’t winning collisions; France’s policy of putting two men into the tackle was working, and they left a couple of big hits on Sam Prendergast for good measure.
France had a try disallowed for a knock-on in the build-up (it was a beautiful effort, with Damian Penaud and Antoine Dupont linking up to go 80 metres) but after Joe McCarthy was sin-binned for a stupid yellow card in the 19th minute for pulling back Thomas Ramos, France forced their way over for the first try, with Louis Bielle-Biarrey getting his sixth of the tournament.
But in the 28th minute, the entire balance of the match shifted. A minute or so after Dupont had put in a wonderful back-of-hand, no-look pass, he found himself in the middle of a ruck, and a prone Tadhg Beirne fell on Dupont’s knee. Game over, Dupont distraught.
Other than robbing the match of the best player in the world, it meant France’s sole backs option on the bench was called upon. Their 7-1 split among the replacements was always a risk, and when Pierre-Louis Barassi was injured in the 47th minute, they ended up with Oscar Jegou in the centres. But this didn’t derail France. If anything, it invigorated them.
Maxime Lucu was brilliant as Dupont’s foil, and Jegou proved to be an adequate outside centre. All the while Bielle-Biarrey and Penaud charged around Dublin like newborn lambs intent on ruining the Guinness-fuelled fans’ day.
Between the 47th minute and 77th minute, France scored those 34 unanswered points, all without Dupont. Within that spell were match-shifting decisions.
Ireland will lament two calls: first Calvin Nash’s yellow card in the 47th minute, and Angus Gardner deeming Thibaud Flament’s clear-out on Peter O’Mahony to be legal, which permitted Paul Boudehent’s try in the process.
That proved to be the pivotal moment. From there the wondrous Bielle-Biarrey scored his second in the 50th minute, as he fashioned his own score by chipping from the touchline in-field and dotting down. He’d already shown deft footwork in the first half as camped in his own 22, he opted for the kick-pass to Penaud to clear. It was bold, brash and nerveless. Makeshift centre Jegou crossed on the hour mark, Thomas Ramos kept the scoreboard ticking over and Penaud scored an intercept effort with five minutes left.
Ireland grabbed a late pair of consolation tries through Healy and Jack Conan. But the game was already long gone by that point. The result is not the fairytale ending Healy, Murray and O’Mahony deserved.
“It’s not how we envisaged the weekend going, a special day for the three lads,” Caelan Doris said afterwards. “We wanted our best performance of the campaign today. It’s gutting.”
Doris was monumental and is surely the British & Irish Lions captain, but that will come as little consolation. Prendergast did well, but this was a performance below what we’ve come to expect from Ireland. They were too telegraphed.
But for France, this triumph brings life, and renewed trust in the whole team around the group. The highlights will immortalise Bielle-Biarrey’s brilliance, Penaud’s class and the power of the pack and bench. Francois Cros put in a performance of relentless brilliance in the back-row, while Yoram Moefana was outstanding in the centres. They have incredible ability throughout but are the rugby equivalent of a Swiss Army Knife. Just when you think you’ve blunted one cutting edge, another pops up.
But this should be remembered for the Test where France produced a performance which matched the sum of their parts. Galthie’s gambles paid off. His little verbal bas in the week materialised. And now they’re a match away from another Six Nations title. Scotland awaits, and a win in Paris for Galthie’s side will see the championship return to France.
play1:05France make light work of Ireland in Dublin
France demolish Ireland 42-27 in Dublin putting them in pole position for the Six Nations Championship.
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Source: espn.com