France will end the second round of the Six Nations as the only team still in with a chance of winning a Grand Slam after they edged Ireland 30-24 in a terrific contest on Saturday.
Andy Farrell's men came up short at the Stade de France despite a memorable performance without the injured Johnny Sexton, not least because of the manner in which Mack Hansen scored his first Test try.
Wales enjoyed better fortune at the Principality Stadium and clinched their first win of this year's tournament after stand-in skipper Dan Biggar led them to a 20-17 victory over Scotland.
Those results have precipitated major change in this year's Six Nations standings, and Mirror Sport runs through some of the key talking points to emerge from Saturday's hard-fought results.
1. World Cup winners-in-waiting?
Despite the early signs suggesting Ireland would be subject to a one-sided wrangling in Paris, Farrell's side hit France back to produce what will surely be looked back upon as one of, if not the game of the tournament.
The general quality on display at the Stade de France was indicative of two teams who each beat New Zealand in the autumn, building momentum at just the right time ahead of next year's Rugby World Cup.
Les Bleus will of course be under pressure to compete for the Webb Ellis Trophy as hosts of the tournament, though their clash left little doubt as to who the best two Test teams in Europe are at present.
Antoine Dupont's first-minute try proved a sign of things to come, but Ireland showed fantastic fortitude to come back and could well have won in Paris on another day.
2. If not now, Scotland, then when?
Following last week's deserved Calcutta Cup win over England, Scotland had an almost unnerving amount of confidence running in their favour—and it ultimately proved misplaced.
Without doing Wales too much of a disservice, the injury-ravaged Cardiff hosts failed to set the Principality Stadium alight but did manage to keep Scotland's danger men relatively quiet.
Wayne Pivac's side seemed in for it when Darcy Graham scored the game's opening try, but that proved a rare highlight while Duhan van der Merwe carried for just 37 metres on the other wing.
Scotland have built for nearly five years under Gregor Townsend are much improved in that time, but this was another chance gone begging to win their opening two Six Nations games for the very first time.
3. There's life after Johnny Sexton
Sexton suffering a hamstring strain three days prior to facing France in Paris is about as nightmarish as news gets for an Irish rugby fan, all but crushing Six Nations spirits just as they'd taken flight.
But Joey Carbery's maiden Six Nations start brought a great deal of hope with it, too, as the Munster fly-half showed he can indeed be the heir apparent—as long as he stays fit.
The 26-year-old made all his kicks (three conversions and one penalty) and completed all but one of his 11 tackle attempts—joint-most among Ireland's backs—to prove he's well able for the grandest stages.
There's every chance Sexton—who will be 38 at next year's World Cup—would still start for Farrell if both were fit, though Irish rugby can breathe a sigh of relief that Carbery is finally fit for the role.
4. Wales must wrap Biggar in cotton wool
Speaking of fly-halves who are seemingly crucial to their Test team's success, Wales appear to have reached a point in which Dan Biggar is similarly essential to everything Wales do at the moment.
On the same day he won his 100th Test cap (97 for Wales, three for the British and Irish Lions ), Biggar proved crucial to Wales' success and kicked 15 of their 20 points against Scotland.
Arguably his best moment—aside from a match-winning drop goal—was refusing to come off until he had drilled a 79th-minute penalty deep into Scotland's 22' for a line-out, despite clearly being injured for a large chunk of the game.
There are many in Wales who believe Sheedy, Gareth Anscombe or forgotten Cardiff fly-half Jarrod Evans could be Wales' best option at 10, but if Pivac believes in Biggar, his condition is crucial building towards France 2023.
5. Watch out, Mack Hansen's about
Blink and you might have missed it, but Mack Hansen's first score in Ireland colours will go down as one of the most memorable at this tournament.
Melvyn Jaminet was one of France's star performers as he kicked two-thirds of their points from the tee, though he was left blushing for his part in Hansen's score.
Les Bleus' defence coach, Shaun Edwards, will have been particularly livid with his side's failure to secure ball from kick-off, allowing Canberra-born star to sail in unopposed.
The Connacht star found his way onto Ireland's left wing by virtue of James Lowe's injury just prior to this tournament, though the Leinster man may have a job taking his jersey back following Hansen's start to Test life.
