There is no question now over the best team in world rugby after Ireland surged to victory on a special Aviva Stadium afternoon.
With their record breaking run of 14 wins and status as defending Six Nations champions, France came to Dublin looking to leapfrog Andy Farrell's side in the world rankings.
Yet Despite losing Johnny Sexton in the 48th minute, despite losing Tadhg Beirne two minutes before that and having started without four more injured first-choice picks, Ireland were fully deserving of this victory - their 13th in a row at home.
Scoring four tries to Les Bleus' one, Ireland added a second winning bonus point to last week's success in Cardiff and are the fully fledged Grand Slam favourites now after picking up their first triumph over France in four attempts.
This was a game of two halves - there were stoppages galore in the first half but it still whizzed by in a blaze of entertaining, riotous rugby played out in front of crowd that included a large and vocal French section.
It was bizarre stuff at times with James Lowe hitting the spidercam with a first minute clearance setting the tone.
The second half was more of a chess match, but it didn't matter as Sexton's replacement Ross Byrne brilliantly steered Ireland home and Caelan Doris picked up the man of the match award.
Overall, Ireland were the dominant force on an emotional day for Conor Murray, who decided to play after his father suffered a serious injury in a road traffic accident on Tuesday.
Garry Ringrose's crucial fourth try eight minutes from time allowed the home fans to breathe again - and then party.
First blood went to France in the fourth minute when Beirne was pinged for not rolling away in the tackle and Thomas Ramos fired over the penalty.
Ireland struck for the first try five minutes later. Sexton on the loop got the home side moving and Lowe's kick down the line was touched by Ramos, and the under-pressure full-back conceded a lineout on his 5m line.
France defended the maul superbly but Ireland still manufactured a chance for Andrew Porter, who was held up over the try line by Cyril Baille.
From their kick-0ff, however, Les Bleus were forced on the retreat and Finlay Bealham's brilliant disguised pass to Hugo Keenan - a move taken from Leinster's play-book in their Champions Cup semi-final win over Clermont in 2012 - put the full-back in the clear.
Sexton's conversion made it 7-3 but Ramos cut the deficit to one point after 15 minutes when Peter O'Mahony conceded a penalty after Josh van der Flier had done well to break up a Gael Fickou-Antoine Dupont break.
Worse was to come for Ireland as France as Mack Hansen's chip and chase was pounced on by the French backs.
When Sexton couldn't catch Gregory Alldritt, flyer Damian Penaud took over to deliver his side's first try and Ramos added the extras.
But Ireland came back firing and, when Hansen got a block on a Ramos clearance, Murray and Sexton moved the ball quickly from right to left.
Ringrose launched a long pass to Lowe who, somehow, managed to touch down right in the corner while in mid air as he was being tackled by Penaud.
It was a spectacular effort and one rewarded by Barnes after a long consultation with the TMO.
Sexton didn't make the tough conversion but the tide turned further when all 22 stone of Uini Atonio caught Rob Herring high in the tackle in the 26th minute.
Barnes decided the shoulder to head challenge deserved a yellow card, not a red, and while Atonio returned 10 minutes later, Herring's replacement Rónan Kelleher stayed on as the Ulsterman failed his HIA.
When play resumed, Ireland had a scrum on France's 5m line and after Stuart McCloskey made a strong carry and Murray came close to scoring, Andrew Porter muscled over for a try on his 50th Ireland appearance.
Sexton's conversion made it 19-13 before he shipped a big tackle on the touchline from Penaud as Ireland hunted for another try, only for a James Ryan neck roll to halt their momentum close to the France lin.
Once again, Ramos pegged that advantage back with a penalty, this time from just inside Ireland's half when Murray failed to roll away.
The half ended with the hosts coming close to a fourth try before the break but it wasn't to be and both sides were glad of the breather.
It took a while for the contest to warm up again when they returned as both sides reverted to a conservative kicking as they felt each other out.
Ramos dropped a 46th minute penalty short but Ireland lost their skipper two minutes later and now it was all hands to the pump.
A big turnover by Stuart McCloskey on Penaud helped in that regard as Les Bleus tried to turn the screw as did a relieving banana kick by Lowe that was backed up by Keenan's clever 50:22.
From the lineout, Sexton's replacement Byrne almost nipped in to score, and Porter also tried to barge over without success but an Ireland penalty was welcome in the circumstances and Byrne slotted it.
Ramos responded once more in the 62nd minute, this time rewarding some enterprising attacking with a drop-goal to make it 25-9.
The expectation was that the visitors, with their experience and heavyweight bench would kick on, but instead it was Ireland who practically camped out in their half for the remainder.
The hosts were held up over the try-line on two more occasions but, with Byrne pulling the strings, stayed patient and bossed possession until the moment.
Ireland went through the phases before the outstanding Doris somehow kept the move alive in the 72nd minute, then held off Fickou and found Ringrose on the left flank.
The centre evaded Romain Taofifenua and raced for the line for the game-winning score, with Byrne adding the two-point cherry on top.
Magical stuff.
READ NEXT:
Amy Broadhurst and Lisa O'Rourke won't defend World crowns as IABA takes stand
'They all look up to him' - how James Ryan has become a leader for Ireland
Vera Pauw says it's a 'shame' Ireland won't get Aviva Stadium World Cup send off
Rory McIlroy mocks LIV rebels Patrick Reed and Phil Mickelson in Netflix series
James McClean plays for Wigan hours after birth of baby daughter as wife Erin hilariously reacts
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
