Ireland have beaten France 32-19 in a pulsating encounter as the Six Nations clash between the two top-ranked nations in the world more than lived up to the billing.
The two nations traded scores in a breath-taking first half that saw France's Uini Atonio sinbinned as well as France's Damian Penaud and Ireland's James Lowe scoring sublime tries, with Ireland going in at the break 22-16 up. With the pace of the game starting to take its toll in the second half - as Ireland lost Tadhg Beirne and captain Johnny Sexton to injury - the level of scoring slowed down. Considering how the opening half had played out that felt inevitable.
But the volume inside the Aviva Stadium ramped up again as Gary Ringrose secured a bonus point try within the final 10 minutes to ensure Ireland's Grand Slam hopes were well and truly on. Their impressive victory secured their 13th win in a row at home - their best run ever - and they ended France's own 14-game unbeaten run in the process.
Ireland welcomed the reigning Grand Slam champions to Dublin looking to put themselves in the driving seat for Six Nations title glory. Despite an unconvincing bonus-point win over Italy in round one, head coach Fabien Galthie stuck with an unchanged starting XV and they were first on the scoring board as Thomas Ramos slotted home a fine kick following an Irish penalty.
But Ireland hit back in just the eighth minute as Hugo Keenan glided through to claim the first try of the game. Sexton made no mistake with the conversion to make it 7-3, much to the home fans' delight.
France showcased their own talented credentials, as they again responded with another Ramos penalty kick success, before they notched a fantastic try of their own. Penaud was the man to make an outstanding break as he finished a fine move off in style.
What do you do when France score a magnificent try? You respond in kind with one of your own as James Lowe scored marking one of the great finishes you will see in this Six Nations campaign. The winger’s splendid effort was eventually confirmed with the help of a TMO review making sure his foot hadn’t touched down as it went over the touch line.
With the scores at 12-13 following the rip-roaring opening 20 minutes, the tone of the match changed as France were hit with a yellow card following a massive hit from Atonio on Rob Herring. Atonio was perhaps lucky not to face harsher punishment as a result of his high tackle, with Herring having to leave the field for a head injury assessment, which he subsequently failed.
Ireland quickly made their man advantage pay with Andrew Porter going over to score on his 50th cap, with the resulting conversion making it 19-13, but Ramos’ kicking remained key as he scored a penalty from distance to reduce the game to a three-point deficit by the time Atonio returned to the field.
All eyes were then quickly on French star Antoine Dupont who executed a quite unbelievable tackle that halted Mack Hansen in his tracks, preventing him from adding a certain Irish try. But Sexton then added another three points for Ireland to end an epic first half of rugby at 22-16.
The bruising nature of the game started to take its toll in the second half as Ireland second row Beirne was forced off injured, before Ireland crucially lost captain Sexton to injury as well nine minutes in.
There then followed 19 minutes without a score - as the match became an attritional affair - before Ireland extended their lead as sub Craig Casey kicked home from a penalty for three more points. Ramos again did some more of his talking with the boot as a drop goal for the visitors reduced the deficit to 25-19.
But the Aviva Stadium roof was truly raised in the final 10 minutes as Ireland went over for a bonus point try courtesy of Ringrose. The resulting conversion from Ross Byrne put the home side up 32-19 to giving them a healthy lead with just a few minutes left on the clock.
France's late efforts were in vain and it was Andy Farrell's Ireland left celebrating as the quest for a Six Nations Grand Slam goes on. This was a match they more than deserved to win.
