France vs Ireland LIVE: Six Nations rugby result and final score as Melvyn Jaminet seals thrilling victory
France 30-24 Ireland: Follow latest reaction from Stade de France as Les Blues ended the visitors’ unbeaten run in a Six Nations thriller
Follow live reaction as France defeated Ireland in a thrilling Six Nations match in Paris. Antoine Dupont scored the opening try within two minutes as the hosts made a dream start, before Mack Hansen stole the ball from a high kick as Ireland struck back.
Melvyn Jaminet kicked France into a commanding lead at half-time only for Ireland respond thanks to quickfire scores from Josh van der Flier and Jamison Gibson-Park.
Cyril Baille put France back in control and while Joey Carbery cut the lead to three points thanks to a late penalty, Jaminet sealed the win at the death to end Ireland’s unbeaten run and put the hosts in control of the Six Nations.
It leaves France at the top of the table and with the only unbeaten record after Wales defeated Scotland in Cardiff earlier in the day. England can join Ireland, Wales and Scotland on one win with a victory tomorrow in Rome.
Follow all the reaction from the Stade de France blow:
Until tomorrow...
That just about does us for our LIVE coverage of an enthralling day of Six Nations action. Does this tournament ever fail to deliver?
We’ll have a load more reaction to Wales and France’s wins tonight and over the next few days, as well as how Scotland will look to bounce back having had their title hopes punctured.
Tomorrow’s business is the clash of the winless sides in Rome - Italy will be hoping to follow the lead of their Under-20s, who knocked off England’s best age-group players on Friday night. Can Eddie Jones’ side get their tournament up and running after the disappointment of Murrayfield? Do join us to find out, but until then, thank you for your company, and farewell!
Ireland see winning run ended as France triumph in thrilling Six Nations clash
Antoine Dupont’s try just 67 seconds in set the tone for a breath-taking encounter.
How the table sits
Well that was a breathless day of Six Nations action, which leaves the table looking like this:
Irish standouts
That’ll sting a little for Ireland - they were right amongst things in the second half and given the strength of the maul for their second score they may rue not looking for the corner when they narrowed the French lead to three inside the final ten minutes.
They are far from out of the tournament, of course, and Joey Carbery went very well in place of Johnny Sexton against some ferocious French linespeed. The pack stood up strongly in that second half - Tadhg Beirne had an excellent evening, and Caelan Doris and Josh van der Flier as workrate warriors too.
A word for Dan Sheehan, as well. The 23-year-old was pressed into early action after Ronan Kelleher’s injury but was brilliant as a carrier and defender in 55 excellent minutes. He’s a player of outstanding potential.
France 30-24 Ireland
France had loaded up their bench to provide exactly that sort of physical impact in the final quarter. The French sides of old might have continued to slide after that Irish fightback but the injection on 55 minutes of a new tight five was crucial. Demba Bamba and Jean Baptiste-Gros, two young props who were driving forces of a very strong French side at Under-20 level, both made massive contributions, as did Romain Taofifenua and Thibaud Flament.
That was probably Melvyn Jaminet’s Six Nations coming out party. Brilliant from the tee, outstanding with the boot in open play and rock solid under the high ball. Antoine Dupont outstanding, too, obviously.
Gregory Alldritt hails the impact of the French bench
“To have the stadium full like this, it is always a great moment. We knew we would need a lot of support to beat Ireland and we had a magnificent crowd today.
“Really physical game. Honestly, it was a win made with 23 players. All the guys coming off the bench were awesome today. It was the whole team today.
“This tournament is the best tournament in the world. Every weekend is a really tough game. We have a huge, huge game away in Scotland in two weeks so we will take it step-by-step and not think about a Grand Slam.”
F/T: France 30-24 Ireland
An extraordinary contest played at incredible intensity throughout, and in the end it is France who keep their Grand Slam hopes alive. A courageous fightback from Ireland, who looked early in the second half to be ceding their winning run and crumbling to the French might, but were able to draw back within a point with two quick-fire scores.
The game really could have swung either way, but that is a huge win for this French side, who close out a massive, tight game and now look very much Six Nations favourites.
FULL TIME: FRANCE 30-24 IRELAND
France 30-24 Ireland, 79 minutes
Ireland have the ball! They get up in the air and tap back the restart.
Jack Carty is on at fly-half, and has the ball. That’s ambitious at this juncture - a long, floated pass, and it drifts forward...and is knocked on too! France have it back with less than a minute to run.
Kicked down to Andrew Conway, who sends one for the heavens and chases after it. His prayer is not answered. France tap the ball back their way. That might be that...
PENALTY! FRANCE 30-24 Ireland (Melvyn Jaminet penalty, 78 minutes)
Six points. Two minutes. Down to the wire.
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