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:
France 10-7 Ireland, 9 minutes
We are averaging about a point every half-a-minute so far, and Ireland show ambition after a French knock-on in the air, Garry Ringrose jiving, juking and jumping.
Gael Fickou rushes up to try and prevent Andrew Porter distributing at the lie, and the centre is rightly pinged for a deliberate knock-on after referee Angus Gardner spies a replay on the big screen.
TRY! France 10-7 IRELAND (Mack Hansen try, 7 minutes)
A bolt out of the blue - Mack Hansen takes the restart and is over!
My, oh my, what a start to this game! Joey Carbery’s kick hangs invitingly like a blown kiss in the Paris evening air, and Hansen extends his hand aloft to snatch it from between bemused would-be French catchers and score.
Joey Carbery converts superbly.
PENALTY! FRANCE 10-0 Ireland (Melvyn Jaminet penalty, 6 minutes)
A breathless start, but Melvyn Jaminet takes a moment to suck in some oxygen, composing himself before extending the French lead.
France 7-0 Ireland, 5 minutes
Ireland try to reset but their forwards are blowing having been forced to retreat some 70 metres at speed. Like so many ex-sevens players, Gabin Villiere is excellent over the ball, and the French wing jackals expertly to win his side a kickable penalty on the left.
France 7-0 Ireland, 4 minutes
Here come Ireland! They turn over French ball inside the 22 and can start to paint their first attacking pictures, Bundee Aki weaving and then stinging up the middle. Joey Carbery jumps past a tackler, but is eventually felled.
A loose pass, and the ball bounces from the hands of an Irish forward. Antoine Dupont has it and France kick long.
TRY! FRANCE 7-0 Ireland (Antoine Dupont try, 2 minutes)
What a start for France! Little more than 60 seconds on the clock and Antoine Dupont races over!
It’s brilliant attacking play. Thee two props are at the heart of it, Cyril Baille pulling back a pass at the line for Romain Ntamack, who allows all 24 stones and change of Uini Atonio a chance to deliver some punishment on the carry from midfield.
Baille’s clearout ensures the ball is quick, and Dupont draws the close-in defence. Romain Ntamack fades to the outside on his scrum-half’s pass, swatting aside a tackler and getting his arms free to lift an offload back towards the French captain, and Dupont makes unimpeded passage over the try line.
Melvyn Jaminet converts, and that really is the perfect beginning for the hosts.
France 0-0 Ireland, 1 minute
France in royal blue, Ireland in green, with white shorts, as you would expect.
Intent from France! Antoine Dupont throws a lineout quickly and Yoram Moefana then leaves a defender in a different postcode with a shimmy.
KICK OFF!
Romain Ntamack hoists into the Paris evening and France against Ireland has begun!
Here we go!
With the whistle this afternoon will be Angus Gardner of Australia; Wales’ Ben Whitehouse is the TMO.
France are going to kick things off. Ireland’s lifters and leapers ready themselves to receive.
The ball, as it was at the Stade de France last week, will be brought to Romain Ntamack by a little electric car:
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