Ireland vs France LIVE rugby: Six Nations 2023 score and result as Ireland win Dublin thriller
Ireland 32-19 France: The 2023 Six Nations title could well be heading to Dublin after a brilliant win for Andy Farrell’s Ireland
Ireland underlined their status as the world’s No q team as they overwhelmed defending champions France 32-19 in a fantastic Six Nations match that absolutely lived up to its billing, delivering wonderful tries and relentless skill.
In the first-ever Six Nations clash between the world’s top-two ranked nations, a Hugo Keenan try put Ireland ahead but France hit back with a brilliant counter-attack finished off by Damian Penaud.
Ireland regained the lead with an extraordinarily athletic finish by James Lowe and added a third through prop Andrew Porter. France stayed in touch with three Thomas Ramos penalties but trailed 22-16 at half-time after one of the best 40 minutes the competition has seen for years.
The second half was tighter, but Ireland were disciplined in holding France at bay before Garry Ringrose crossed for the fourth try to cap off a superb display and end a run of three successive defeats by the French.
Relive the action from the Six Nations clash below:
PENALTY! Ireland 7-6 FRANCE (Thomas Ramos penalty, 15 minutes)
Thomas Ramos pops through three more. Fabien Galthie adjusts his spectacles as he mutters something to one of his assistants. France will be concerned about the lack of thrust from some of their forward carriers so far but they are looking dangerous out of structure.
Ireland 7-3 France, 14 minutes
This contest is properly fizzing. France are knocked back thrice by the Irish defensive blitz but then threaten to break the hosts right open, Gael Fickou slithering through a hole and offloading deftly for Antoine Dupont.
Dupont looks for another pop as he is tackled, but Irish limbs get in the way. Briefly, it is the home side’s ball, but only due to an act of illegality at the breakdown.
Ireland 7-3 France, 12 minutes
That’s classic Ireland, that, Joe Schmidt’s fingerprints still imprinted in the vinyl of a sweet-sounding, creative record. Gorgeous.
Ireland half charge down a France kick but it bounces favourably for the visitors. Off to work they go on the Irish ten-metre.
TRY! IRELAND 7-3 France (Hugo Keenan try, 10 minutes)
An Irish masterpiece!
Oh, that is a delightful bit of play from Ireland. They set a midfield ruck from the dropout, taking rather hastily by France, but not before Ireland have sketched a rough plan.
Conor Murray pops to Finlay Bealham, who pivots in familiar fashion with Murray looping to ostensibly take a return with Garry Ringrose adding further misdirection.
Instead, Bealham shuffles a pass back towards the ruck, Hugo Keenan arriving from deep to accelerate through a vacant space adjacent. The full back has plenty of support but goes it alone, riding two French tacklers to the line.
Over go the extras - that’s a beauty!
Ireland 0-3 France, 8 minutes
Conor Murray spreads his backs and looks to use them, but Garry Ringrose urges his scrum half to keep things tight, and the forwards oblige with two more close-in punches.
Now wider, Ringrose dummying to a looping runner and getting to within a metre. Andrew Porter...is he there? Held up! Superb work from Antoine Dupont and Cyril Baille, the loosehead beneath his opposite number to prevent Porter scoring as he biffed towards the line.
Goalline dropout. Ireland will have to build again.
Ireland 0-3 France, 7 minutes
Ireland were super efficient early on last week - can they capitalise here? France’s maul defence is sound. To the pick and goes...
Ireland 0-3 France, 6 minutes
That’s less good from the French full back - Ireland will have a lineout five metres out, and the crowd roars their approval.
Ireland work to the edge, James Lowe squeezed towards the touchline but kicking powerfully on. An uncomfortable hop is fumbled backwards by Ramos, who hurls the ball back infield desperately but not before his black left boot had been left marked by the white of the touchline.
PENALTY! Ireland 0-3 FRANCE (Thomas Ramos penalty, 5 minutes)
A touch off-centre to the left, 40 metres out, but a very clean first strike from Thomas Ramos’ right boot. Through it flies with a bit to spare and France take our first lead.
Ireland 0-0 France, 4 minutes
Better from Fickou, better from France - the centre dummies and makes a half-break to the outside, allowing his forwards a chance to get on the rumble with a bit of momentum.
Uini Atonio fixes his eyes for Tadhg Beirne’s chest, the lock riding the behemoth of a prop to the floor, but failing to roll away. He’s penalised - France will get first shot at kicking the scoring off.
Ireland 0-0 France, 3 minutes
Ireland shift to the 13 channel and then clear long, chasing hard to prevent France’s kick return threatening.
Gael Fickou is given a tonking as he tries to carry and then Thibaud Flament rather goes nowhere with his meander to stall France further. Antoine Dupont kicks high, and French hands tap it back to allow the visitors to build from just inside the Ireland half.
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