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:
Ireland 0-0 France, 1 minute
A perfect drill from Ireland, taking the kick off smartly, carrying firmly and then utilising James Lowe’s big raking left footed punt to clear...
But what’s happened there? It’s hit the spidercam wire! The ball tumbles down on the edge of the Irish 22 to perplexed looks from the French forwards, Lowe’s punt halted prematurely. Ireland will have the scrum feed after a quirky start.
Here we go
France will kick things off, clad in the richest of blues. Antoine Dupont warms the legs with a weave and a sprint, and the arms with a beating of his pecs.
The Irish players huddle and ready for receipt. Number 1 vs Number 2, a potential Six Nations decider - here we go!
Match Officials
An Anglo-Australasian coalition controlling proceedings today.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (ENG) ARs: Matthew Carley (ENG) & Jordan Way (AUS) TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZL)
Anthems
About 40 chartered flights of French origin landed in Dublin today, a measure of the weight of support that this fabulous side has behind them, and the travelling fans make themselves heard with an emphatic roaring of “La Marseillaise”. Punchy.
Hearty renditions of “Amhrán na bhFiann” and “Ireland’s Call”, too, though perhaps a little apprehension on the faces of some of the Irish players? This feels a more important contest for the hosts to win - they are the top-ranked side in the world but are yet to win a Six Nations title under Andy Farrell.
Pre-match formalities
Michael D Higgins, the Irish president, takes a pause for the brass band’s salute as he wanders out to meet the two teams and officials. Johnny Sexton introduces him to the Irish players one by one, Higgins pausing for a warm word to Conor Murray after that worrying family news earlier in the week - it is good to see Murray able to be involved.
Ireland vs France
Ireland, oddly, have a trio of half-centurions today - congratulations to James Ryan, Andrew Porter and Dave Kilcoyne, who lead the two sides out of the tunnel to take a great ovation from the home crowd. The three seem to enjoy having some company.
The rest of the 23s follow along soon afterwards with the Aviva Stadium already jumping.
Ireland vs France
Kick off approaching rather quickly now. For the first time in men’s championship history, it’s number one versus number two in the world, France on a 14-match unbeaten run looking to end Ireland’s own home winning streak at 12 games. Six Nations days don’t get any bigger.
And France defence coach Shaun Edwards is a second Wiganer talking into the ITV microphone
“We are under no illusions of the size of the task. We are on a good run at the moment, but we weren’t too happy with our form last week, so hopefully we can pick it up.
“It’s been pretty intense, put it that way! We were quite sharp here yesterday at the stadium. We can’t complain about the preparation - game on!”
Andy Farrell speaks to ITV
”Two good teams going at it, two teams that will find out more about themselves after the final whistle,” the Ireland head coach says.
“We definitely need better. THere is good honesty amongst the group about how we are going to achieve that. You’ve got to take your opportunities and you have got to want to see those opportunities, be yourself and attack the game.
“Being ourselves as a group, being as together as we can be and playing the game as it comes in front of us.”
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