As Fela Kuti says in the ad for that Four Days in November documentary that’ll air after this game: let’s start what we came into the room to do.

We’re less than an hour away from Ireland’s third game of the campaign with the French in town.

We’ll be building up to kick off between now and then and then going minute by minute.

How do you see this one going?

Joe Schmidt has been interviewed by RTE.  The Ireland head coach says the weather — which he describes as inclement — will be a factor.

Ronan O’Gara says Guy Noves has been using the ‘they’re laughing at you’ motivational tool within his dressing room. The Les Bleus coach reckons the ‘Irish people’ don’t rate French rugby these days.

Ireland's Rory Best and France's Guilhem Guirado at the coin toss. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

And now the anthems!

And here we go with the French to get us going.

Frantic first few minutes with Ireland with possession. Ringrose looks very lively and there’s been a few high kicks already, as Eddie O’Sullivan predicted there would be earlier this week in his chat with Murray.

Zebo looks to have taken a bang to the leg and is feeling the effects. Remains to be seen how bad it is but he’s continuing for now.

Ireland 0 France 3, Lopez penalty

Lovely step from Serin sparks a French attack but he’s on his own really.

We’re playing advantage; Spedding tries to chip over the top but we end up coming back for the kick and Lopez makes no mistake.

Fierce pressure says Ralph Keys.

France have a scrum five metres form the Irish line.

Spedding launches a monster  kick downfield, Zebo tries to keep it in play but concedes the scrum. And they get another one…

NO TRY! France 3 Ireland 0

The pressure paid off… we though.  Lamerat touches down but the TMO spotted a forward pass. France still have the advantage though and Lopez will take on the kick.

Ireland 0 France 6, Lopez penalty 

Perhaps they should have taken that on, but Lopez’s accurate kick doubles the visitors’ lead. And it’s well deserved so far, isn’t it?

France are pinged for foul play – big Devin Toner was getting lifted out of it in the maul. Sexton goes for the corner.

Ireland knock it forward from the line out and France get the put in at the scrum.

Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

Tadhg Furlong had his bell rung, as is the old school euphemism, in a clash of heads as he carried the ball but he’s playing away.

Ireland at last make something happen.

Ringrose finds Sexton with a pass on the loop, he kicks into the corner but Earls is just beaten to it beyond the try line.

Nigel Owens gives the respective packs a talking to about the scrum. You need to cut out the penalties, bind properly and work harder is the message.

The home side have a shove on in the meantime.

Ireland 6 France 6, Conor Sexton

The pressure tells in the end with the Munster man sniping over the line after a scrum. Badly needed.

Sexton converts and Ireland lead.

There’s some serious hits going in here. Ireland holding firm after that try.

Sexton has a chance to stretch Ireland’s lead with a kickable penalty after a high tackle on Ringrose.

… but Sexton takes a quick one! Earls almost goes over but is stopped.

Ireland are awarded another penalty and Sexton backs it up by kicking to the corner.

Huge Irish pressure. Sexton kicks to the corner again,

Rory Best restarts and Ireland try to drive the French back but the visitors punch the air as they turn it over.  That’s massive.

We’re into garbage time and Ireland are threatening the French line. Big pressure.

Ireland 7 France 6

All that pressure comes to nothing in the end and the players head for the dressingrooms. There’s nothing in this.

Hard to hear what the panel are saying about the Ireland’d first-half decision-making over Daire O’Brien’s socks.

Some first-half highlights?

Here’s that Murray try:

And Sexton loop:

And we’re up and running again. How do you see this playing out?

Spedding knocks on and Ireland come away with the ball and advantage. CJ Stander chips it on but as he does the ref says the advantage is over and the Munster star is left red faced. Ireland pressure here though.

Ireland 10 France 6, Sexton penalty

Penalty for Ireland!  Serin is pinged for holding Conor Murray and Sexton knocks it over.

Ireland 13 France 6, Sexton drop goal 

Jonny Sexton had the cop on to realise he had the advantage and took a drop at goal. It’s a great effort.

The Feench look to be wilting in the rain here now.

50-odd minutes and the crowd are singing the Fields.

Ireland 16 France 6, Sexton penalty

Ireland awarded a penalty after a scrum and the Ireland No 10 stretches the lead to 10 points.

Ireland are going through the phases and trying to find a way through a well-set French defensive line. Massive collisions.

Jonny Sexton’s back on his feet, in the meantime, having been down for treatment.

Unreal. McGrath knocks it on yards from the French line and they try to turn defense into attack.

Spedding gets on his bike and is ultimately unfairly held up. They use the advantage and throw the ball around before it’s eventually knocked on. Great passage of play.

Healy and Henderson are on for McGrath and Ryan.

Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

Atonio is pinged for an apparent reverse suplex effort on O’Brien, I think, who is fine. It’s been messy and no doubt draining for the past while.

Peter O’Mahony is on in place of O’Brien actually, who’s invited off for a concussion test.

Skipper Rory Best too is off for Niall Scannell.

Jackson on for Sexton too. France are going through the phases but it’s all a little half-hearted at this stage.

Ireland 16 France 9, Lopez penalty 

It’s a one-score game. France knock over a penalty to set up a grandstand last seven minutes or so.

Furlong makes way for John Ryan, meanwhile.

Ireland 19 France 9, Jackson penalty 

Paddy Jackson makes a good first impression. He kicks a penalty to make it a two-score once again and we’re into the final five minutes.

Who’s your man of the match?

RTE have awarded it to Conor Murray, which is hard to argue with isn’t it?

He’s been called ashore now, to be replaced by Marmion.

We’re into added time now…

Ireland come through a huge test and win 19-9.