Good afternoon and welcome to today’s Liveblog. Ireland have had the edge over France for much of the last decade but signs that the pendulum had swung back in France’s favour were evident last October in Paris, when Les Bleus defeated Andy Farrell’s side with a fair degree of comfort at the Stade de France.
Ireland have since had an indifferent Autumn Nations Cup and got their championship off to a poor start last weekend in Cardiff, losing a game they should have won: Peter O’Mahony’s 14th minute sending off the key moment in that five-point defeat to WALES.
O’Mahony is one of six first-choice players ruled out today with James Ryan, Caelan Doris, Conor Murray, captain Johnny Sexton and Jacob Stockdale also absent. Given that this is the first time in a decade that Ireland have started a Six Nations game without one of Murray or Sexton, it is clearly a big ask of their replacements, Jamison Gibson-Park and Billy Burns to deliver. The French start favourites.
So stick the kettle on, put the feet up and stay with us for the afternoon.
Here are your teams for today’s encounter.
Ireland:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Keith Earls
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Billy Burns
9. Jamison Gibson Park
1. Cian Healy
2. Rob Herring
3. Andrew Porter
4. Tadhg Beirne
5. Iain Henderson (captain)
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Josh van der Flier
8. CJ Stander
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher
17. Ed Byrne
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Ultan Dillane
20. Will Connors
21. Craig Casey
22. Ross Byrne
23. Jordan Larmour
France:
15. Brice Dulin
14. Damien Penaud
13. Arthur Vincent
12. Gaël Fickou
11. Gabin Villière
10. Matthieu Jalibert
9. Antoine Dupont
1. Cyril Baille
2. Julien Marchand
3. Mohamed Haouas
4. Bernard Le Roux
5. Paul Willemse
6. Anthony Jelonch
7. Charles Ollivon (captain)
8. Grégory Alldritt
Replacements:
16. Pierre Bourgarit
17. Hassane Kolingar
18. Uini Atonio
19. Romain Taofifénua
20. Dylan Cretin
21. Baptiste Serin
22. Anthony Bouthier
23. Teddy Thomas
Referee: Luke Pearce [RFU].
Stuck for something to do before kick-off?
Well we’ve some great reading material for you. Murray Kinsella did this fantastic piece on the RTÉ panel of Hook, Pope and McGurk. Murray’s match preview is also here.
In these situations, it is also best to know your enemy – which is why Ciaran Kennedy’s profile of the majestic, Antoine Dupont, is worth your time.
Some of our finest meteorologists have sneaked into the Aviva today.
Breezy, mild and brightening at the Aviva... but plenty of sticky spray required after morning rain #IREvFRA @SixNationsRugby pic.twitter.com/p26zgrNAGv
— Peter O'Reilly (@petersuntimes) February 14, 2021
Ruaidhri O’Connor of the Irish Independent is always dependable for a great old weather tweet.
It's weirdly warm in the Aviva pic.twitter.com/XOW4wOzKT3
— Rúaidhrí O'Connor (@RuaidhriOC) February 14, 2021
Our very own weather expert, Murray Kinsella, had this to say.
Weather is improving now. No rain and calm enough at the moment. pic.twitter.com/4GImrGaNli
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) February 14, 2021
Nice work here from our colleagues in Virgin Media Sport.
Thank you for all the videos sent in during the week.
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 14, 2021
Only one thing left to say,
C'MON IRELAND! 🟢#IREvFRA #GuinnessSixNations #VMTVRugby pic.twitter.com/ifeWjPJllU
The Ireland coach, Andy Farrell, has been speaking to Virgin Media.
Confident?
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 14, 2021
"I am actually. They're in good spirits. We're at home. We know who we're playing for."
Andy Farrell speaking to @sineadkissane pre-match at the Aviva.#IREvFRA #GuinnessSixNations #VMTVRugby pic.twitter.com/HCSw4K8Zeb
The teams are out on the pitch. Billy Burns has found his range in the warm-up.
1 minute Fine block by Iain Henderson. Billy Burns subsequently finds a good touch before Rhys Ruddock steals a line-out. Good start by Ireland.
2 minutes Decent intent by Ireland – Gibson-Park nearly caught out, though, Gabin Villière unable to hold onto his attempted intercept.
4 minutes A lot of aimless kicking into the air – bit like the Jack Charlton era – James Lowe puts a bit of manners on things with a fine kick to touch.
7 minutes - Beirne steals a French line-out. Ireland have possession and Burns goes to the skies; Garry Ringrose comes up with the ball and Ireland have decent field position. Henshaw busily gets involved and then Hugo Keenan knocks on just when it looks as if Ireland might stretch the French out wide.
9 minutes Penalty to Ireland. Brilliant line-out from Herring and Beirne. Burns clears his lines.
10 minutes - After an initial take by Rhys Ruddock, Ireland cough up possession cheaply and concede a penalty.
10 minutes Matthieu Jalibert misses his attempt at goal; the joys of the Aviva wind
12 minutes It has been an impressive enough opening 12 minutes from Ireland; they’re competing at the breakdown; winning their own ball at the line-out and now, they have won a scrum penalty. Burns kicks to touch. Ireland, yet again, have the ball in the France half.
14 minutes Henderson takes the line out; Van der Flier, Henderson, Van der Flier again, Stander and Ruddock carry. Ball goes wide, Lowe makes ground, Henderson carries again, then Lowe, Stander, and just when Ireland needed to stay patient, Gael Fickou forces the turnover. Shaun Edwards’ defensive system is working well for France.
17 minutes Great clearance kick from James Lowe; Burns, yet again, hits the skies but Dulin is keeping his nerve under the high ball.
However, penalty has been awarded to Ireland after a French player has gone of his feet Kick is easily within Burns’ range. Awful effort from Burns
20 minutes PENALTY IRELAND – Ireland 3-0 France
Some decent phase-building play from Ireland; Burns passing the ball crisply, and Ireland have won another penalty, again within his range. Ireland are finding gaps in the wider channels – Hugo Keenan running some good lines, Bernard LeRoux penalised for not rolling away. Burns makes the kick this time. A deserved reward for Ireland’s play so far.
22 minutes Ireland have disrupted the French line-out to win a scrum. Their set-piece has been really good, thus far, with three steals on the French throws and also a scrum penalty awarded to Ireland. They have been the better team.
24 minutes - Bernard LeRoux has been yellow carded for a clear trip on Keith Earls as he chased Gibson-Park’s kick.
24 minutes This is key period now for Ireland. After working so hard with a numerical disadvantage last week, they now have the chance to profit from being up a man, albeit for just 10 minutes. It looks as if they have. Burns kicks to touch; line out won, maul is strong; ball goes wide and Hugo Keenan’s pass gives Lowe a bit of space to run into.
He touches the ball down. Is his foot in touch?
The TMO investigates and says it has. Line out to France.
25 minutes – Iain Henderson nearly intercepts the French line out – they are lucky to escape. Ireland deserve to be further ahead than the 3-0 lead they currently have.
27 minutes Ireland 3-0 France
Two great kicks – first from Keenan, which he subsequently collected before Gibson-Park chips ahead. France under pressure inside their 22. Dupont clears.
29 minutes TRY FRANCE Ireland 3-7 France
Charles Ollivon gets it; Dupont’s fingerprints were all over it, though. The scrum half was involved three times in the build-up; Gibson-Park defended poorly and Ireland pay the price as the France captain continues his try-scoring form.
Matthieu Jalibert addes the conversion.
32 minutes Matthieu Jalibert produces a brilliant clearance from inside his own 22 after yet more Irish pressure resulted in a kick going into France territory. So far, Ireland have been the better team but the scoreboard tells a different story.
34 minutes Le Roux returns from the sinbin. France have scored seven points in his absence. Ringrose, meanwhile, is continuing to threaten.
36 minutes Billy Burns loses the ball; France go on a charge before they too lose the ball; James Lowe clears. Ireland fortunate not to fall further behind.
37 minutes France have made 82 tackles thus far, Ireland just 37 – a reflection of how much possession Ireland have had. Time to state the obvious, it is not reflected on the scoreboard, however.
38 minutes – PENALTY FRANCE – Ireland 3-10 France
Cian Healy penalised for not rolling away.
Matthieu Jalibert lines up the kick from in front of the posts, just 33 metres out. He nails it.
HALF-TIME Ireland 3-10 France
Ireland have played reasonably well in that opening half, disrupting the French lineout, dominating possession and yet they are seven points down, a result of the French scrambling to prevent James Lowe converting his opportunity and Ireland’s defensive system coming unstuck when Les Bleus crossed for the game’s only try, courtesy of their captain, Ollivon.
Ireland have it all to do in the second half.
While the teams are taking a breather, we’ve got a great giveaway for you to enter:
This is the France try.
Lethal running from France.
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 14, 2021
Easy finish for Charles Ollivon. #IREvFRA #GuinnessSixNations #VMTVRugby pic.twitter.com/blMZutpzE1
Billy Burns has already gone off for a HIA. Now it looks as if Iain Henderson and Cian Healy will also have to be assessed. Ultan Dillane and Ed Byrne ready to step into the fray. What a 90 seconds it has been for Ireland at the start of the second half.
42 minutes So Dillane and Byrne are in; Garry Ringrose has taken over the captaincy. Ireland have a put-in at the scrum, just sinde their half. Ringrose tackled and the ball goes into touch. Ireland have started the second half poorly.
44 minutes Sexton, the captain, James Ryan – the vice captain, plus Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray and now Iain Henderson are now all missing. Ireland need new leaders.
48 minutes
Good kick from James Lowe gets the ball into the France 22; but prior to that Ireland failed to punch any holes in the Edwards-inspired defence. Things not looking promising whatsover for Ireland at the moment. There are still seven points in it, Ireland 3-10 France
50 minutes – Ireland 3-10 France
Another good steal from Ireland at the French line out – Van der Flier doing the tidying up – but Dupont clears. Ireland now have a 22. They really are struggling to get the momentum they enjoyed in the first half-hour.
53 minutes Sloppy handling, first from Gibson-Park, then from Lowe, results in a France scrum deep inside the Ireland half. Meanwhile, Tadhg Furlong has entered the game, Andrew Porter clocking out for the day.
56 minutes, Ireland 3-15 France
Dupont again heavily involved in the build up to that try; Fickou makes a strong carry, Penoud finishes it off to get his seventh international try, James Lowe again is caught out defensively, and while the conversion is missed, the French lead looks too sizeable for Ireland to catch.
Right we did not see that coming; Ollivon spills the ball, Kelleher seizes possession and shows some blistering speed to burst through to the line. Henderson, Healy have returned to the field as well but with Byrne adding the conversion, Ireland have cut the gap to five points and just minutes after wondering how Ireland will get back into this game, your correspondent’s face is covered in egg.
Ireland 10-15 France
62 minutes Ireland 10-15 France
Some awful kicking from both teams ends with James Lowe kicking downfield and France getting a 22.
63 minutes Ireland have won a penalty. They are playing better now after that sloppy period after half-time.
Great kick from Ross Byrne; just two points in it and a game that looked to have slipped away from Ireland is now in the melting pot. Credit to them for fighting their way back into this. Game on, 14 minutes to go.
Lowe kicks out on the touch. Bad mistake by the winger. France have the lineout inside the Ireland half.
68 minutes Better defending that time from Lowe who pressurises Teddy Thomas into a mistake. Jordan Larmour, meanwhile, has come in for Keith Earls.
69 minutes Ireland 13-15 France
brilliant play from Ireland, Lowe with the initial pressure, results in a turnover but Cian Healy subsequently loses it. Lowe, working tirelessly, covers brilliantly. Ireland still in this game, 11 minutes left in it.
Matthieu Jalibert hits the post, Garry Ringrose tidies up. Ireland breathe a collective sigh of relief.
73 minutes Dillane comes back in after his brief cameo earlier as a blood sub for Iain Henderson. He now replaces Beirne.
74 minutes Initial break from Dupont ends up in a cul de sac. Ireland’s defence is solid, Will Connors penalised for a knock-on. France have a scrum, inside the Ireland 22.
75 minutes Ireland 13-15 France
Great tackle from Will Connors on Dupont leads to a turnover. Ireland have a scrum, still inside their own 22
76 minutes Four minutes left, can Ireland do it? Both sets of players look exhausted. Ireland have a scrum inside their own 22. Lowe clears but does not find touch. Ball back in the Irish half, France have possession again. They are in control.
Nice interchange of passes between Lowe and Gibson-Park. Ireland make some metres but Gibson-Park goes into touch. Two minutes left now.
Dupont is tackled by Connors, Fickou makes a break and gets nowhere, Ireland win a penalty just outside their own 22. A minute is now left.
Henshaw makes ground. Byrne keeps the move going, so too Connors, ball just inside the France half – clock in the red
So another defeat for Ireland, their first at home to France in 10 years and their chances of winning this year’s championship are over.
When they reflect on this game, they will regret their inability to capitalise on their territorial dominance in the first 30 minutes. The line-out functioned well, the scrum was solid but the attack was ponderous. The French defence was exceptional and when they did attack, they looked more dangerous. France look set for a Grand Slam, Ireland for a week of reflection and regret. The team have gone backwards since 2018.
