One redeeming feature of Ireland’s first-half performance is their set-piece has been solid for the most part from both the scrum and the lineout.
57 mins ago
9:00PM
France 22-0 Ireland
It’s hard to find the words after that.
France are completely dominating this game. Three tries is probably less than they deserve for extent of their superiority. And they’re not the only numbers that will disappoint Andy Farrell’s team.
France had 62% of possession in the first half, and 68% territory. Ireland have conceded four penalties, one free kick and have missed 19 tackles.
Ireland have rarely seen the inside of France’s five-metre line, although Prendergast and Van der Flier did have half-chances.
What can Ireland do to get back into this contest?
Another nervy moment there as Dupont tries to pop the ball off Bielle-Biarrey who wanted to go for another wander down the line.
Luckily for Ireland, the pass goes out into touch.
1 hr ago
8:43PM
31 mins: France 15-0 Ireland
SO CLOSE!
Osborne with a clever pass to Stuart McCloskey. Prendergast then comes through and tries to chip the ball up and chases it down but Ramos gets there first and France get the penalty for Prendergast tackling a player without the ball.
1 hr ago
8:42PM
30 mins: France 15-0 Ireland
Another good lineout. O’Brien does well to push the box kick back and Ireland are building the phases now.
1 hr ago
8:41PM
29 mins: France 15-0 Ireland
O’Brien misreads the flight of the ball. It then comes to Osborne who kicks it long. France then find touch, and Ireland will have another chance to start from a set-piece again.
So, Prendergast gets in to intercept the ball but goes back over his own line and his pass to Osborne invites France pressure.
France scrum coming up.
1 hr ago
8:32PM
19 mins: France 7-0 Ireland
Ireland are under severe pressure here as the attack closes in on their five-metre line.
1 hr ago
8:31PM
19 mins: France 7-0 Ireland
Great tackle from Gibson-Park as Ireland are being stretched across the line. It’s a France lineout and then a penalty. There could be more danger here.
1 hr ago
8:27PM
14 mins: France 7-0 Ireland
Well, that’s not what we wanted.
It started with a volley from Prendergast which stayed in play. France went on the attack and Bielle-Biarrey slipped through an attempted challenge from Gibson-Park, Prendergast and Stockdale to run in for the first try of the 2026 Six Nations.
TRY! France 7-0 Ireland (Louis Bielle-Biarrey ’12)
1 hr ago
8:22PM
11 mins: France 0-0 Ireland
Free-kick awarded to France for a Bielle-Biarrey mark. Ireland go back into the house for the lineout, and it’s another clean throw from Dan Sheehan.
Park puts it up for Stockdale who gets up for the contest but France retain possession.
1 hr ago
8:21PM
9 mins: France 0-0 Ireland
Prendergast with a superb cross-field kick to O’Brien in space. He tries to chase his own kick but credit to Thomas Ramos, who races across to snuff out the attack.
1 hr ago
8:20PM
8 mins: France 0-0 Ireland
Scrum holds up well as Dupont releases the ball to Matthieu Jalibert for the clearance kick.
Gibson-Park puts it up high for Jacob Stockdale to chase but France deal with the danger and send it back to Osborne.
1 hr ago
8:18PM
6 mins: France 0-0 Ireland
Ireland complete the line-out successfully but Josh van der Flier knocks it on and France will put in for the scrum.
Lively starts from both sides.
1 hr ago
8:17PM
5 mins: France 0-0 Ireland
Ireland 50:22. Jamie Osborne with a perfect kick there.
1 hr ago
8:16PM
4 mins: France 0-0 Ireland
Ireland get the ball out from the scrum and Jamison Gibson-Park boots it away. France attack again but Ireland manage to turn it over and Prendergast sends off an attempt at a 50:22 that doesn’t quite come off.
1 hr ago
8:15PM
3 mins: France 0-0 Ireland
CLOSE CALL!
France looked so dangerous there. And it’s the usual suspect Louis Bielle-Biarrey creates the chance with a lovely dink kick to create the space. There’s a scramble of bodies rushing toward the ball which spills out over the end line due to a knock-on from Charles Ollivon.
That’s a huge let off for Ireland.
1 hr ago
8:12PM
1 min: France 0-0 Ireland
Sam Prendergast gets us off the mark and Antoine Dupont kicks the ball the into touch for Ireland’s first go at the set-piece.
We’re in the Stade de France this evening as Andy Farrell’s side get their championship underway against the reigning champions. As well as chasing a win this evening, this is also an opportunity to earn some redemption after a dismal display against the French at the Aviva Stadium last year.
In case you’re still wondering why this is on a Thursday evening, it’s due to the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics happening tomorrow. Competition organisers and broadcasters felt a change was needed to give this fixture maximum exposure.
Both sides have been hit with injuries and have made their adjustments to prepare for this competition opener. We’ll be bringing you through it all this evening, with live updates here. We also have our usual crew of Ciarán Kennedy and Murray Kinsella on the ground for us in Paris. They have been providing some excellent coverage in the build-up to this one, and will be bringing you all the post-match content you need for the debrief.
Kick-off is at 8.10pm. Team line-ups coming shortly so do stay with us.
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LIVE: France v Ireland, Six Nations
45 mins: France 22-0 Ireland
Ireland nearly lose the ball in the lineout. They lose some metres from it but manage to keep it.
Another Gibson-Park fails to result in green hands getting on the ball. The kicking game just doesn’t seem to be working.
45 mins: France 22-0 Ireland
Good scrum from Ireland. And then they win the penalty. More little wins that they need if they want to turn things around in the second half.
Prendergast brings them further down the line from the kick.
44 mins: France 22-0 Ireland
France take the lineout and win it cleanly, but Ireland hold them up in the maul and they get the decision.
It’s probably their first win of the night and the players celebrate it loudly.
43 mins: France 22-0 Ireland
Ramos almost gets through and France still have it. They’re knocking on the door again.
41 mins: France 22-0 Ireland
Osborne gets his first kick of the second half but fails to find touch. France have a penalty advantage for an Irish offside.
41 mins: France 22-0 Ireland
France get us back up and running for the second half.
Second Half! France 22-0 Ireland
France 22-0 Ireland
One redeeming feature of Ireland’s first-half performance is their set-piece has been solid for the most part from both the scrum and the lineout.
France 22-0 Ireland
It’s hard to find the words after that.
France are completely dominating this game. Three tries is probably less than they deserve for extent of their superiority. And they’re not the only numbers that will disappoint Andy Farrell’s team.
France had 62% of possession in the first half, and 68% territory. Ireland have conceded four penalties, one free kick and have missed 19 tackles.
Ireland have rarely seen the inside of France’s five-metre line, although Prendergast and Van der Flier did have half-chances.
What can Ireland do to get back into this contest?
France 22-0 Ireland
Half-Time! France 22-0 Ireland
38 mins: France 22-0 Ireland
Osborne gets swallowed up after running across to collect a loose ball. Ireland keep the ball and Gibson-Park gets the ball away.
France take the lineout and form a maul.
TRY! France 22-0 Ireland (Charles Ollivon ’33)
32 mins: France 15-0 Ireland
Another nervy moment there as Dupont tries to pop the ball off Bielle-Biarrey who wanted to go for another wander down the line.
Luckily for Ireland, the pass goes out into touch.
31 mins: France 15-0 Ireland
SO CLOSE!
Osborne with a clever pass to Stuart McCloskey. Prendergast then comes through and tries to chip the ball up and chases it down but Ramos gets there first and France get the penalty for Prendergast tackling a player without the ball.
30 mins: France 15-0 Ireland
Another good lineout. O’Brien does well to push the box kick back and Ireland are building the phases now.
29 mins: France 15-0 Ireland
O’Brien misreads the flight of the ball. It then comes to Osborne who kicks it long. France then find touch, and Ireland will have another chance to start from a set-piece again.
27 mins: France 15-0 Ireland
Ramos Penalty!
France extend their lead again.
25 mins: France 12-0 Ireland
25 mins: France 12-0 Ireland
The second try of the night comes straight from the scrum as Dupont feeds Jalibert who bursts through without a challenge.
Ramos misses the conversion. But already, Ireland are really struggling here.
TRY! France 12-0 Ireland (Matthieu Jalibert ’22)
20 mins: France 7-0 Ireland
Messy!
So, Prendergast gets in to intercept the ball but goes back over his own line and his pass to Osborne invites France pressure.
France scrum coming up.
19 mins: France 7-0 Ireland
Ireland are under severe pressure here as the attack closes in on their five-metre line.
19 mins: France 7-0 Ireland
Great tackle from Gibson-Park as Ireland are being stretched across the line. It’s a France lineout and then a penalty. There could be more danger here.
14 mins: France 7-0 Ireland
Well, that’s not what we wanted.
It started with a volley from Prendergast which stayed in play. France went on the attack and Bielle-Biarrey slipped through an attempted challenge from Gibson-Park, Prendergast and Stockdale to run in for the first try of the 2026 Six Nations.
Ramos adds the conversion.
TRY! France 7-0 Ireland (Louis Bielle-Biarrey ’12)
11 mins: France 0-0 Ireland
Free-kick awarded to France for a Bielle-Biarrey mark. Ireland go back into the house for the lineout, and it’s another clean throw from Dan Sheehan.
Park puts it up for Stockdale who gets up for the contest but France retain possession.
9 mins: France 0-0 Ireland
Prendergast with a superb cross-field kick to O’Brien in space. He tries to chase his own kick but credit to Thomas Ramos, who races across to snuff out the attack.
8 mins: France 0-0 Ireland
Scrum holds up well as Dupont releases the ball to Matthieu Jalibert for the clearance kick.
Gibson-Park puts it up high for Jacob Stockdale to chase but France deal with the danger and send it back to Osborne.
6 mins: France 0-0 Ireland
Ireland complete the line-out successfully but Josh van der Flier knocks it on and France will put in for the scrum.
Lively starts from both sides.
5 mins: France 0-0 Ireland
Ireland 50:22. Jamie Osborne with a perfect kick there.
4 mins: France 0-0 Ireland
Ireland get the ball out from the scrum and Jamison Gibson-Park boots it away. France attack again but Ireland manage to turn it over and Prendergast sends off an attempt at a 50:22 that doesn’t quite come off.
3 mins: France 0-0 Ireland
CLOSE CALL!
France looked so dangerous there. And it’s the usual suspect Louis Bielle-Biarrey creates the chance with a lovely dink kick to create the space. There’s a scramble of bodies rushing toward the ball which spills out over the end line due to a knock-on from Charles Ollivon.
That’s a huge let off for Ireland.
1 min: France 0-0 Ireland
Sam Prendergast gets us off the mark and Antoine Dupont kicks the ball the into touch for Ireland’s first go at the set-piece.
Kick-Off! France v Ireland
That was a powerful rendition of Ireland’s Call!
The teams are getting ready to head out to the pitch now. The stadium looks amazing.
Warming Up
How do you see this one going this evening?
Poll Results:
We have a STACKED list of pre-match reading here for you. Here’s a flavour of what’s been on The42 over the last few days
And here’s the France team
Replacements:
Here’s how Ireland have been named to line out
Replacements:
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