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.
3 hrs ago
7:23PM
Here’s how Ireland have been named to line out
15. Jamie Osborne
14. Tommy O’Brien
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Jeremy Loughman
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Thomas Clarkson
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Cian Prendergast
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher
17. Michael Milne
18. Finlay Bealham
19. James Ryan
20. Jack Conan
21. Nick Timoney
22. Craig Casey
23. Jack Crowley
3 hrs ago
7:24PM
And here’s the France team
15. Thomas Ramos (Toulouse)
14. Theo Attissogbe (Pau)
13. Nicolas Depoortere (Bordeaux-Begles)
12. Yoram Moefana (Bordeaux-Begles)
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux-Begles)
10. Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux-Begles)
9. Antoine Dupont (Toulouse – captain)
1. Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon)
2. Julien Marchand (Toulouse)
3. Dorian Aldegheri (Toulouse)
4. Charles Ollivon (Toulon)
5. Mickael Guillard (Lyon)
6. Francois Cros (Toulouse)
7. Oscar Jegou (La Rochelle)
8. Anthony Jelonch (Toulouse)
Replacements:
16. Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse)
17. Rodrigue Neti (Toulouse)
18. Regis Montagne (Clermont)
19. Hugo Auradou (Pau)
20. Emmanuel Meafou (Toulouse)
21. Lenni Nouchi (Montpellier)
22. Baptiste Serin (Toulon)
23. Kalvin Gourgues (Toulouse)
3 hrs ago
7:33PM
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
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.
2 hrs 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.
2 hrs 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.
2 hrs ago
8:17PM
5 mins: France 0-0 Ireland
Ireland 50:22. Jamie Osborne with a perfect kick there.
2 hrs 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.
2 hrs 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.
2 hrs 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.
2 hrs 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.
TRY! France 7-0 Ireland (Louis Bielle-Biarrey ’12)
2 hrs 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.
Ramos adds the conversion.
2 hrs 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.
2 hrs 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.
2 hrs ago
8:33PM
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.
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.
2 hrs 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.
2 hrs 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.
2 hrs ago
8:45PM
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.
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?
1 hr ago
9:05PM
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.
TRY! France 29-0 Ireland (Louis Bielle-Biarrey ’47)
1 hr ago
9:19PM
50 mins: France 29-0 Ireland
France are simply picking up from where they left off. Beautiful piece of play from Ramos who keeps the ball alive with a volley to put Bielle-Biarrey through for his second of the night. And that’s the bonus point as Ramos converts.
1 hr ago
9:21PM
51 mins: France 29-0 Ireland
Ireland changes: James Ryan, Nick Timoney, Jack Conan and Jack Crowley are come in for Joe McCarthy, Josh Van der Flier, Cian Prendergast, and Jacob Stockdale.
Meanwhile, France made 50 metres like it was nothing in one swift movement led by Ramos and Nicolas Depoortere.
Ireland work a few phases and Gibson-Park opts to kick again. But it’s another disappointing outcome for Ireland who have not had any luck in the air tonight.
1 hr ago
9:24PM
54 mins: France 29-0 Ireland
Prendergast pass intercepted and Ireland are in trouble again.
1 hr ago
9:25PM
56 mins: France 29-0 Ireland
They survive this time and win the ball back. They were going to get the scrum anyway, but it’s just another error against the visitors.
1 hr ago
9:27PM
57 mins: France 29-0 Ireland
Timoney pounces on a loose pass and Ireland have the ball back. What can they do here?
1 hr ago
9:28PM
58 mins: France 29-0 Ireland
Ireland penalty inside the France five-metre line!
That’s a ray of light for Ireland as Timoney gets in under the posts and Prendergast adds the extras.
Dupont was then penalised for a deliberate knock-on but no yellow card for him. Anyway, Prendergast gets Ireland down to the France corner with a brilliant kick.
Prendergast puts it up and Garry Ringrose does his absolute best to get there. But Ramos is in control and makes the fetch.
This is much, much better from Ireland. Is there still time?
1 hr ago
9:43PM
69 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
Great kick from Dupont from out the back of the scrum to push Ireland back.
1 hr ago
9:44PM
70 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
Penalty advantage to Ireland who work through the phases. It ends with a chip from Prendergast that doesn’t quite work. He’ll go back for the penalty.
1 hr ago
9:44PM
70 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
The lineout comes to Doris at the back. They’re looking good here.
1 hr ago
9:45PM
70 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
Inside the five-metre line. They’re so close here!
1 hr ago
9:47PM
72 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
The ball spills out. A France player throws it to Ronan Kelleher who dots it down but the referee instantly calls for a TMO.
1 hr ago
9:48PM
73 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
It looks like Doris is going to be penalised for a knock-on. Let’s see what the decision is.
1 hr ago
9:50PM
73 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
And France get the decision!
That could have been a huge moment there but no joy.
59 mins ago
9:52PM
76 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
Ireland get pushed way back inside their own five-metre line. They end up over the try line but they successfully hold up Depoortere.
57 mins ago
9:54PM
77 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
Ireland have a lineout in their own corner. They were some brief confusion as to whether they were going to check it but the decision remains and Ireland get the ball moving again and get the clearance.
55 mins ago
9:55PM
78 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
Jalibert gets the kick away and into touch in an inviting position. James Ryan comes in with a late tackle and is surrounded by some France players.
It’s not being reviewed though and play continues.
Andy Farrell come away from Paris empty-handed and completely outplayed. There was a brief fightback when Nick Timoney and Michael Milne got in for second-half tries. But they were unable to build on that momentum.
France were full value for their bonus-point win and have launched their title defence in emphatic style. Louis Bielle-Barrey, Matthieu Jalibert, Charles Ollivon, Théo Attissogbe all went over while Ramos nailed four of his five conversions.
We hope you enjoyed the coverage, even if the result wasn’t what we wanted. Before you go, have a read of Murray Kinsella’s match report live from Paris here. And we’ll have much more for you this evening and tomorrow as we try to make sense of that dreadful evening.
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As it happened: Ireland fall well short in 36-14 Six Nations defeat to France
Six Nations 2026, here we go!
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.
Here’s how Ireland have been named to line out
Replacements:
And here’s the France team
Replacements:
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
How do you see this one going this evening?
Poll Results:
Warming Up
The teams are getting ready to head out to the pitch now. The stadium looks amazing.
That was a powerful rendition of Ireland’s Call!
Kick-Off! France v 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.
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.
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.
5 mins: France 0-0 Ireland
Ireland 50:22. Jamie Osborne with a perfect kick there.
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.
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.
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.
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.
TRY! France 7-0 Ireland (Louis Bielle-Biarrey ’12)
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.
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.
19 mins: France 7-0 Ireland
Ireland are under severe pressure here as the attack closes in on their five-metre line.
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.
TRY! France 12-0 Ireland (Matthieu Jalibert ’22)
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.
25 mins: France 12-0 Ireland
27 mins: France 15-0 Ireland
Ramos Penalty!
France extend their lead again.
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.
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.
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.
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.
TRY! France 22-0 Ireland (Charles Ollivon ’33)
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.
Half-Time! France 22-0 Ireland
France 22-0 Ireland
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
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.
Second Half! France 22-0 Ireland
41 mins: France 22-0 Ireland
France get us back up and running for the second half.
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.
43 mins: France 22-0 Ireland
Ramos almost gets through and France still have it. They’re knocking on the door again.
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.
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.
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.
TRY! France 29-0 Ireland (Louis Bielle-Biarrey ’47)
50 mins: France 29-0 Ireland
France are simply picking up from where they left off. Beautiful piece of play from Ramos who keeps the ball alive with a volley to put Bielle-Biarrey through for his second of the night. And that’s the bonus point as Ramos converts.
51 mins: France 29-0 Ireland
Ireland changes: James Ryan, Nick Timoney, Jack Conan and Jack Crowley are come in for Joe McCarthy, Josh Van der Flier, Cian Prendergast, and Jacob Stockdale.
Meanwhile, France made 50 metres like it was nothing in one swift movement led by Ramos and Nicolas Depoortere.
51 mins: France 29-0 Ireland
54 mins: France 29-0 Ireland
Ireland work a few phases and Gibson-Park opts to kick again. But it’s another disappointing outcome for Ireland who have not had any luck in the air tonight.
54 mins: France 29-0 Ireland
Prendergast pass intercepted and Ireland are in trouble again.
56 mins: France 29-0 Ireland
They survive this time and win the ball back. They were going to get the scrum anyway, but it’s just another error against the visitors.
57 mins: France 29-0 Ireland
Timoney pounces on a loose pass and Ireland have the ball back. What can they do here?
58 mins: France 29-0 Ireland
Ireland penalty inside the France five-metre line!
TRY! France 29-7 Ireland (Nick Timoney ’58)
61 mins: France 29-7 Ireland
That’s a ray of light for Ireland as Timoney gets in under the posts and Prendergast adds the extras.
Dupont was then penalised for a deliberate knock-on but no yellow card for him. Anyway, Prendergast gets Ireland down to the France corner with a brilliant kick.
61 mins: France 29-14 Ireland (Michael Milne ’61)
64 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
Brilliant from Milne to complete that maul with Ireland’s second try. He came on along with Finlay Bealham to replace Loughman and Clarkson.
65 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
67 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
SO CLOSE!
Prendergast puts it up and Garry Ringrose does his absolute best to get there. But Ramos is in control and makes the fetch.
This is much, much better from Ireland. Is there still time?
69 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
Great kick from Dupont from out the back of the scrum to push Ireland back.
70 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
Penalty advantage to Ireland who work through the phases. It ends with a chip from Prendergast that doesn’t quite work. He’ll go back for the penalty.
70 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
The lineout comes to Doris at the back. They’re looking good here.
70 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
Inside the five-metre line. They’re so close here!
72 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
The ball spills out. A France player throws it to Ronan Kelleher who dots it down but the referee instantly calls for a TMO.
73 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
It looks like Doris is going to be penalised for a knock-on. Let’s see what the decision is.
73 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
And France get the decision!
That could have been a huge moment there but no joy.
76 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
Ireland get pushed way back inside their own five-metre line. They end up over the try line but they successfully hold up Depoortere.
77 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
Ireland have a lineout in their own corner. They were some brief confusion as to whether they were going to check it but the decision remains and Ireland get the ball moving again and get the clearance.
78 mins: France 29-14 Ireland
Jalibert gets the kick away and into touch in an inviting position. James Ryan comes in with a late tackle and is surrounded by some France players.
It’s not being reviewed though and play continues.
TRY! France 36-14 Ireland (Theo Attissogbe ’80)
Full-Time! France 36-14 Ireland
France 36-14 Ireland
And that’s that!
Andy Farrell come away from Paris empty-handed and completely outplayed. There was a brief fightback when Nick Timoney and Michael Milne got in for second-half tries. But they were unable to build on that momentum.
France were full value for their bonus-point win and have launched their title defence in emphatic style. Louis Bielle-Barrey, Matthieu Jalibert, Charles Ollivon, Théo Attissogbe all went over while Ramos nailed four of his five conversions.
Well, that’s all from us, folks!
We hope you enjoyed the coverage, even if the result wasn’t what we wanted. Before you go, have a read of Murray Kinsella’s match report live from Paris here. And we’ll have much more for you this evening and tomorrow as we try to make sense of that dreadful evening.
Until next time, good luck!
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
2026 six nations 90s ireland rugby players Six Nations Minute-by-Minute Rugby France