The Daily Star Ireland
France Ends Ireland’s Grand Slam Hopes with a Dominant Performance
Ireland’s aspirations for a Grand Slam in the Guinness Six Nations were shattered by a clinical and powerful French side, who now appear poised to claim the championship. Despite losing star scrum-half Antoine Dupont just 26 minutes into the match with a suspected knee injury, France delivered a relentless third-quarter onslaught, scoring 24 points in just 16 minutes. The final scoreline of 42-27 reflected their dominance, as they outpaced and overpowered Ireland, particularly through the brilliance of Louis Bielle-Biarrey and the physicality of their ball carriers.
Ireland’s hopes flickered briefly when Dan Sheehan crossed the line for a try just after halftime, adding to two penalties from Sam Prendergast. However, that momentum was quickly extinguished by a resurgent French side, with Bielle-Biarrey securing two tries. James Lowe was a late withdrawal from the Irish squad due to a back spasm, but his absence alone did not account for the gulf between the two teams. The defining moment came in the closing stages when Thomas Ramos intercepted a pass from Prendergast, setting up Damian Penaud for France’s fifth and final try.
Discipline and Missed Opportunities Prove Costly
Ireland’s discipline issues played a significant role in their downfall. Their first yellow card allowed France to capitalize immediately, with Bielle-Biarrey crossing for the opening try while Joe McCarthy was in the sin-bin for a reckless off-the-ball challenge on Ramos. Later in the match, France added two more tries during a period when Calvin Nash was also serving time in the bin.
The occasion should have been a celebratory one for Irish stalwarts Cian Healy, Peter O’Mahony, and Conor Murray, who were playing their final home Tests. Instead, it became one of Ireland’s heaviest home defeats in recent memory. A late try from Healy provided a brief moment of consolation, with Jack Conan also touching down on the final play of the game.
With one match remaining, Ireland’s chances of retaining the Six Nations title are now slim. They will travel to Rome in the final round, needing an improbable set of results to reclaim their crown. Meanwhile, France can secure the championship with a victory over Scotland in Paris.
Early Promise Fades as France Takes Control
Ireland began the match with energy and aggression, immediately putting pressure on France’s defense. Within seconds, Nash claimed a high ball to launch an early attack, and France’s discipline wavered, conceding three penalties in the opening six minutes. Despite gaining an early foothold in the 22, Ireland struggled to convert their dominance into points. Doris was held up over the line, and Prendergast struck the post with a penalty attempt from 40 meters.
France slowly grew into the game, with Ireland forced to rely on key turnovers from Doris to keep the visitors from gaining momentum. However, a crucial error on 19 minutes shifted the balance. After a clearance from Osborne, Bielle-Biarrey launched a chip-and-chase down the sideline. McCarthy’s rash challenge on Ramos resulted in a yellow card, and France wasted no time punishing the mistake. From the resulting penalty, Dupont’s quick distribution found Bielle-Biarrey, who finished smoothly to put France ahead.
Ireland managed to hold out for the remainder of the sin-bin period without conceding further points. However, as the match wore on, France’s confidence grew. A penalty from Prendergast briefly narrowed the gap, but almost immediately after the restart, Andrew Porter was penalized for obstruction, allowing Ramos to restore France’s lead.
From that point onward, France dictated the tempo of the game, delivering a performance that not only ended Ireland’s Grand Slam hopes but also made them strong favorites to claim the Six Nations title.
