Eire started life within the post-Johnny Sexton period in supreme trend as a terrific Six Nations efficiency noticed them to a bonus-point 38-17 victory over France in Marseille.
Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, lock Tadhg Beirne, wing Calvin Nash, hooker Dan Sheehan and substitute hooker Ronan Kelleher scored tries on the Stade Velodrome in opposition to a French facet who noticed lock Paul Willemse proven a pink card through the first half for 2 yellows – each excessive tackles.
Eire fly-half Jack Crowley, 24, began nervously however grew in confidence and into the competition, kicking one penalty and 5 beautiful conversions, whereas additionally producing a stunning attempt help for Beirne in a report factors whole and profitable margin in France for Eire.
Eire – Tries: Gibson-Park (16), Beirne (30), Nash (46), Sheehan (62), Kelleher (78). Cons: Crowley (18, 31, 47, 63, 79). Pens: Crowley (7).
France – Tries: Penaud (40), Gabrillagues (53). ConsL Ramos (42, 53). Pens: Ramos (27).
Damian Penaud and lock Paul Gabrillagues scored France’s tries, who continued to battle onerous and by no means appeared actually out of it – Eire’s Peter O’Mahony was sin-binned within the second half with the hole seven factors – however they in the end needed to swallow a house defeat.
For a lot of within the sport, France vs Eire was the Rugby World Cup last that by no means was again in October’s Paris showpiece, and though France carved out the primary threatening assault, Eire had been far the faster to settle into their groove.
Crowley edged Eire into an early lead with a close-range penalty, and after Willemse collected his first yellow for a excessive hit to the top of Andrew Porter, the guests notched the opening attempt.
Bundee Aki did magnificently for it, charging ahead and liberating his fingers to dump for Gibson-Park to dash in.
An enormous attempt probability was spurned by Eire after Beirne charged down Antoine Dupont’s substitute Maxime Lucu to win a turnover simply after a France maul – Crowley and Aki enjoying slim when a large ball would have resulted in a sure attempt down the left.
Inside moments, Crowley missed poorly off the tee for the prospect to go 13-0, with Thomas Ramos then putting on the different after a scrum penalty.
Maybe illustrating a measure of his mentality, Crowley disregarded a tricky jiffy to play Beirne in for Eire’s second attempt through an exquisitely disguised short-ball.
Crowley then transformed for 17-3, with Willemse – solely not too long ago again on – then proven his second yellow, which was upgraded to a straight pink following a bunker overview, after connecting with the top of Caelan Doris in Eire’s first carry following the restart.
Again-to-back penalties on the ruck in opposition to Eire invited France ahead, nonetheless, and although Beirne stole a lineout, a expensive scrum penalty in opposition to the top ultimately resulted in Penaud diving over as French persistence in kicking to the nook was rewarded seconds earlier than the break.
After Ramos uncharacteristically dragged a penalty broad, Eire scored by Nash within the nook after they sprung the play broad and Robbie Henshaw had stepped, accelerated and offloaded brilliantly for Doris to seek out the championship debutant.
Crowley produced a sensational conversion off the touchline for 24-10, however France had been again inside a rating seven minutes later, after an extended TMO overview noticed Gabrillagues awarded a try to O’Mahony sin-binned for a cynical act in making an attempt to disclaim him.
Eire composed themselves to get again up the opposite finish, although, and after the courageous resolution to kick to the nook as an alternative of for factors, Sheehan flew over the try-line from a maul for his or her fourth.
There remained time for one final attempt, and it was nearly equivalent to Sheehan’s as Kelleher managed possession behind a maul which romped over.
Fittingly, the boot of Crowley was the ultimate scoring act through the extras.
Farrell: A particular Irish victory | O’Mahony: I am proud – the younger gamers an enormous half
Eire head coach Andy Farrell to ITV Sport…
“Any victory here, on a Friday night to start the Six Nations off is always going to be a hard task but I think coming away with a bonus-point win is special.
“I used to be happy with the efficiency as a result of we saved on enjoying for the complete 80 minutes and we acquired what we deserved ultimately.
“When you play against 14 men, the tendency is sometimes to shut up shop but we kept on playing.
“These are guys which have been in across the squad for the previous couple of years so we had little doubt they’re able to play.
“Some of them their form guarantees they are going to be in. But it is a 23-man game.”
Eire captain O’Mahony to ITV Sport…
“It is hard to sum up. It was a serious Test match.
“I’m very happy with the lads for the management of the sport. We had been cool, composed, may need been a bit frantic within the final 10 minutes right down to 14, however we stayed to the plan the entire time.
“We didn’t get carried away with positive and negative moments and I thought it was a good start.
“I feel an enormous chunk of the efficiency was the younger fellas, Calvin Nash, Jack Crowley, large Joe [McCarthy]. Some large, large performances from guys getting a chance.”
What’s next?
Ireland are in action next Sunday, February 11 for the second round of the championship, hosting Italy at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin (3pm kick-off GMT).
Ireland’s Six Nations 2024 fixtures
Friday, February 2 | France 17-38 Ireland | 8pm |
Sunday, February 11 | Ireland vs Italy | 3pm |
Saturday, February 24 | Ireland vs Wales | 2.15pm |
Saturday, March 9 | England vs Ireland | 4.45pm |
Saturday, March 16 | Ireland vs Scotland | 4.45pm |
France travel to face Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh next Saturday, February 10 (2.15pm kick-off GMT), in Round 2 of the Six Nations.
France’s Six Nations 2024 fixtures
Friday, February 2 | France 17-38 Ireland | 8pm |
Saturday, February 10 | Scotland vs France | 2.15pm |
Sunday, February 25 | France vs Italy | 3pm |
Sunday, March 10 | Wales vs France | 3pm |
Saturday, March 16 | France vs England | 8pm |
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