The Thursday Murder Club, Six Nations edition. France killed off Ireland with a devastating display of attacking rugby to launch their grand-slam quest with a bonus-point victory and send a message of intent for the rest of the championship. For Ireland, this was bordering on a second consecutive humiliation. Ground into dust by South Africa’s scrum in November, they were outclassed for long periods here in Paris, sliced and diced by Les Bleus.
England have aspirations of competing for the Six Nations title at the Stade de France on the final weekend. Watching from their training camp in Bagshot, before tomorrow’s game against Wales, Steve Borthwick now has a very clear idea of the levels that his team must reach if they are to deny France back-to-back titles.
No in-depth investigation is required to conclude how France executed this victory. Behind a dominance of the aerial contests, they played with a pace, physicality and intensity that Ireland could not live with. They carved open Andy Farrell’s men with the precision of a surgeon. It was merciless.
France’s skill level was other-worldly at times as they created space where none should exist. Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored twice, Matthieu Jalibert danced over behind a powerful French scrum and Charles Ollivon was set up for a try by neat handling from his fellow forwards to open a 29-0 lead. They finished with a flourish as Théo Attissogbe scored in the corner with the final play.
Before then, France eased off for 20 minutes and Ireland finally discovered some spirit, averting a full-blown embarrassment by manufacturing a couple of tries from Nick Timoney and Michael Milne, although it was not enough to calm the wrath of Farrell.
“We are very disappointed through something I never thought I would say about this Irish team, with a lack of intent in the first half. If that is lacking you are not going to win, especially here,” he said.
“We lost the battle of the high balls, scraps on the floor, missing tackles. That is the main part of the game. We came off second-best in that regard.
Bielle-Biarrey has plenty of time to salute the home crowd as he scores the opening try of the night
ADAM DAVY/PA
“They were [outstanding] at times in regards to the athletes they’ve got and the power they had and the offloading ability in those types of conditions and it looked like they were playing a different game at one stage.”
There may be a culture of Thursday night rugby in the French club game but heading to the stadium on trains packed with commuters and not an emerald green jersey in sight, it was impossible not to feel like Arthur Dent in The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy. “This must be Thursday,” he said. “I never could get the hang of Thursdays.”
We may have to. This fixture was moved at the request of French broadcasters to avoid a clash with the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics. The Six Nations is in thrall to television like never before; a necessary if occasionally grating compromise of securing free-to-air coverage. And evening matches are preferable to Sunday ones.
The atmosphere was whipped into a fervour by kick-off inside the Stade de France, and with Antoine Dupont back in the team for the first time since he damaged knee ligaments against Ireland last year — in a clear-out described by Fabien Galthié, the coach, as “reprehensible” — France wasted no time in demonstrating how incisive they are in transition and against broken-field defences.
Dupont led the way as France started the Six Nations with an impressive victory
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Galthié had signalled his intent by dropping Damian Penaud, their record tryscorer, for Attissogbe and his aerial prowess. In the first half, France won 11 of the 12 contestable kicks. The Pau wing tapped the first down to Dupont and it fizzed wide to Bielle-Biarrey.
Ollivon could not hold on to the wing’s trademark dink ahead. It was an early let-off from France and it turned attention to Ireland’s grossly under-strength scrum. They were missing their top three loose-head props, plus Tadhg Furlong on the tight-head side, but did a creditable job all evening, especially when under pressure on their own line.
Ireland could not keep out France for long. Sharp handling in a narrow corridor down the left touchline opened the door again for Bielle-Biarrey. The elusive wing was tap-tackled by Sam Prendergast but he sprang back up and skinned Jacob Stockdale on the outside. It was top class, even if there was more than a hint of a forward pass in the build-up. Farrell was bemused that it had not been checked, although he had to acknowledge that refereeing decisions were not the difference on a sobering night.
Ollivon’s try helps France race into a 22-0 lead at the break
ASHLEY WESTERN/COLORSPORT/SHUTTERSTOCK
France’s rugby was quick and physical. Ireland were struggling to match them in both regards. Sam Prendergast saved a try with an intercept on the retreat as Nicolas Depoortère twisted for the line. Play went back for another scrum. Ireland’s back row were under such pressure that Jalibert had a virtual walk-in after Dupont had sprung left from the set piece. Concerns about whether the two creative kingpins could form an effective partnership were assuaged. Both were superb.
After a Thomas Ramos penalty. Ireland were driven backwards by France’s defensive pressure. They kicked for touch but immediately found themselves defending a quick lineout. Jalibert broke Ireland open by chipping ahead, regathering and flicking the ball backwards for four France forwards to carve Ireland open: François Cros to Jean-Baptiste Gros to Mickaël Guillard to his second-row partner, Ollivon, who this time finished smartly.
France continued their dissection after the interval. Dupont found space in behind Ireland with a chip over the top. Ramos got a boot to the ball and directed it wide towards Bielle-Biarrey. The bounce popped up perfectly for the Bordeaux Bègles wing to make it 29-0.
France then sent on a barrage of forwards replacements and life looked bleak for Ireland. This now was a test of character and they did find some fight. With a penalty advantage, Sam Prendergast found Stuart McCloskey and his offload created a try for Timoney. Three minutes later, after Dupont had flirted with a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on, the replacement prop Michael Milne scored from close range.
There was a faint pulse in Ireland heading into the final quarter but France soon snuffed it out, defending resolutely on their own line and then finished how they had begun, with a try.
Scorers: France: Tries L Bielle-Biarrey 2 (12min, 46), M Jalibert (22), C Ollivon (34), T Attissogbe (80). Cons T Ramos 4. Pen Ramos (28). Ireland: Tries N Timoney (59), M Milne (62). Cons S Prendergast 2.
France T Ramos; T Attissogbe, N Depoortère, Y Moefana (K Gourgues 50), L Bielle-Biarrey; M Jalibert, A Dupont (B Serin 74); J-B Gros (R Neti 50), J Marchand (P Mauvaka 50), D Aldegheri (R Montagne 50), C Ollivon (H Auradou 50), M Guillard (E Meafou 50), F Cros (L Nouchi, 63), O Jegou, A Jelonch.
Ireland J Osborne (C Casey 74); T O’Brien, G Ringrose, S McCloskey, J Stockdale (J Crowley 50); S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; J Loughman (M Milne 60), D Sheehan (R Kelleher 63), T Clarkson (F Bealham 60), J McCarthy (J Ryan 50), T Beirne, C Prendergast (J Conan 50), J van der Flier (N Timoney 50), C Doris.
Referee K Dickson.