France stuns Ireland in a dominant Six Nations victory, shaking up the title race

Fast Start but Missed Chances for Ireland

The Irish came out firing, looking to control the game early. Captain Caelan Doris was inches away from a try, only for Gregory Alldritt to hold him up at the line. Sam Prendergast’s missed penalty added to the frustration, as France gradually gained control.

Bielle-Biarrey Strikes First for France

France struck first when Antoine Dupont orchestrated a slick attack, setting up Louis Bielle-Biarrey to dive over in the corner. The try came just minutes after Irish lock Joe McCarthy was sin-binned for a cynical off-the-ball foul.

However, France suffered a huge setback when Dupont limped off injured after a heavy challenge from Tadhg Beirne. With no specialist backs on the bench due to Fabien Galthié’s bold 7-1 forward-heavy selection, it looked like Ireland had a chance to exploit the disruption.

Momentum Swings as Ireland Hits Back

As halftime approached, Prendergast’s boot kept Ireland in the fight, landing two penalties to close the gap to 8-6. The home side then seized the lead early in the second half when hooker Dan Sheehan powered over after a well-executed lineout maul.

With the Aviva Stadium roaring, Ireland seemed poised to take control—until France flipped the script in devastating fashion.

French Blitz Demolishes Ireland’s Grand Slam Hopes

What followed was a ruthless French masterclass. Paul Boudehent struck first, finishing off a slick offloading move to restore France’s advantage. Moments later, Bielle-Biarrey showcased his electric pace, chasing down his own kick to score a breathtaking solo try.

As Ireland’s discipline crumbled, winger Calvin Nash was yellow-carded for a head-on-head tackle. With the visitors now completely in control, flanker Oscar Jegou bulldozed his way over, extending the lead to an almost unassailable margin.

Penaud Finishes the Job as Ireland Falters

Despite dominating territory, Ireland’s mistakes proved costly. Thomas Ramos intercepted a wayward pass from Prendergast and sprinted the length of the field before unselfishly offloading to Damian Penaud for the final nail in the coffin.

Late consolation tries from Cian Healy and Jack Conan softened the scoreline, but it was too little, too late. Ireland’s first home Six Nations defeat since 2021 left them hoping for a French slip-up in the final round.

What’s Next in the Six Nations Title Race?

With this seismic victory, France now sits atop the championship table, while Ireland must rely on Scotland to upset Les Bleus in their final match against Italy. The title race is wide open once again, proving that in rugby, nothing is ever certain.