Ireland vs France live: Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton combine to seal 19-9 victory over Les Bleus
Follow the latest from the Six Nations clash at the Aviva Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.Ireland secured back-to-back victories in this year's Six Nations after beating France 19-9 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, condemning France to their second loss of the championship and ending their title hopes in the process. Re-live the action here.
- Ireland beat France 19-9
- Conor Murray try ensures Ireland's Six Nations title hopes remain alive
- 14 points from Jonathan Sexton announces his return from injury in style
- France suffer second defeat in three matches to end their hopes
- Camille Lopez kicks three penalties for the French
- Teams:
- Ireland: R Kearney; K Earls, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, S Zebo; J Sexton, C Murray; J McGrath, R Best, T Furlong, D Ryan, D Toner, CJ Stander, S O'Brien, J Healsip. Replacements: N Scannell, C Healy, J Ryan, I Henderson, P O'Mahony, K Marmion, P Jackson, A Trimble.
- France: S Spedding; Y Huget, R Lamerat, G Fickou, N Nakaitaci; C Lopez, B Serin; C Baille, G Guirado, R Slimani, S Vahaamahina, Y Maestri, B Le Roux, K Gourdon, L Picamoles. Replacements: C Tolofua, U Atonio, X Chiocci, J Le Devedec, C Ollivon, M Machenaud, H Chavancy, D Camara.
Follow the live action below...
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Preview...
Both Ireland and France lost their opening games of the championship as the Irish suffered a narrow 27-22 loss to Scotland, while France suffered an agonising 19-16 defeat by England at Twickenham. However they bounced back two weeks ago, with Ireland crushing Italy 63-10 in Rome and France beating Scotland 22-16 in Paris.
Today’s match is Ireland’s first home game in this year’s Six Nations, and they go into the game with renewed hopes of winning back the title given that England still need to cross the Irish Sea on the final weekend of the tournament.
What time does it start...
Ireland vs France kicks off at 16:50.
Where can I watch it...
The match will be shown live on ITV from 16:15. You can also follow it with The Independent’s live blog here.
It’s a big game for...
Jonathan Sexton: The fly-half missed the first two rounds of the championship through injury, but he’s been given the green light to return for the crunch match in Dublin. Given that Paddy Jackson had played very well in his absence, it’s a big call from Joe Schmidt, but Sexton can go a long way to proving why he is the choice No 10 for the British and Irish Lions this summer.
Player to look out for...
Gael Fickou: The inside centre has been one of the star players of the tournament so far, and after getting his name on the scoresheet against Scotland, he is quickly proving the player that he was billed to become when he broke onto the scene five years ago. He’ll give Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose plenty of problems in defence.
Past three meetings...
France 10 Ireland 9, Six Nations, February 2016.
Ireland 24 France 9, 2015 Rugby World Cup, October 2015.
Ireland 18 France 11, Six Nations, February 2015.
Form...
Ireland: WLWLWW
France: WLLLWW
Odds...
Ireland to win: 6/25
France to win: 29/10
Draw: 1/2 odds
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
16 mins: Penalty France, and that one's against McGrath for not binding. The French taste blood, and go for the scrum again.
18 mins: Ireland just about resist the French surge, but the entire backline is offside when Picamoles takes the ball out. Owens doesn't call it...TRY FOR FRANCE!
18 mins: Nigel Owens awards the try as Remi Lamerat dives over. But he wants to check something first after the ball was dislodged from Huget's hands in the tackle. It definitely goes backwards, but in trying to pick it up, Fickou has just knocked it forwards and the try is ruled out as his next pass was to Lamerat. France had a penalty advantage though, and Lopez adds the three points. 0-6.
21 mins: The Sexton loop makes its first appearance off the back of a powerful maul into midfield, and Ireland progress up to the French 22. They come left, but again the ball is turned over in the ruck and France are able to clear their lines. Very ominous signs in the first 29 for Ireland, as they haven't settled at all.
22 mins: Ireland get the lineout and look to break, with Murray going quickly. Stander then charges into the line but is sent backwards by Lamerat, and we come back for a penalty after Slimani was lifting Toner in the maul. Sexton goes to the corner, but the throw from Best is not straight and Ireland let a good chance slip through their grasp.
25 mins: A nice chip over the top by Sexton when a move breaks down trickles into touch under the watchful eye of Spedding. Ireland finally begin to unleash their intricate back moves, which does manage to puzzle the French, but they have enough numbers to ensure that Kearney can't find a way through. This has been much better though from the men in green.
28 mins: There's the magic of Jonathan Sexton! The Leinster fly-half has strong front-foot ball to work with after the forwards make all of 15m in the maul, and he wraps around Ringrose to head towards the corner after the French back line take the bait. He chips ahead, and Lamerat can't collect it as the ball spills loose over the line. Nakaitaci just gets back to touch it down though, but from the 5m scrum, Ireland win a penalty. They call for another scrum, that's a big decision!
30 mins: The scrum stops about 3m short, and Henshaw takes it on in a crash ball move that pushes the French defence back. That gives Conor Murray the space to collect and dive over, getting the ball down to the try line at the second attempt. Sexton adds the extras and Ireland lead 7-6.
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