Ireland vs France

Updates from Saturdays Round 2 of the 2023 Six Nations as world No 1 ranked Ireland welcome France to the Aviva Stadium (2.15pm kick off) before Scotland ...

The Ireland vs France player ratings after the two best ranked sides in the world battled out a fierce 80 minutes of rugby in Dublin.

Turnovers: James Lowe (Ireland) – 2 Metres: Hugo Keenan (Ireland) – 202 Carries: Hugo Keenan (Ireland) – 18

Ireland player ratings live from Aviva Stadium: The arrival of France was the perfect moment to stress test progress under Andy Farrell.

[Tadhg Furlong](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/tadhg-furlong/) steeling their scrum and he was tops again here, even having the audacity to show that grizzly-looking tightheads can have the softest of hands. Would have been under pressure to be a good version of the ball-carrying [Dan Sheehan](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/dan-sheehan/) and he had his moments, including an early tilt at the line. Played the last 23 minutes in place of O’Mahony and he featured to positive effect. Thrown into the fray on 26 when the groggy Herring was hooked, he didn’t flinch in making his presence felt. Did get a warning from the referee to get out of his ear with the constant chatter about rucks, but other than that he was flamboyant and classy in everything he did. Was later involved in that extraordinary moment when [Antoine Dupont](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/antoine-dupont/) denied him from reaching out to score. Last week’s penalty trouble was a thing of the past here as he was immense in a wonderful battle between two excellent teams. Like a vintage wine, he is getting better with age and this will go down as one of his finest-ever performances for Ireland given the circumstances: his father is ill in hospital after a serious road traffic accident. There was a first-half moment when you wondered how influential he would be – he was the one who indicated for Hansen to garryowen and chase rather than offer himself for the pass when Penaud countered to score. Started with the bemusement of seeing a kick blocked by the aerial spider cam, but his second kick, which resulted in the French conceding a lineout five metres out, set the tone for Ireland. He had the hands to go with the heft in breaking the line and it’s only now that he is deservedly getting to show this at Test level. Four first-half tries – three to the Irish – had the crowd, both green and the visiting blue supporters, in raptures.

Ireland 32-19 France: The 2023 Six Nations title could well be heading to Dublin after a brilliant win for Andy Farrell's Ireland.

Saturday, Feb 11, 2023 at 10:24AM. Aviva Stadium | Map. Ireland vs France live stream: How to watch Six Nations fixture online and on TV In this article:.

Jonathan Danty and Cameron Woki are two first-choice starters currently unavailable to Fabien Galthie, who has stuck with the same starting side despite an up-and-down performance in Rome. There is worse news for Andy Farrell on Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy and Jamison Gibson-Park though – both props and the scrum half are still out after missing Ireland’s Six Nations opener through injury, with Finlay Bealham, Andrew Porter and Conor Murray again starting in their stead. Johnny Sexton has been declared fit to play for Ireland after missing last year’s meeting between these two teams. James Ryan; 6. James Lowe; 10. Here’s everything you need to know: Another injury blow has seen Dan Sheehan miss out with a hamstring injury, so Rob Herring starts at hooker and Ronan Kelleher, himself returning from injury, comes on to the bench in the only changes to the 23. Ireland vs France is due to kick off at 2.15pm GMT on Saturday 11 February at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The fly-half and captain had suffered a dead leg during the second half of the win against Wales, but is ready to lead his side in a potential championship decider. France make the trip to Dublin to face Ireland in a potentially crucial Six Nations clash as the top two ranked men’s teams go head-to-head. France narrowly edged out Ireland in Paris last year on their way to Grand Slam triumph so the hosts will want revenge as they eye their own championship clean sweep. Ireland vs France live stream: How to watch Six Nations fixture online and on TV

How can I watch it? The match is due to be shown live on ITV1, with coverage from 1.25pm GMT. Registered users can stream the game via ITVX.

A maul munching to create the space out wide, and Alex Cuthbert is sucked in as Russell attacks the line on the left. I’m not entirely sure in whose direction it was thrust, but it matters not as Finn Russell says enough of the tomfoolery and sends us to a close. Wales were wasteful but take nothing away from a ruthless Scottish performance, taking hold of the game in the second half and putting it out of sight. I think the boys put in a great performance today which was great to have back here at Murrayfield. For the first time since 1996, Scotland have won back-to-back games to open their championship, and they move level on points with Ireland at the top of the Six Nations table after another bonus point win. “We had a lot of changes, especially in the pack, and those boys showed the potential of where we are trying to go. George Horne taps and goes, oddly, and Wales’ day gets worse with another brandishing of the yellow card. It’s all over bar the shouting - and how Murrayfield will shout after this. It feels like there is still more to come from Scotland - and they’ll need it with a trip to Paris next before Ireland visit Edinburgh. “Again it wasn’t perfect but we did enough to get the job done, so we are delighted. You give a team like Scotland, they are full of confidence at the moment, front foot ball they are going to punish you. We were perhaps a little bit unlucky not to go in slightly ahead at half-time, but our second half we went back-to-back errors and put pressure on ourselves.

Minute-by-minute updates: Who will come out on top when the top two in the world rankings meet in Dublin? Join Lee Calvert.

A period of possession from France has plenty of phases but the Ireland defence keeps them trapped within the ten metre lines in the middle third of the pitch. Ireland come back with a very Ireland response: a fast move through hands left with Sexton on the loop find Lowe who bunts it forward with his left boot. From the lineout, Ireland catch and drive before sending it right for a carry by Ryan that gets it up near the line. It all looks a total shambles until the full back gets it away, and two passes later Jelonch is rampaging up over halfway, offloads to Penaud off his wing to drift and sprint on the angle to score! Lowe takes the ball on the touchline and drive to the left corner. The scramble is good from France so the ball comes left and Atonio rattles Herring’s skeleton with a ball and all hit that looks very upright. Again the France defensive scramble does enough to slow it down, but the green attack keeps coming before there’s a neck-roll on a blue defender at the ruck, allowing Ntamack to clear from the awarded penalty. Another progression into the 22 for Ireland after Doris pops a cheeky offload to Lowe on the left, but Ollivon nicks it back a few phases later at the ruck. Ireland are up to the challenge, and Lowe fields a driven kick on the volley and returns it with interest, rolling the ball into touch on the France 22. Keenan kicks a fabulous 50:22 and a few carries and phases from Ireland can’t breach the French defence. France are up to double-fugures in phases on the Ireland 22. Ireland look most likely at the moment, with Casey bringing some zip to the phases and the bench forwards leading the carries.