France vs Ireland 6 Nations Rd 1 2024

[Applause] yes for many in the Northern Hemisphere and certainly the fans of France and Ireland this is the final that ever was and therefore not just the whole of the sport in Europe is watching but the Rugby World has its eyes firmly fixed on the next two potentially captivating ours

Or we just take a moment to focus on Rugby’s fulltime on hate campaign the Six Nations standing against any form of discrimination racism hate speech or abuse that message being conveyed to the crowd now Stand ofuse on onl society and no the world we all experiences report I say one of the great venues nearly ready for the marz one of the great an it will follow Ireland’s call of course and the glor will to show [Applause] show To [Applause] [Applause] Show may [Applause] [Applause] you [Applause] Am yes maybe to have been in Paris tonight with all those recent memories could have been too much to bear for these two France Ireland in Mars It Feels Right [Applause] captains oh yeah he’s winning Guinness Six Nations coverage sponsored by molway Vitality gets your health moving

Forward how they give you half price gym membership yeah give me five more Gary move forward with vitality when you share a hotel room with your kid you also share a bedtime with your Kid but if you get an Airbnb you get to pick your own Bedtime yes yep he’s winning Guinness Six Nations coverage sponsored by Motay welcome back to what should be a night to remember it’s been a day to remember Crystal Clear Blue Skies and now a sharpness to the night air and that should be in keeping with the players mindset for this one referee is KL Dixon of England by

The way who did get to the World Cup final as an assistant to the now retired Wayne bars the referee last season’s never to be forgotten encounter in [Applause] Dublin Z the Grand Slam winners of 2022 against the Grand Slam winners of 2023 as the 2024 Guinness men’s Six

Nations burst through the door [Applause] again no t no hey s use your hands to move it now feet thank you a man in for dupon luku gets excellent distance on his first kick yeah fascinating evening there’s inevitably a lot of chat about the couple of players who aren’t here

Johnny seon antoan jupon but that guy Maxim luku and Jack Crowley in place of Johnny ston actually these aren’t two teams it’s fascinating because there aren’t two teams that are talking about rebuilding talking about starting again in a 4year World Cup cycle two of the best teams in the world going flat out

With selection straight after the World Cup fantastic take from TY burn at that first line out from Dan Shen who didn’t miss a line out always found his jump up at the World Cup when he did play into the side has come Joe McCarthy and he gets an early touch as well charg

Down friend have it with luku and [Applause] Ramos here’s James low it’s covered by the scrum half did well knew where he had to go and going his own sweet way as jalar like he loves to do carried over halfway by Francois cross luku early hands here with jalar

Again onto fiku might be an extra player that player is Peno but the flag is up so dangerous Damian Peno so dangerous France slick just showing the just the danger that France hole there everything lucu involved couple of quick passes there just the turnover here jalar the

Feast going into it but this pass off this Rook from luku it just cuts out three four Irish Defenders and that creates the mismatch in the wide Channel and this is a fantastic tackle from Yugo Keenan just keeps Ireland in that point [Applause] here’s sh again Island cut the line out this

Time kind of movement works well for [Applause] them gives him part back to that left boot of James low so often used to effect to get that distance up from Ramos Teno chasing the high ball this time opposite Winger low swiveling out of any contact there and reporters pushed

Back V gets to ground against Antonio Gibson Park he’s brilliant at this the Hang Time on those kicks highest average hang time in the comp ition last season on average 4.2 seconds he gets that ball in the air no way for the Willing Chasers it’s a major

Asset nice from by just tucked it around the corner but that’s not good from FR load came in ion’s got to be careful he’s offside there referee has called the [Applause] offside gets it away to vleer again Advantage for Island to play with here Crowley again inside ball the

Selection is mixing it throws this man of course in a different sort of way bndi but back for the offside against malakka in the end olivon played by the book novka didn’t well it’s a far start for sure from both sides I just wonder with France I

Wondered on the far side if Fu gave it a bit early to Peno and enabled Keenan to make that tackle I wonder then Corner going for the corner I wonder then if Tomy Ramos just pushed that a bit early led to the intercept could have worked

Out a lot worse for France that they ultimately had it covered j a little bit of rust starting fast lots of tempo not quite looking slick yet this is bold from Ireland I like it that’s is well a little bit uncharacteristic from France we’ve heard sha Edwards at length saying

Do not play in your own half setting up for the kick there from luku and ultimately they just playing the ball out and James low stay big in the channel and getting the turnover a very un characteristic from the French you normally see them kicking looking for

Distance or comp competing in the air there go from Crowley right towards the corner it’s Captain will like that Peter ommani 11th time that he’s LED his country but a great record of nine out of 10 and he’s right in there calling for the muscle and they come from The Backs

As well Baki James La involved as well off goes Shar he’s got support from Robbie hens Shaw the switch from Gibson Park to find Bundi he finds [Applause] atonio there’s tag burn getting the ball to the floor again nice Target that he makes McCarthy he’s been brought in for

Moments like this it’s where he’s carried so well recently in lenser color so to vanleer arm out again from Carl Dixon it’s another penalty another free play Then Gibson Park goes wide and a bit wild why not try it see if it’s on two players offside 13 and one really enjoying Joe

McCarthy’s first few minutes he’s been brought in as you say miles to knock people around in defense and carry that ball hard into heavy traffic that’s just what he’s doing I think you can you can see just having a quick look at this and Jonathan danty getting over the ball the

Speed of the ball there from Ireland really important to how they’re able to keep going and forcing and getting that penalty from the French which on Joe McCarthy he’s taking two three French Defenders with him every time and it’s just it helps with the speed of the Rook

For Ireland so really good start from uh the young man on deut this is a dream for Crowley virtually from the football penalty spot he gets his first three points of the night and Island get reward for a strong aggressive start really good start loads of tempo France are really pushing it

Ball in hand and as you say Gordon Jamon Gibson part they a few better in the world at getting that ball Up and Away lots of tempo really interesting start plenty of Hang On that start from mat jaler he’s in for the still injured Roman unac of course missed the World

Cup ins here green been DuPont’s regular halfback partner but luku and Jal they’re flying for bordo bega their Club we’re going to fly again here that’s good carrying olivon takes it on a crucial two or three met more but it’s isand who win the breakdown penalty and look who it is leading by

Example and it’s a really good play from Ireland you can see what they’re doing this the second time now James low has kept the ball purposefully in field they’re happy to give the ball back to France inviting them in for the Counterattack you can see huno Keenan leading the kick Chase but they’re

Waiting in behind once that first tackle has made Peter Mani straight in over the ball this is a tactic from Ireland that they’re targeting that ball on the uh on the return I mean you might call that the mest hint of not initially supporting his own body weight in that

Both of his hands are on the floor that’s been missed these things happen but it is brave to invite France to Counterattack is brave you got to be very very confident your defense is going to hold up this time it did so there Omani tackles he then has

To release then he can get stuck back in there again but what he can’t do his hands can’t go beyond on the wall on the floor to support his body weight they can tap the floor very very quickly but if there’s any hint of that body weight being supported that’s not allowed yeah

He’s got to keep his balance and what he did then was put both his hands on the floor to achieve balance before he Nick the ball okay not allowed to do that okay mate so one that Island get away with they will have to replace their che check prop forward Here Andrew

Porter and and a little bit more maybe then White House is the television match official should have mentioned that Matthew Carly and Jordan we are the assistants running the touch Line Car of England way of Australia when you’re ready that’s not the best angle there’s another one coming up

Now think you keep your eye on Porter here looking if that’s a head shot from phmsa which it is not looking to okay yeah okay so Ben um we do have head contact and it is Foul Play and it meets the yellow card threshold yes I

Agree that okay so can we got a number please five five reach this yellow card threshold bunker review so that will now be reviewed remembering the World Cup we had the bunker we have it in the Six Nations as well goes to Bunker review it’s now under review 8 minutes still the time

For the official there the foul play review officer to have a look at this incident and to make a call stay yellow or up to Red there’s just one rev officer looking on now okay time back on please and there will be we’re told a direct explanation from the onfield

Referee to The Crowd by the PA system when the decision is announced so we’ll wait to hear that as will Paul VSA a nervous man at the moment I tell you what when you see a player get a yellow card and have absolutely no argument on his face

Whatsoever he’s had a look at the big screen he’s seen what happened and he won’t like the fact it’s a yellow but he will be thrilled that is not a red that was Punchy there was so much movement people were low I think yellow is right in the words of Football

Commentators you’ve seen him given you’ve seen him given the shoulder to the Head see what the bunker review comes up with now can Island take advantage of the extra player we have a look at Calvin Nash into the side the first time in this competition made his debut against

Italy in the summer in the World Cup warm up he’s been in fine form for moner on the wing with M Hansen out injured it’s Nash who’s got the selection but it’s going away from his wing at the moment to The Far Side there’s Robbie Henshaw with so much rugby of late in

And Ashley this just his fourth test in 15 months in for the injured Gary ringrose who should be fit next week with Tod here’s Nash again little chip over the top let’s see what he can do looks for the bounce Ramos is there so too is

Roana they had to act quickly they did there was a little hint of panic about it it’s high risk from Ramos again at the back lots of Irish jerseys there they’re pushing it yeah when it’s French they just do this so often every game they’re playing at the club games

They’re happy to throw the ball not throw the ball around they’re getting it away creating an angle to try and build a kick maku takes it on himself his first start in the competition it’s his 19th C of course he’s had to be patient when you think who is

Behind irand very keen to get that ball wide as quickly as they can really stretch the French defense certainly now they’re a man down we’ll see if they’re a man down for another seven minutes or any longer when the bunker outcome is made clear there’s a few big men in that French

Side and the Irish look Keen to make them run when they haven’t got the Ball understandably Scotland Italy all watching this match knowing that these two recent form they’re out in front here’s Gibson Park and McCarthy again he cuts that 45 degree angle and he takes some stopping so to Kay and Doris but they do manage in his opposite number oldr to drive him

Across f a little bit crowy with a chipping behind but it’s gone too far I think Crowley may have thought he might have been looking at a penalty there some very French very a brilliant play and Peno chasing the ball will go out but yes it was quick

Thinking got love that no M Nara talking about Damen penno he said I don’t coach him we just see Jack kley here maybe the right idea execution not exactly where it needed to be but Damen Peno Live Wire ready for the quick 22 hits this but I

Say no mcari he doesn’t coach him he just tells him what does he want to do and he tells him yep you just go do that kind of quick thinking which just burns through a bit of time of the siman period gets Island back inside their own

Territory trying to work their way out first with vleer now with the boot of Gibson park again tenno got himself for once in a bad position there go go really the odds on were that he was not going to catch that but it’s not going to be costly

Clear Rock was formed a corner hands and then you pulled it away it’s just it’s a noisy old stadium we’ve mentioned that hell of an atmosphere here in marsill but you got to find a way to hear what the ref’s telling you to do easy for us at home

He’s got a microphone on but you got to listen out the No Hands call was clear TIG burn just didn’t let it go yes lucky he’s got long on arms cuz he was back out of position there but he rescued it didn’t he just about throw to Oliver man who could have

Been leader used to be [Applause] leaderer going with Al in the absence of dup theou was mentioned there he is in Midfield Turing it back to look that’s aggressive again from Island typical young mcar through [Applause] that describ by his captain this week as destructive we saw it there mark C for

By James low we do that inside of 22 he knew exactly where he was was lovely from Joe McCarthy there was just the little chop steps while he was waiting for luku to get the ball in his hands no no room for error for him on the penalty

He wasn’t willing to give one over but as soon as luku has that ball it looks like it’s a sloppy pass out to the right mccarth accelerating into the contact there it is takes an age over that ball McCarthy gets in targets nice and low really good play from McCarthy again how

Many is 10 the to R they’re not calling for the mark this time got plenty of time does drill that [Applause] kick the two are just trading at the moment ra some low low eats up the space why not it was in front of him he’s put

A lot into this he’ll be hoping it just doesn’t roll and roll because if it does it’s a scrum all the way back oh just for a second the ball was Irish he’s going to say he uh he put the little Sand Wedge in wanted it to stop B three Ines before

The uh dead ball line yeah put a bit of Back Spin on it perfect he’s got away with that isn’t he made most line breaks in the competition last season James low such a threat with ball in hand here we go then the decision can hear you

Okay okay so review of the yellow card it’s going to remain a yellow card because there a droing height by on one for the contact okay happy as I as I as I said at the time I think because there was so much movement body heights were

Changing I think it was always likely to remain a yellow but if you can be thrilled to receive yellow that’s what he is cuz that was a big shot right in the Noggin when he used his head viler to nod with approval in the end he’s happy and France continue to

Survive this tricky period Henshaw off to Baki this will test them now get a ball goes himself he scores and does the Grand Slam champions but a team with unfinished business in the season in general and in this spell with Villa off the field I could just see lots of movement

From here James low does really really well in contact here Jack Crowley carrying out the back lots of moving headside but James Low’s got a lot work to do he getting in here fights for the ball this tip on from uh Robbie Henshaw absolutely vital but look at that trail

Line from Gibson Park how many times do we talk about Anton dupon on that trail line Gibson Park following in from The Rook the little show to the right happy to run it as close as he could to the posts and you have the work rate from the big man Bundy

AI he’s involved twice in two phases recycles himself first he pulls the ball out the back of course the size and power of him he’s a good decoy puts that ball away recycles himself makes the break off the tip on then the offload brilliant play from the [Applause] center

Try well that was a good moment for him they are the bread and butter ones and he made sure and Gibson par made sure as well nothing this time that even penno can do really nicely worked again wrapping around it’s just quick work from Ireland quick Ruck speed quick

Recycling of the ball France a man down hard to get around the corner maybe hard to get in the air is Ty bur but he leapt to help out his colleagues there and that was a nice pullback from Shar in Midfield and there he goes again the left of low SM ping it

Long he gets straight back to where he needs to be and takes it on the Run jalo catches him having made the kick himself good Chase from the French fly half for gabag put to the floor his first call since 2019 in the French second row Villa first test since August

He missed the World Cup the management in the Simon because of a thigh andry as Fu to Gibson part the TriCore off the side of the boot from crowding confidence nice to see Ramos Gibson Park back pedaling how about Jameson Gibson’s Park positional Play Just fantastic repeatedly right place right time

Brilliant yeah he’s got the SAT now absolutely spot on has he as a player you just see Ireland just creeping up on the uh like The Possession but also on the territory where they’re playing really you know Ireland dominating possession a 61% almost up at 20 minutes

Um happy with the ball really coming out on top on the kicking battle at the moment was quite uncharacteristic players coming back vill out of the simin and apologies to Kier Healey although you’ve got many mentions Kier over the years to 126 C he was on as the

Replacement there to Andrew Porter pter back on having been checked oh good charge down by burn can he find the ball he does l put under real pressure there Gibs him Park he just wants to free it furong knows that Crowley and Baki was through Crowley knew it as well he’d

Seen the space what a chance Keenan was arriving on a line and look at his out stretched arms all all I’ve got is a knock on at the moment oh he’s got his head always got his as a a knock on you can see that hole opening up as he’s

About run through you see to burn coming off perfect block we just want to see the picture of the pass Crowley has a time to Perfection I mean the pullback before this oh it’s just caught the pullback from t f was something else wasn’t it bit of Skilling contact it looks like

It’s just caught a fingertip on the way through that okay yeah Peter nothing clear let’s go TIG bur looks he might look like he’s offside before he charges down Maxim luku then but because he began the mall in an offside in an onside position and just ended up there having not changed

His binds or anything like that he is allowed to come off the back so it’s clever play from TIG bur let’s go first scrum knock on by Blue in the tackle that’s all we got no no I got knock on by Blue in the tackle that’s [Applause]

So it will be island to put in it was nearly so much more still might be they’re looking threatening Crouch they’re in a lovely spot here big old Blind Side for France to think about defending options [Applause] everywhere nothing clear for me go go enthusiastic reaction from the Irish

Pack here to the they want another just hit Square both players please let’s go yeah sometimes they fall over miles that’s what happens it’s the physics of the [Applause] thing you’ve got um got two men you’ve got nashan Crow Crowley just lining up directly behind the scrum just keeping just keeping France guessing

Set go either way those two they’re hovering we concentrate on the scrun they are coming back to this side the Gib some par onto Crowley he puts his foot down now as again opens up in front of him allowed a bit too much space there from a French point of view not

From an Irish here’s van defer Gibson F LS he lets the forwards do the work how much work have they done up first not quite enough whoever was at the whatever French hand was in there holding that ball in on the previous Rook had saved a

Certain try there was must have been 20 M between the rook and the nearest French Defender Josh ferer coming in and they just managed to hold that ball up slow it down saving an almost certain certain try I think it might have been Gregory ALR in there he he tried for the

Turnover he got cleared out hard by kores but I think he kept an arm in there perfectly legal sure course it was perfectly legal we go inter that we offer applaud the intricacy of the the Irish play that was just stick it on The Blind Side see what happens actually

Really good gains really good attack from irland keeping it simple off goes kayin Doris again his 30th consecutive test penalty in front of the post Gibson pun yeah can feel the temperature of the match you could tell that he wanted to go but just resisted this is very much

Three on the table waiting to be eaten up shot they’re going for goal and it’s Gregory aldre again we we he was very close to a turnover on his own line or very close to it it just felt like it was held up and then players on the Flor

More than one we pushing the ball back we’re like trying to practice to not take that extra bit so okay we’ll Endeavor to get that perfect okay thanks this The Blind Side play from Marland very very simple just seeing what gives seeing if they need to put it

Through the hands the space open up it is old written there who just keeps a hand in not just short just short Jeep as that’s close Okay okay great thanks very much mate this is where seum wood aara wood one before them Campbell wood and wardwood and Crowley now no he

Can’t he built him up to fall there well it’s all part of the learning for him there be no knee-jerk to that but it was three points that Island in normal circumstances would have been expecting there’s lots and lots of rugby to go in this game but scoreboard pressure in

Tight games like this you expect Fran going to get points on the board you need to be have the scoreboard taking over as often as you possibly [Applause] can par he dropped this mistake from MC Joe McCarthy been making many of [Applause] late often think if you’re you’re a fly

Half and you’re under a bit of pressure to kick points and you miss what would normally be described as a sitter it’s quite an isolated place to be if you’re a front five forward you knock a ball on and the opposition don’t pick it up you

Get a chance to pile back into the game via the set scrum so he gets a chance to make up for it now behind his mate Ty furong give him everything and see if they can disrupt the French pack it’ll take some doing mind there might have been a bit of

Fruity language on the microphone picked up sending apolog apologies on that is very noisy in the stadium Crouch and you can just see France going with the three- three split either side so opening up that Midfield scrum opening up both sides they had the kick run

Option on both sides now so just want the clean ball luu at the base now just going to be a France penalty oh that’s a short see how Keen here is the whistle has gone a game between themselves on that Far Side P thinking for once I’m not going to

Take it on they’ve got me but it’s back over to where the scrum was for the scrum penalty he won 15 scrum penalties at the rby World Cup France only South Africa by point of course in the quarterfinal one more okay I have a look

For me I apologize I have a look it was Scrappy at the back of the scrum really good pressure from Jameson Gibson part but it didn’t matter France had the penalty anyway and a lot of the penalties they won the 15 you mentioned M come from weenie atonio On The Tight

Head he’s not just big he’s good he’s strong he’s gone up a notch the last couple of seasons in terms of scrum pressure scrum aggression there he is in the background I think he claims he 23 Stone I’m not having that I’m afraid work there to give this guy a

Shot of goal and when you now you look at the opportunity cost of what’s happened crowy missing three points 2 minutes later two errors Ramos stepping up for a big kick Ramos has got the distance and he’s judged the direction as well to Perfection midle of shot there the team

Manager Rafael ianz for interational hooker for France of course delighted that his team are up and running but is not the brutal reality in Elite Sport at this France have done very little to earn that three points but just by being proficient at the scrum having a kicker

There ready to take the opportunity they closed that Gap to seven points scrums are hard work you know Gordon oh stop he didn’t just lean in you know the big fell pushed use ite very contestable wasn’t it the restart kick that time went a long way but very well directed brilliantly

Chased by Hugo Keenan it was a really good tackle and France forced to be more con conservative on their exit now it’s a really good exit brilliant kick from Maxim luku but that was a really good restart you’re right and a brilliant Chase one or two of the French players

Might have thought that was just touched in Flight by an Irish hand but no the call from the officials it will be island to throw into this line out it continues to go well and Fleer to Gibson Park here’s Crowley again really coming into the game with ball in hand now as

Well’s just a different player when he attacks the ball at PACE like that getting over the line getting the ball into Calvin Nash’s [Applause] hands giv some Park to Crowley and then it’s Robbie Henshaw just shoving it over the game line just those extra couple of me meters which keep the momentum hands were good initially from furong he knew he had to get it out there quickly here’s Ty

Burn spent a lot of this first half on the attack in the French half Ireland they will want the half time score to Chau as well don’t quite have that just yet they won’t be complaining but they will be greedy herey thought about putting on the boot

He didn’t have to he did not have to because once again it was a little bit of an open door policy from France in defense and Ty burn is the man to take full advantage of it Jack Crowley has just held the ball so nicely Jonathan

Dantey has tried to shoot up out of the line take him completely with him out of the ball out of it and Crowley’s just waited let him do all the work and just pop the ball back into it you can just see here it is is he’s he’s just

Standing there standing there and it’s moaka who’s gone up to hit him and he’s hung out Jonathan dantey there exactly what isand needed exactly what Jack Crowley needed and you watch his eyes as he gives that pass his eyes are going out the back but he gives it

Flat to Ty burn it’s a brilliant last minute this last second decision at the line incredibly difficult to defend a very intelligent line from a big man but that pass that coolness at the line fantastic from Crowley credit the 10 and that Mis kick long forgotten [Applause]

Now TIG burn steaming through well look at the eyes the head just swivels a bit further he’s looking out the back very [Applause] clever half an hour gone what a start for the Champions long way way to go not just in the season but in this match as kin Doris brings it

Back there’s no World Cup hangover here from Ireland maybe for [Applause] France he’s been Dr they have been undone the home side by quality play okay hold in front hold now hold [Applause] hold you see James low just mixing up his kicking game probably came off the

Outside of his boot a little bit more than he would have liked to uh but yeah not looking to invite more pressure back on them just straight after scoring a try like that getting the ball into the safety of touch breaking up the tempo of the

Match just interesting now to see if IR get off the ground and compete with this or if they’re sufficiently worried about the French mole the size of them oh no we’re having a look at [Applause] something BL five I wondered if it’s Paul valer again Big Shot

Okay he’s already had a yellow card so it’s I just thought for a man who’s just come out the bunker going to be yeah no he wasn’t holding back could be in the clubhouse in a minute at the time I think Carl Dixon saw it and thought and said that’s all

Right but it’s a big old shot considering he’s just back off a yellow have a look at this [Applause] there’s a good chance this is another yellow on the head and neck area so uh yes we do have head contact yes we do have Foul Play Because the player

Sitting up so it does meet the yellow card threshold yes that’s his second yellow card yeah still second yellow card okay so um it’s going to be a yellow card against uh five so it’s going to the bunker for Vi threshold it’s a yellow card and it’s

The second yellow card it’s a red card yeah it’s a red [Applause] card two yellows make the red get the mark over hereen and Paul Villa has had a night that he will want to forget where I am it is has come to a premature end France are struggling anyway that

Puts them at a massive disadvantage very important player for France Paul vmser but when you’re on a yellow you just got to change what you’re doing you got to think more and actually The Tackle he made was a massive impact and he was always going to run the risk now

And again you might see someone get away with that but he’s running a risk and the tackle was already made anyway plus you’re the second man in and that is that is where all these cards are coming from you’re a second man in you talk about this Dynamic movement or the

Change of body height something happens with the tackler and you’re planted there with your shoulder can’t be going in in with that type of uh that type of second man in into a tackle anymore so just to explain I think our referee Carl Dixon was maybe a little bit confused

There m Carly was on the scene just to make sure in the bunker it can’t be downgraded from a yellow so we got to the yellow situation it had to be a red straight away and was we’ll bring in Benjamin Kaiser in a moment on that

That’s maybe a little bit too pumped up there a bit too much adrenaline you understand it from Jack Crowley let’s go down to the touch line Benjamin that is a massive blow of course for France absolutely huge blow after a very dominant three minutes pretty much for France then after that the clear

Domination from Ireland putting tremendous amount of pressure and then causing a little bit of lack of Lucidity on the French side and this second yellow was definitely not what the the French Camp was was expecting after honestly being a little bit Lucky in the

First one now uh it’s going to be a long a long halftime trying to talk a strategy try to get those things back in order trying to use maybe the bench to uh fill in the the power slots that um PA vson was obviously bringing But first

You got to finish this first half stay disciplined and please please let’s put some points on the board let’s see what looku can do here he took them on On The Fringe of that R but it’s Mayhem caused Again by McCarthy has a look at the

Referee what can I get away with was ritten all over his face it was a great 12 months ago Jo kthy would have been given away that penalty and something he’s really conscious of bringing that physical element to his game but keeping the discipline so he’s not undoing all

The good work that he has taking the he’s taking the space two taking the space backing in he’s just got to give France the fair opportunity he’s got to stay on side stay out of the way and give France a fair opportunity to play that ball he’s encroached got himself he promoted

Himself too far couldn’t resist but you’re right about Joe McCarthy he is looks to be a well disciplined player but je is’s putting it about tonight he’s getting in amongst it he might have dropped the ball a couple of minutes ago who cares he’s what he says he’s moved

On and he’s just very annoying presence for the French at this stage you really do need something you feel before halftime it wouldn’t be terminal for that chances if they didn’t this is France in Marseilles could be a very different side in the second half could be a very different side here as

We approach the interval but how they love a score at this point to not just rev themselves up but this crowd this famous crowd here in Mars as well Al trying to do his leading from the front he’s got a penalty this player has tripped over you

Roll away please before Jacka it’s Peter ommani there his turnover is fine but actually a French player coming in to clear that ball has tripped over Andrew Porter who is in an off offside position so you just got someone lying offside in the way it’s the referee returning to

That phrase trying to clear the space around the halfback behind the breakdown Ireland have been very good at putting pressure on luku today think he’s only had he’s only managed to get one half break and in around the Rook but they’ve really targeted him look to

Put pressure on him and try and disrupt him as much as they possibly can I think they’ve been they’ve been pretty good and pretty consistent at that today nearly 35 minutes played and only a second visit to the island 22 by France and it might not last for much

Longer because allall stolen at the line out by irland who keep producing the plays that matter here Gib some Park to low it’s that combination again and this time there’s no outside the boot there’s no slice it’s a good time to get off the ground at that line out for ir and very

Often you see teams stay on the floor to defend the mall and not risk lads being in the air and not being able to hit the deck and work but France have just lost a second row they’ve just lost a key man in the line out that will be the hardest

Line out they throw the first one after a second row gets sent off where you’re rejigging recommunity good quick thinking from Ireland there’s a definitely confidence about the Irish lineer at the moment [Applause] l so that’s gone forward a bit of confusion for France at the line out

Without their second row as David was pointing out about Paul vson more spicious [Applause] return and they’ve also lost 130 kilo lot from their scrum so it might not come now they’re still reasonably fresh half an hour or so in but you’d imagine a man down in the pack you’d imagine

Isand will really try and squeeze them here really try and put some heavy work into their legs get the big men tired if you’re casting your mind back to World Cup squads T flamor is out injured at the moment Cameron wuke is on the bench I’ll try as loud as I can

Mate to Max starting engine room with a giant of a man about to burst onto the international scene Emanuel muu he was going to be part of this squad but he’s out injured at the moment romant aif fua a giant lock he went down ill yesterday B so poo

To to Yes you heard right in the French Squad 19 years of age weights on the bench use their weight pretty well there France they did as soon as it went down it went down on the far side weenie atonio is streaking to the ref which doesn’t normally mean much because a lot

Of props scream at the ref whether it’s their fault or not frankly but it’s just a couple of times now Andrew Porter on the loose head the Irish loose head has been deemed to just effectively goes straight to ground which means he sort of whacks into

Atonio and the weight drives him down a little bit perhaps needs to get a touch low in the hits and try and hold the big fell up a bit easier said than done yeah and I think just regardless of a red card you do not want to be inviting this much

Pressure on yourselves you’re going to give a team like uh France this many opportunities in a 22 they are going to do something that came forward off a green flare so France again not too convincing at the line out but they have won it but what they have lost is ground

And olival tries to regain some of it Aldren is right in there to carry forward look at that for a carry it’s created the offside s by suddenly France fine there inner Spirit here the heart that we know exists within this side they’re pumping and here’s Antonio luku into Midfield it goes alre

Again luku they’re calling on this side my farer wants it the Winger it’s not coming to him just yet looking nervous for the first time in the match calling for extra Defenders penos come across but look at that from Keenan he drove him right back right back there but it was Advantage being

Played now Island have to regroup quickly and be right on it to face again well penalty advantage or not what a tackle from Hugo Keane and that was fantastic shot I think Hugo’s given all of himself to that tackle every bit of his body down can you change looks a little bit

Of discomfort there only one okay they say the information was a good contest I think considering what kadan gave to that challenge we can feel this is a genuine need for assistance although it’s not a bad time for Ireland to get a little bit of a breather make sure we’re back 10 absolutely

As go rubbed himself back into running himself back into position there find going for the line out again go Flats Ireland do they go up for this has it worked for them the last couple of times they try and disrupt you imagine they would it’s actually not a great kick I

Mean it wasn’t far from the touch line he’s managed to put it8 MERS out instead of five just gives his team a bit more work to do and this is why as we’re praising Ireland it’s only right to point out these uncharacteristic errors from France that keep appearing in their game but they

Are seemingly being able to go a bit deeper here now as we go deep in this first half but spoiling tactics from Ireland are not liked by the referee malaka just takes it on almost up to the line as Island turned to face again they only just stopped him

There Ty burn doing an awful lot of good work there to help resist that was excellent muscle from him but talking of muscle there goes Antonio back with lucu shalar here it is pedo and once again we see France as the irresistible force and that’s not just the team it’s the crowd as

Well what a response from the French to losing a man to a red card wave after wave of power superb from that man dameno who can’t help but score comes out of nowhere you wouldn’t think there were Man Down sparked by malva steaming onto that penalty loads of momentum loads of

Quick ball loads of aggression loads of space finally a bit of patience from France and he get the quick ball from moaka he gets over the gain line condense all the Irish team in and then just simple catch pass bit of acceleration penno straight through the Gap lovely classic French

Movement and perhaps most importantly it shows to France what they can do with 14 Damian Pano is now the leading TR scorer in this championship for France overtaking Serge Blanco Philip Bernard sell Tomar Ramos gets the flag up in the air again now the last time France will be

Hi at Hal time at home 2018 versus island of course Island won that one 35 home tests since then they are behind but they are back in it halftime score in Marseilles France 10 Ireland s our coverage of the Guinness Six Nations continues tomorrow afternoon here on itv1 Mark pugach and the team

Will be in Rome as a new Luke England squad start their campaign against Italy join us live from the standy olympico from halfast one but we’ve got a game in our hands here in Mars fan gal at halftime with some key messages for his team Benjamin what

Does he want to see from this French team in this second half he’s going to want to see ball possession put Ireland under pressure provoke some uh some lack of discipline on their side he’s going to want to see some aggressivity and definitely stand up to the challenge

That is going to be to try to overcome this very very dominant Irish side seeing Paul Connell there talking to McCarthy he’s did a decent first half but so do his Jack Crowley oh he did definitely has I think from a an early Char sign you sort of you always wonder

In these big occasions and he has stepped up really well shown brilliant temperament mix the game up with with short kicks passing game look I’ve been really really impressed with him yeah he’s been excellent just again like I said before him Simplicity he doesn’t have to do anything magical but Aron

Just need to hold on to the ball they really need to own this possession piece great stuff okay time to hand you back to your commentary team Gordon Darcy and David flatman are alongside Miles Harris thanks Joel team’s out then as you can see and I can’t see any changes there from either

Team one thing that won’t change for France is that they will be without Paul vson for the rest of the match sent off in the 32nd minute for his second yellow C offense that man Gregory ALR the new captain talking to Carl Dixon the referee who made those calls knows that

His side therefore have still got an awful lot of work to do in this match despite their try on the stroke of halftime temperature dropping it’s been lovely today about 15 16° Sunshine from the off island of course have been training in the elav it’s been around about

2021 but it is a perfect night for rugby okay referral for the bunker the yellow card has been upgraded to a red card a high danger and no mitigation okay thank you that was happening during time and that now being commuted communicated to the captain that it was a red anyway two

Yellows of course made the [Applause] red we have implications possibly for vill so with the amount of time that he will to sit on the sidelines after this game yeah it’s interesting to see how France managed that they lose a bit of ballast in the tight of course a lot of

Ballast in the tight just the substitutions they might or make might or might not make in the next 10 or 15 minutes how they manage their line out you see they’re just having a little quick chat now it’s just taking a couple of seconds longer malak’s just taken a

Bit longer to get in position they’ll have reig things at Hal time they have to figure out that’s it in the nutshell Flats everything every other the scrum they can probably get by with they have to figure out how to win this ball maybe they have fascinating these opening exchanges in this second

Half see how France now try to play it that’ll help really good that from the French outside then you move through you might it maybe a little Double Bluff there Ireland thinking well they want to keep it away they’ve lots of elm so they’re not going

To Maul us they’re not going to scrum us France might have said we’ll give them exactly what they don’t expect really good maing really good momentum very little surprise Ramos going over picking up that ball well within his range um and going to take the three points it was interesting

There you could see luku was uh looking for more F down the short side once the penalty Advantage was given he was kind of looking at him going where are you where are you there’s an opportunity to go down there we so the mindset is going

To be still there from the French to keep attacking but they’re going to take three points with a kicker like this any time Ireland off with them as long as they moving you might watched that replay of the line out and thought well it wasn’t quite straight

But actually it kind of didn’t really benefit France did it because it almost went over Ireland side and I always think well if it’s sort of marginal is and the opposition aren’t even jumping for it you should be allowed to carry on if they’ve taken to the air and it’s not

Fair and it’s gone the wrong way that’s a different thing well the end result is the penalty against McCarthy but it’s not three points for the leading Point scorer in the competition last season he won behind Owen far at the World Cup as well Tomo Ramos can’t add three

There France can ill afford those chances to get away from their grasp MZ Ros ALR to sh and as well there actually to absorb the tackle was cross again got [Applause] it was cross again here’s [Applause] dony mku switching finding ba who is remarkably calm in those situations

Now Port is going to win a penalty I think his hands actually went beyond there he did support his body weight a bit but he’s got that call to go his way he might have missed a couple of those tonight yeah I think you know we’ve the

Benefit of looking at from this side obviously ref is on the far side of the rook and probably looks okay from that side I think you are right initially Porter’s hands have definitely gone beyond the ball but listen it was a it was a it was a clear a clear opportunity

For Ireland and to be fair the assistant on this side he’s got the benefit of looking as well as us and he’s a lot nearer okay left hand on the floor a your players still going drag them onto the wrong side France were just losing a bit of sh then was just getting

A little bit ragged s didn’t really want that ball got it standing still got [Applause] mobbed like in all these situations it’s the officials judgment which is fine he’ll get on with it both sides it’s nature of the game nature of Sport AS Gibson Park he thinks there

Might be something on The Blind Side Peter ommani turns back towards his colleagues and does well Crowley to Van defia then it’s Baki nice step strong step that he’s got with those powerful legs that he pushes off Robbie hen short does a lack for leg power himself there’s McCarthy

Again really has been abrasive an excellent first half and looks to continue in the second kayin Doris who’s been doing it time and time again in an Irish Jersey as Iden look to establish a little bit of of control here at the top of the second half McCarthy again Gibson

Park again low gets involved they’re getting ever closer here really strong carrying intelligent lines as well that they keep cutting on from Keenan out to Henshaw he’s got Nash outside henro is tring To Shimmy his way through he gets the offload in and here is Nash he’s in Islander in it’s wonderfully

Worked and look at the Joy from the team for the new man a score that was oozing rugby intellect Robbie Henshaw take about the carries plural from Joe McCarthy fantastic that one in particular but here Robbie Henshaw it’s a two on two he gets to the deck you just think

He’s got to get that ball away and he just Waits that Split Second it’s clever he’s calm it’s the perfect little pop off the deck to Kin Doris brilliant continuity play from Henshaw outstanding attack from Ireland yeah but it’s exactly what happens that powerful carry by McCarthy breaks one tackle rides the

Second tackle that terminal carry over the gain line what do France do honey pot in around the defensive line Ireland have the ambition two wide passes and as you said flats that lovely pop off the ground perfectly timed lovely run in the corner [Applause] Jack Crowley from the touch line oh he’s

Hit that one all right he’s hit it more than all right it is excellent the newbies are contributing in full they really are and I tell you what a carry like that like McCarthy’s that just breaks the line just a bit by a meter or two all the other Defenders

Out wide they see that and it’s just a little moment of Readjustment of panic you honey pot a little bit you narrow up and as soon as they did it isand said move it wide wide wide and it worked very clever indeed he said how clever a score that

Was but you need the bodies you need the skills to go with it it was the full package there from Ireland and Away by Gibson par nothing flash when it was needed just to do the right thing yeah it’s probably worth mentioning Robbie Henshaw getting having

Coming through a period of a lot of injuries not starting a lot in the World Cup last year probably has a lot of injuries last year but his involvements today defensively both side of the ball two crucial little moments in the build of to Bo trys gives him Parks was that

Little tip on for his center part RI and again there just getting that ball up keep the ball alive for K Daris to C A ni try stun the crowd there’s a m around the vrone here normally that Roar haven’t really heard it apart in the final few minutes in the first half

Such as been the dominance of the Irish display dominating in the air that time sh olivon is offloaded well sir B gives it to Inon [Applause] FRS can eras that Island try straight away they won’t feel too much damage maybe they still know how much lies in

Front of them they can’t get away from that fact gabric Fiku skipping and also offloading through again McCarthy picks up the loose ball look at get some part little terry that he is so much hustle from Ireland making it so hard for France to make any ground that was a bit loose from McCarthy cleaned up by Gibson Park the little man’s got a massive heart hasn’t he here he sets himself again for one of his famous box kicks little chip in behind that time just mixing it up that go forward creating the offside it did then entry assistant right in line that time so to the referee back by [Applause]

Blue very close his H is in there we staying with his decision with it just that moment like that the little decisions like going against the French you can just see the change in body language now for the French and I’m pretty sure Fabian Galer is going to

Want to make a few substitutions based on this woke of the crowd up though no it has yeah but I don’t think he’s done it for a knock on it’s very very loud by the way here I think was actually the side entry after the fact but yeah the

The locals appear up set so penalty against Green 10 oh now it’s been called through from Ben White [Applause] House constitutes Foul Play contact in the air so referee brings them back for that and the crowd don’t say they’re happy again they’re not going happy State tonight far from it but they are

Appeased jar has taken that about 8 m past the penalty Mark but good on him yeah it’s pretty poor like for an outside half the guy who’s giving it if you’re you’re not going to be going for it in a game like this if you want to go

For it just give it to Ramos give somebody else to step up that needs to be 15 M closer in going jittery the French line out that’s understandably in the absence of vill now staying on his feet long enough there to allow luku to go in and it’s s [Applause]

By through offside that was pretty blatant as well T burn B around affected the nine want the numbers to be evened up here effective ball placement I think actually I’m not sure T burn was off side I think there’s someone in the way there’s another Irish body not moving

Out of the way which impairs it slows down Maxim luku the French scrum half so ultimately can’t get it away as quick as he wanted to cuz there’s someone in the way it’s probably you know as I said luc’s not had the best best of times at

The back of the at the back of the Rooks the malls harand had a chance to focus on him they don’t have that much on the on the bench in uh in terms of experience so you’re going to have to stick with them still a long time to go

Here that was well contested the line out but France have won it and they are on Point again like they were at the end of the first half and they score some points they got another penalty Fu goes himself pen will look so dangerous on

His own on this side but of course it’s initially coming nowhere near and olivon has a go can they get it to the the line gabric thought he might have doesn’t referee blows his whistle players divy on it and to shows to the referee that it’s [Applause] theirs [Applause] he

Okay we got Clips has six collapse in the mall to start with so after the try six will go to the B to collapse in the mall near the line Okay so we have uh onfield decision try so we just need to check the grounding please this could be a double

Whammy for Ireland as well Peter ommani in trouble as well as you heard time’s up [Applause] here well Peter om Mani collapsing the French mall was clear as day keep your eyes on him here you see him in the middle there watch him now there he goes it might not necessarily be all

Him but it’s definitely the right call right in front of the ref just whether they ground this I’m telling the director this is not what I want so just waiting for the clips of uh just to let you know Carl I’ve told the director this is not what we

Want so we are just waiting for the clips of the gabag having a pop down the short side and does he the onfield decision is a try isn’t it I think the French director just loves Ms and you can’t blame him they’re fun clearly clear your tie five sorry uh Deo um this

Is it coming up here we go then try or no try just has to touch any part of the line when in contact with the ball in the grounding any bit will do certainly comes loose after that or after what I should say this definitely isn’t a hand underneath

It does he have control of this CLE evidence to overturn the onfield decision so take your time Ben still has control the onfield decision is try so it’s got to be clear and obvious reason to overturn it I don’t see one two seconds Jordan way the assistant

Was in perfect position he was pretty sure that’s why Carl Dixon was having to go with onfield decision of try and it’s brave from the big man it’s pretty much the first thing they teach you with a rugby ball is don’t lead with the rugby

Ball putting it out there so if he gets away with this just have a look at it once more anything to refute the onfield decision though that’s the key here apart from for the French director would love to show the collapse mall again oh it’s so

Tight so Carl can you hear me uh you have a ground in yes okay so I haven’t got any overwhelming evidence to overturn your onfield decision du to the obscured VI to stick with your onfield decision been collapse this is going to get very tasty now and some of the crowd also realizing

That Ireland’s Captain has gone to the Sim bin for 10 minutes as well a slow trudge off for Peter Omani so that evens up the numbers the scoreboard is not level yet but it’s on its way as far as friends are concerned and they’ve just brought on four replacements

Including for solo toang as off goes amanii Marsh W igar two langi four big men no bomb squad big old food bill just came on here in [Applause] marsill keep the receipt for that one there’s Ramos oh that’s a big one class what a kick what a kick really good line out drill

Uncontested has keep your eyes on Omani there he may have had someone go underneath him but if it wasn’t him it was someone else collapsing it France were motoring it was deliberately taken down or clearly enough taken down by green jerseys the yellow card stands it’s the right

Call Big moments a big momentum shift now for France those changes off the back of seven points we got a serious game on our hands now Ireland just taking their time never seen a restart take this [Applause] long oh through goes Nash from the restart already got his first

International try for Paul gabria it is a tryc scoring return to International Rugby a nice of contrast for him with Paul vson the other Paul in the second row the man sent off Calvin Nash did well very nearly did very well indeed but that’s a little bit

Loose from France the Pod went up it never felt like the Pod was going to take that ball in midair but aldre has to do a better job he’s got to pile into that as if the Pod isn’t there without colliding with his own men and he was a

Bit speculative underneath that and just allowed a bit of space for Nash to come into France got away with that a bit Cal Nash did something similar down in tan a couple of weeks ago little Cross Field kick two players waiting for it straight between them underneath the bin almost

Replicated it there for the uh for the monster man oh there’s plenty of new weight in that no Omani of course no vill for a long time and for a long time France were nothing like they are now in this game different Beast hereit well if you’re in the front row if

You’re Andrew Porter and you see Dorian aligi come off the bench you know exactly what’s coming he ain’t here to score tries and throw Miss passes he’s big technically excellent very aggressive he’s got one job and he just did it very very hard to resist stick to langi behind him hard

Work huge amount of weight stick dantey on the flank as well yeah again huge man he looks genuinely like he knows what he’s doing he’s really adding something to that scrummaging effort he’s not there making up the numbers shoulders in a good spot lots of leg drive that’s

Punching relishing just like you would have done Gordon without the Flair there’s van defair it is almost getting to gloves off moment here now marel loves those rbson park again that’s got a bit of a swirl on it wind has picked up it does well it used

To and there wasn’t the roof really Whi into the stadium just wonder how it can get to that low level now but you can feel it on our faces up top here yeah Ireland kind of getting as go disrupting France by going after their line outs but they’re struggling a little bit

In that Midfield of the game you can see Jack Crowley who dropped it off to Baki looking around to try and build the the kick he’s left it to to H Gibson Park and just too long on that but aren kicking off the back foot there and not

As comfortable in this second half of the kicking game at all piku to Dante that’s a good ship on to Ramos but look at that from James low tracking man and ball trying to hold up in the air as well he’s got the turnover absolutely brilliant from the Winger there we

Should head down to the touchd line because I miss all the noise now where was it in the first half well that was down to irand it’s a different place down there Benjamin Now isn’t it it’s absolutely rocking seven points you know the the man Mountain coming on now

You’re going to see every rck is going to count every decision of of the ref is going to be yelled at every impact is going to be multiplied by 60,000 you know French people which is going behind their team but that’s what it’s going to take to overcome this this very very

Very efficient Irish side so look it’s it’s it’s a it’s a game of collisions and if you win most of them and then you Seize Your opportunities to score some points you’re going to win so long way to go but an exciting one is that the

Key for you stripping the emotion out of it is it just about who wins that game line Collision no definitely soak up the the passion soak up the emotion and use it to fuel your body because they’re going to need a lot of energy to overcome those Irish but it’s uh it’s

Still seven points seems just you know within within reach but it’s still a long long way to go let’s go again let’s go again [Applause] Ireland here at the set scrum won’t be looking for any heroics but they don’t want the scrum to become an issue you

Don’t want to give a French pack with 60 odd th000 behind them the chance to get their tails up up front they just need this to be solid incident three ball away all that reengage free kick [Applause] France little bit too pumped there that’s Al the Gary super Keen to

Get to work get amongst it just got to keep his balance they really are taking their time aren’t they Ireland every chance they get they’re slowing it down peeking out that yellow card garyan up from Crowley being Up and Under on Peno and he can’t take it vanleer

Can is this Island’s chance now to swing it back much more in their way than it is still low held up that time but he did really well to offload Porter goes down Gibson Clark has a crow he looks so calm and collected real aspect to his game need

To try and stay in that space if he can holding the space in Midfield doing really well on the floor was Bundy AI that was important Ty burn carries well again Gibson Park Keenan up from fullback Crowley another Advantage bit of obstruction off the ball this is

Robbie Henshaw shows it twice now gives it to Shen and we know he could move a motor in those situations Gib him Park on to Crowley little shimmy again lovely from Burn like he was the fly half two on from low and into Midfield and the carry is strong isand doing all things

Right once more can they find another finish it would be their bonus Point score here’s Kean trying to go on the outside on that Loop trying to create an arc that he just saw the chance to create his gibon part back to Crowley again that slight delay

He’s bundled to the floor but Gibson part once more Robbie Henshaw Island really have thrown it all at France at times tonight now France pile through and bodies lying all over that they’re trying to disrupt referees having none of it there was a penalty on this side against

Peno is absolute off last minute defense from France eventually spilling over Ireland getting the penalty but so many times just last ditch tackle kin darus in the white Channel desperately trying to get his hands free two men over free but they just managed to hold him up

Again Hugo Keane and Robbie Henshaw in The Wider channels just getting enough to force the penalty not getting over the line getting the penalty now Jack Crowley going for the corner and they will want to get another seven pointer here or five-pointer and get the bonus [Applause] points time to calm it down

Again from the island set piece to get this right find McCarthy can they get it going on that angle they have Shan is in they are still riding High what a place to win this would be it’s not done but that really helps they’ve decimated the French Mall

France stay on the ground so the ball’s easily won and you were right Mars it was time to calm it down but as soon as they hit the deck it’s Up Tempo they’re not waiting to get set they’re hitting and going wherever a soft Edge is find

It pump the legs rip through give it everything taken by surprise and boy did it work boys four French players all targeting the same area of the mold and they all just Shear off to the side pretty much putting that on a silver plate for Ireland Dan Sheen popping out the [Applause] side

[Applause] just that one [Applause] miss so much that he’s done right can he add another from here Crowley again it is way Beyond his years Way Beyond his experience it’s a brilliant kick that fantastic kick really well taken try really Punchy from the Irish pack Dynamic and efficient they look very

Well coached indeed what a kick that was from Crowley France changing again we can see Cameron W coming on to join the pack also Paul bu both sides going for that six two split on the bench six forwards two backs of course noan legal is on as well so to Louie b

B into the back line multiple changes as friends try and somehow change things up in a positive direction for them so there’s an awful lot of talk before the match about two players not being present here tonight Johnny seon and obviously Anon dupon and you kind of

Feel Ireland have been a much more settled Team without um a player and France from large part of this game looking a little bit [Applause] rudderless Keenan chasing and it was Bud who went [Applause] back the G to Wy made his debut here against South Africa on this ground in the Autumn of

2022 on and that is knocked on when there was so much in front of this French team of course the World Cup now just a memory a tough one one that will live with them hold up balance please balance course forever but here was a chance to reset it’s Island doing this positive

Reset they haven’t quite reset yet have they France I’ll try from this side I think Rus is a I’m sure he’ll do is about the right word Gordon I think they’ve also they’ve just been inaccurate they’ve looked Rusty inaccurate thing is the problem is I wasn’t sure if he tackled and got back

To his feet so I let nothing’s looked terribly fluent really by the odd lovely moment it’s looked a bit Scrappy it’s looked a little bit devoid of shape so much of course in France so much responsibility for that shape given to the scrum half whereas traditionally

In Ireland and in England most of that most of that shape is offered by the fly half Jal bear really he hasn’t had a bad game we haven’t said much about him and luku hasn’t been given the chance to assert his normal control on the game

That we’re used to seeing when he plays for Bordeaux yeah but you directly compare luku and jems and Gibson Park and it’s been largely night and day Gibson park has been the tempo the beat of Ireland really on in tone with what his forwards are doing and the backs

Replacement front row for Island trusted as well r k Kean Healey Finley vum see James Ryan stripped off about to come on what a man to be able to bring on as well away and he lost his plays to McCarthy and how McCarthy has taken that opportunity givs aart wide it goes to

Nash and Nash pumping away with those legs tackle was good first s the ball and France have got it back though what a turnover that was was that Maran in there it was fantastic Mar to Lang it was pretty in the tackle stripped it as he was in

Midair Maran is there again to long he was certainly involved just 19 years of age remember 150 kg it’s we Antonio weights that we always quote Lang’s got that as well Gibson Majestic behind his forward today low that’s really superb hands Keenan’s little chip you could see what he was trying to

Do and that’s like a nice little uh nice little chip in from behind from oh it’s thear with the turnover yeah there’s also a hint of a bit a bit of hand on the deck but geez tiny little bloke just off the bench that was a brilliant bit of work

Jackling work at the breakdown cluse for J McCarthy he’s been replaced by the man had the space in the side for so long James Ryan captain in Paris a couple of years ago Top Line out stealer in the Six Nations last season that good to his 50th cap in the February meeting

The Season’s classic between these two you only do Classics these days that’s excellent on The Chase from France this time it’s Fu to tenno again an unusual mistake from him it’s the pressure that this Irish defense just puts on the opposition the line speed is something

To to be admired it really is but it’s also just shows the I suppose the margins how fine they are you see that ball here going in everything done right G fuku he spotted the pace now peno’s either just got his timing a step wrong but that’s the difference between that

Ball being out in front him hitting it at Full Tilt in much the same way that Calvin Nash did in the first half where he gets the ball doesn’t have to break stride they drop it onto his foot and it leads to H leads to a try but just that

Passing the sharpness the Christmas it hasn’t been [Applause] there supposed for this match to be truly elevated to Classic status it will need the French recovery but Island will say we’ll just be happy with classic performance thanks very much B set to do this two France in

Mars It Will rank right up there Jack cen’s on as well with Ryan B into that Irish pack and this time gibon Park he’s quite happy just to put his foot on the ball he’s got the call should be 5 seconds and then use within that 5 Seconds up goes low it

Was Peno though leret gets it wide to Jal he loves it when it opens up and he’ll need to love it here the takes them on up that touch line the Speedster he’s still only 20 scor two tries on this ground against Namibia in the Rugby World

Cup is fiku to pen what a step that was just something else buo the glide on that delicious from penno to El langi back to Ramos here’s jalar they’re still going for it here so of course they should and we knew they would his GI some

Po I trying to seek the safety of that touch line and they’ve got it in a more secure position to stay away from it just never felt like that kick through was the right option they were doing so well ball in hand had isand stretched recycling it really nicely it was

Beautiful footwork from Peno it’s just that feel for the game when to actually keep going for the juggler when to do the and you never want to take that out of a player’s uh armor you want them to be able to comfortable kicking the ball but you

Need it to be when the right time so you’re not just seeding possession to the opposition time off Abdel benazzi 80 caps for France in the second row back row I happen to know that cuz I played with him you were old yeah well I was 18 he

Was about 45 when we played together actually n not sure he’d remember me he was immense as was that Collision goodness me last get information next time so I won’t tell you about the tri commentated on from better Park France that old France against England you’re just a pup just a [Applause] pup R having a little bit of trouble here he’ll afford that at this stage France the freshman in some pain yeah he’s actually struggling he’s walking all right but he’s just struggling to actually get off the field looks in that much discomfort po guide mate time back on let’s go oh [Applause]

Man he’s off the field now took him a while wish him well here’s Jal to two he’s been whipping it up at under 20 Level taking players with him for fun smashing them on his back trying to stop him than family trait this is just a good example of

Where Ireland have been targeting Rooks at various different points in the set play they’re kind disrupting the French Tempo they’re getting a couple of quick Rooks but then they target another one manag to slow it down and get back into the defensive point and Frans have really struggled to continually build

Momentum top energy from Sir by coming back off the bench and a lot [Applause] here it goes to BU it’s some motor that Dr you consider what happens to him at the set [Applause] piece but they started to look like they were going nowhere there France and that’s how it ended up again

A lot of times when they’ve actually put a few phases together it hasn’t necessarily been that difficult both players hips heads below hips going to ground so we need up in terms of decision foreland to defend and the more phases Ireland have successfully defended the more breakdowns they’ve hustled at France

Have just lost shape more and more it’s the same principle every time you can see Jack Crowley speed bump yeah at best at best good decision mate we a shadow of it doubt um but France having to over resource more Rooks Ireland having to put less defenders in and then they just

Eventually run out of numbers and AR just swamp them in a in a in attack and that’s just what happens when you lose a player into the into the you know through a red card and through sin bins as the game goes on see K Murray on that Far Side

Eventually Gibson Parks motor has oh maybe run out maybe not he is an incredible Talent D Farrell of course has been given the head coach role with the Lions in Australia in 2025 and tell you what Gibson F ain’t going to be far away from that test

Side yeah you struggle to leave him at home would you he’s got his boots just before this rrum just let’s tell you what’s coming up tomorrow six nation’s action continues on this opening weekend it’s great to be back isn’t it Italy against England that’s live on itv1 and STV starting at 1 30

Mark pugach leads the team in Rome and then of course next weekend round two England Wales Saturday 400 p.m. we’re on air for that island Italy on the Sunday 2:15 all ITV one and STV brilliant just brilliant take oh offsets Ramos trying to inspire something that puts France within range possibly a

Draw Tri bonus each would end the Grand Slam hopes but the title will be very much alive still of course will be that is not over on round one but Island will be very well placed having won this if that’s what they do and now they chase here with Keenan putting his head

Down and Jal Bear’s got no choice that’s got to go out Island in control just over six minutes to go that’s a big tackle by James Ryan absolutely the Talisman player the France hope uh bringing two Lang on to make those big contacts he’s got the big

Run up into it and James Ryan perfect technique nice and low hits him gets him to the ground his shoulder will feel that tomorrow but then irand get in Rob the ball Jack Conan knowing exactly what to do drop it on the foot and lovely counter punch there from [Applause]

Ireland and they know they can seal the deal here sort it all out Marie too low to Crowley who stays out there and so he should Murray the experienced man alongside him now3 caps and he’s just feeling one out play just that first receiver just takes It Forward Crossfield kick from Crowley

Remember how his game started with that charge down seem a long time ago even that had no effect on him whatsoever look the crowd is there covering every blade Nash he’s Brave isn’t he he really does charge into contact absolutely took the where Ed make mil his acceleration into

Contact is fantastic that’s what you want from your Wingers he is down on the ground here so hopefully nothing too serious maybe just a dead leg but that accelerations what you want from your wing he’s the paac man he’s going to try and run that off best he

Can no player wants to leave the field but especially a young player just breaking through but he will be loed at by the physio no point causing further damage the carry from Jack Conan Crowley hasn’t got a right winger in place there because Nash is hobbling that goes Crowley again and

We’ll say it again he looks so calm I think he’ll be really pleased with how it’s gone so his coaches low in behind referee in front of the kicker it’s Fu who’s given away 13 blue offside in a way needless penalty but of course frams are in a desperate situation they need

To make something happen they do yeah they do I I think again Crowley we really happy with how the night’s gone it hasn’t been perfect not every option was perfect but so what 14 points up and I think a couple of considering the kick he missed in the first half I think a

Couple of those conversions in the second half particularly important keep that scoreboard ticking over please he’s done really well but Joe McCarthy though where you are Joe McCarthy he properly turned up properly turned up as irland go for the corner good on him interesting call the only way back

In here for France to get something out the game is couple of tries two conversions easy said not very easily done but the aggressive call again for Island not just the three points to absolutely lock them out the opposition no big big call I think somebody was advocating for

Three points and K darus was very quick to say no let’s go for the corner we keep going I think that’s a mindset piece and uh that is a very happy happy young man and I know his brother who is the uh head of people back in lenser

Rugby will be very very proud of his uh older brother one of the reasons why they would have gone towards the corner is because of the strength of the mall of Irish Rugby in these situations they have done it again absolutely the right call because

It says to France it says to the rest of the competition as Ronan kellerer is the beneficiary this time that Ireland are at the moment the best they are back Ronan killer takes the points but I tell you what they couldn’t have done it without James

Low came off the left wing piled in there added some power love the celebration ke and Healey as well they’re steaming through the middle I watch that and I think they just look so well coached so well prepared that was verging on Perfection yeah it’s embarrassing though when Wingers celebrate more

Tries it’s their moment isn’t it yeah yeah it’s a new experience for them and you’re right maybe they shouldn’t actually it’s not for them but he was in there he added something he’s not just making up the numbers yeah they looked a very well prepared pack indeed it’s the most points Ireland have

Scored against France beating their total last year it smashes their biggest win in France it smashed this French team out of sight tonight not held by this ending off but as Crowley gets another two points to Crown a quite wonderful night for him on a personal

Level but the sense of team in this Irish Squad Will trump that feeling that seems to be the the overriding difference between the two of them L you talked about this beforehand it’s not two teams in rebuilding but just this Irish team looked more settled and they picked up

More from the World Cup than France have and just missing key players their heartbeat their Tempo just not there the accuracy not there so many things just hasn’t clicked for the this French team tonight obviously the red card exasperates all of that but there’s been a few things the first 36 minutes

Weren’t clicking for them either well worth the journey back to France for these Irish supporters those who were loved by the French public in the world cup and all that they [Applause] brought marching forward 10 MERS won’t hurt isand not now from this penalty France have got nothing to play

For here but pride no and France absolutely haven’t been on it they haven’t looked great as we’ve said ragged disjointed Rusty lacking cohesion whatever and much of that is to do with the Irish pressure the pressure of the scoreboard continually ticking over you can debate that forever AR looked fantastic France the

Opposite again another line out consistently going round for France tonight in it’s the fourth line and that is it epitomizes the night in a way but this island team continues to do across the board in matches like this very special things and to win in Marseilles to start the 20246 Nations

After all they’ve been through is truly special maybe it is because of all they have been through a championship even another grand slam won’t make up for World Cup Agony but a successful season in this famous old competition will keep this squad and help this squad move on

And tonight represents the perfect start for Ireland to the championship it is one of their best ever wins we’ll review it all shortly with a very happy Brian and Rory alongside Benjamin with Jill Island comprehensive winners on the opening night