Ireland Stuns France in Six Nations Opener

2 min read

Ireland delivered a resounding warning to their Six Nations rivals as they started their title defence with a commanding performance, defeating France 38-17 in a thrilling opening night clash at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille. The defending Grand Slam champions emphatically secured a bonus point, crossing the try line five times in a display that positions them as strong contenders for another title.

The Irish team’s triumph featured impressive performances from Jamison Gibson-Park, Tadhg Beirne, Dan Sheehan, and Ronan Kelleher, who all scored tries, and the debut Six Nations try from Munster wing Calvin Nash. In addition to their try haul, Jack Crowley contributed 13 points with his accurate kicking, marking a promising debut in his quest to fill the void left by the post-World Cup retirement of iconic Irish captain Johnny Sexton.

France, who played with 14 men for a substantial part of the game after Paul Willemse received a red card for dangerous tackles, suffered their largest-ever home defeat to Ireland. Despite moments of resilience, including a try from Damian Penaud, the French team could not overcome the dominant Irish side. Ireland’s 21-point victory margin marked their biggest-ever away win over France, placing them as early frontrunners in the championship.

Stay tuned for Ireland’s next match as they aim to maintain their momentum, facing Italy at home in their quest for back-to-back Grand Slam titles. Meanwhile, France faces a challenging trip to Murrayfield to take on Scotland in a fiercely anticipated clash. The stage is set for an exciting and fiercely contested Six Nations championship as Ireland’s commanding performance raises the bar for their competitors.

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