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Hello and welcome to ESPN's live commentary of the Six Nations clash between France and Ireland!
Bizarrely, only France and England -- the two teams that disappointed most at last year's World Cup -- are still on for the Grand Slam following the opening weekend of Six Nations action.
Guy Noves' new-look side laboured past Italy in Paris and now face a tougher test against Ireland. But, following their draw against Wales last week, Joe Schmidt's side has been ravaged by injury, meaning today's clash in the French capital will likely be closer than expected.
IRELAN D XV: R Kearney, Trimble, Payne, Henshaw, D Kearney, Sexton, Murray; McGrath, Best (captain), White, Toner, McCarthy, Stander, O'Brien, Heaslip.
Replacements: Strauss, Cronin, Furlong, Ryan, O'Donnell, Reddan, Madigan, McFadden.
FRANCE XV: Medard, Thomas, Mermoz, Danty, Vakatawa, Plisson, Bezy; Poirot, Guirado (captain), Atonio, Flanquart, Maestri, Lauret, Camara, Chouly.
Replacements: Chat, Slimani, Ben Arous, Jedrasiak, Goujon, Machenaud, Doussain, Bonneval.
You can follow our man on the ground, Rob Bartlett (@RobBartlettESPN), who'll be giving us his live updates straight from the Stade de France. His preview can be read HERE.
And, if you're still thirsty for more rugby...
England vs. Italy preview
Sergio Parisse under pressure vs. England
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We're underway here at the Stade de France, with the home side kicking us into action!
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Fast start from both sides with some real energy being put into these tackles. Ireland have just earnt the first penalty, however, after France are penalised for not moving away. Not in kicking distance for Sexton who punts for the deep lineout.
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| 3 |
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France have stolen the subsequent lineout -- nicely done by the men in blue -- and they're now on the charge in an attempt to evade their 22.
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| 4 |
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Wayward sideways kick from Plisson could have landed his side in a lot of trouble, but fortunately for him, teammate Thomas makes it on the far right flank. First sign that the wet conditions could have an effect here.
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| 5 |
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Long crossfield kick from Sexton is collected brilliantly from Robbie Henshaw. The men in green are touching the five yard mark...
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| 6 |
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France penalised for offside and penalty to Ireland. First chance for three points for the Irish...
Or not. Sexton kicks for the lineout from five metres. Daring adventure from Schmidt's side, they're oozing confidence right now.
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| 7 |
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First scrum! France to feed inside their own 22...
...and Bezy clears it but another poor, poor kick which doesn't gain much ground. Rain clearly playing a part.
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| 9 |
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Just as France make their own way into the Irish 22, the side wearing green win the turnover and they're back to forming an attack of their own.
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| 10 |
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The first scrum's successful but a few moments later Danty drops it and knocks on. Another scrum now, this time on the right flank just shy of the half way line.
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| 11 |
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Great work Ireland's pack and they earn the penalty, however, still not in goal kicking distance so they're gone for the lineout.
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| 13 |
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We're having an aerial faze here in Paris as both sides are opting to kick rather than run with ball in hand. Despite having seen no points scored yet, this is very entertaining game of rugby.
Right now though, France have been penalised for a knock on and we're awaiting Sexton's recovery to take the kick...
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| 14 |
0 - 3 |
He's just so reliable kicking from a tee. Sexton puts Ireland three points ahead from about 40 metres out.
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| 17 |
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These tackles are frighteningly powerful, some huge hits from the Irish pack as France try to run the ball into their opponents half.
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| 18 |
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Damien Chouly has been penalised from tackling round the neck and Ireland have the penalty mid way inside their half.
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| 19 |
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We're back in play and Ireland are the ones on front foot, pushing hard for the France try line. Les Bleus having to rely on their backs to kick them out of trouble... Brief break in play as Sean O'Brien seeks treatment.
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| 21 |
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Bash barge, bash barge, bash barge... Eye watering rugby. Ireland have pushed and pushed, finding themselves inside the France 22.
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| 22 |
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Fumble from Ireland gives France a moments rest. Kicked long and away. However, play's brought back for the scrum after CJ Stander is penalised for a knock on.
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Rory Best penalised for not binding. France penalty.
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After France kick the penalty for the lineout, plays quickly stopped again for a France fault and Ireland have the scrum. Pace of play is definitely slowing down now.
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| 26 |
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Scrum reset after reset provokes boos from the crowd, but we're back into play. Connor Murray and Sexton working together well to try and maneuver an opening, but they can't find one just yet. Ball switches to the Irish pack to try and barge the ball into space. Good defense from France.
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Ireland penalty! Another chance for three courtesy of Sexton's boots.
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0 - 6 |
Cool as anything. 29 metre kick is no bother for the Irish fly-half who adds the extra three to his country's score. Elsewhere, Dave Kearney has been subbed off with an arm related injury.
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| 29 |
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France are the ones on the front foot now as Ireland's tempo has settled down a tad.
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| 30 |
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Plisson trys the kick again and not much results from it.
Must admit, not sure they're the right decisions and so far the execution from the French No.10 has been poor.
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3 - 6 |
Plisson - penalty goal
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| 32 |
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Well, commentators curse. Plisson kicks the penalty and France are off the mark.
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3 - 6 |
Three points have spurred the crowd into life and the France team, too. Medard's requires three tackles to take him down, but the French are pushing well into the 22 of the Irish.
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Plisson tries the drop goal, but it wasn't very good. Similar to Sergio Parisse's last minute kick last weekend.
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Some poor passing from France fumbles through three of their players, but still, it's not knocked on and they continue their pursuit of the try line. Vakatawa has the ball down the right...
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Big tackle from Payne on the France winger, and Ireland have the ball again, just along halfway.
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| 38 |
3 - 9 |
Scrum awarded to Ireland after France have been penalised for tackling offside!
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| 39 |
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And France are penalised! Sexton to kick for the posts...
...and, ofcourse, he makes it. 9-3 Ireland.
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| 40 |
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Their six point lead might just last a matter of seconds as France are now awarded the penalty after Toner's penalised. Plisson teeing it up right now...
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| 40+1 |
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Missed it!
FULL TIME!
Our half time analysis is just moments away...
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| 40+2 |
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ESPN's Rob Bartlett had this to say straight from the Stade de France:
"A case of drab weather and even drabber rugby at a saturated Stade de France. While France and Ireland have tried to play expansive rugby, the pouring rain and slippery conditions have made that a near impossibility. Ireland's cause has been hampered by two injuries - first, the returning Sean O'Brien limped off badly with an apparent knee injury before Dave Kearney was almost left in two by French captain Guilhem Guirado. Referee Jaco Peyper has been constantly booed by the frustrated French crowd and may need an escort out of Paris tonight. A tale of two boots so far - Sexton with three penalties and Plisson with one - but nothing more. "
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| 40 |
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The second half has begun!
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| 41 |
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Conditions have clearly worsened over the past 15 minutes as both sides are struggling to keep the ball. Both sides are having 20 seconds burst with the ball in hand before gifting it away.
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| 42 |
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Vakatawa the man guilty of a fumble this time, and we're into the first scrum of the half. Already have a feeling this half is going to be low scoring with frequent scrums.
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| 43 |
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Good scrummage from France but another poor kick from Plisson bounces out of play down the end of the pitch. Not impressed at all with the No.10's kicking so far.
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| 45 |
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What I've seen in the past couple of minutes: Scrum, reset, scrum, reset, scrum...
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| 46 |
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Still not a great scrum but we're back to playing rugby. Ireland have the ball in hand and their on the break. Stander running the ball well.
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| 47 |
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A rare poor kick from Sexton gifts possession back to the men in blue. Both sides are battling it out in the midfield right now.
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| 48 |
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Scrum, again! This time it's Murray to feed for Ireland...
However, it needs resetting...
The outcome of the next scrum: Ireland's pack push hard and well, forcing the ball out the back and now they can pounce. Let's see if they can build something substantial for the first time this half...
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Toner and Stander are the men at the front forcing the Irish charge, and a nice 10 metre ball carry from Payne helps the forward duo. However, we've got the lineout along the left flank now with Schmidt's side in control of the ball.
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| 50 |
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At last, France break loose on turnover ball but they're penalised for forward pass. Good stuff, though!
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| 53 |
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Ireland's are back to bash-and-barging, they're slowly but surely making their way towards the French try line. Sexton kicks long and Kearney plants the ball down for a try, but there were a couple of obvious knock-on's so it doesn't count. Scrum again.
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| 54 |
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France win the penalty and can kick to relieve the pressure. They'll be delighted with that.
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| 56 |
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Another scrum, this time along way and is in the hands of the Irish.
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| 57 |
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Freekick quickly taken by Murray off the scrum and they've looked to pounce down the right. However, despite gaining some ground, it's back in French possession as Sexton's kick is collected by a man wearing blue rather than green.
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| 59 |
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France lineout down their right flank and their on the move, however, they're no where near the gain line.
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| 60 |
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SCRUM. This time in Irish hands, just outside their 22.
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| 61 |
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Swift play from the French and Vakatawa is screaming for it down on the left flank. This is the most purpose French has played with all game. They're approaching the Irish try line with real intent.
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| 62 |
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Serious head collision between McGrath and McCarthy, with the latter looking the more hurt. We could be here for a few moments, looks like he went unconscious straight away.
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| 63 |
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France have kicked for the corner off the penalty, they're a converted try away from being in the lead.
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| 64 |
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Everytime Vakatawa gets the ball the crowd completely erupts, even more so given the position that France are in. They're 15 metres away from the try and pushing hard.
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| 65 |
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Big tackle from Rory Best but France are just under the posts!
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| 66 |
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The referee has called for the TMO to help see if that try's been grounded from France! Very hard to see this...
It hasn't been ruled a try -- even though you probably think Chouly did ground it -- but you really can't see anything. France scrum from 5m.
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| 67 |
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Scrum needs resetting twice. The quality of this game has taken a dramatic dive since the initial 15 or so opening minutes.
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| 68 |
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Penalty awarded to France, again, and we await another scrum from 5m.
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| 69 |
8 - 9 |
Good push from France, but another penalty and another scrum.
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| 70 |
10 - 9 |
This is ridiculous. Ireland penalised for collapsing in the scrum and France have another scrum from 5m.
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| 71 |
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FRANCE TRY!
FINALLY! Medard is at the rear of the scrum and in space, darts forward from the offload from Goujan and plants the ball down. Such a hard one to defend but great play from France. Sexton's also come off for an injury.
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| 73 |
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France have worked it to phase 14 here and are pushing again, well into the Irish 22. The try has spurred them into life.
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| 74 |
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HALTED! Ireland's Payne forces France into touch, and Strauss and Toner combine perfectly in the lineout. the rolling maul is pushing well, too...
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| 76 |
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Ireland have made their way out of their half and well into the French 22, pumping the ball with pace down their line. However, play's been brought back for a scrum and the clock's been stopped momentarily.
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| 77 |
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And it collapses, thanks to Ireland. We await the reset.
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| 78 |
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Not much results from the subsequent scrum and France have won the turnover and another scrum. Time is running out now for Schmidt's men.
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| 79 |
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And France have been awarded the penalty AGAIN! The chance to completely see this game out by kicking it out!
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| 80 |
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And they've done just that! FULL TIME! Full time analysis to come...
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| 80+1 |
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ESPN's Rob Bartlett had this to say straight from the Stade de France:
The sky over the Stade de France cleared and the rain stopped as Maxime Medard darted around the back of the scrum and over the line to keep French grand slam hopes alive. The crowd erupted into a sea of blue, white and red tricolor as Plisson added the extras to give France the lead - how on earth they managed it is a mystery. For much of the match, Guy Noves' men were second best but a six-day turnaround and host of injuries - O'Brien, McCarthy and Sexton to name a few - meant it was too much for Ireland. By no means a classic, but France's love for rugby may have just been reignited on Valentine's weekend.
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