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Hello and welcome to ESPNscrum's coverage of Ireland v France at Lansdowne Road in Dublin.
Ireland are unbeaten under Joe Schmidt and are averaging three tries a game - but France coach Philippe Saint-Andre is positive of a strong performance from his side. "This is our first away match in the Six Nations and it's an important match. We're really looking forward to it."
The two sides meet in the World Cup in October, but Saint-Andre is only concentrating on the next couple of hours or so. "The World Cup is a different competition," he adds. "Today's result has no bearing on that and we are not thinking about it yet."
A pre-match weather update from ESPNscrum's Tristan Barclay at Lansdowne Road: "The sun is shining here on a fresh evening in Dublin. Little wind if any, which will be music to the ears of Johnny Sexton and Camille Lopez, and the clouds on the horizon should stay away for the full 80 minutes."
As the smoke clears on the pre-match pyrotechnics (which are nothing to match the Millennium Stadium's by the way) we have the usual hand-shaking from dignitaries. That should give the fans time to take their seats - the Aviva is far from full at the moment, despite today being a sell-out.
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| 1 |
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Lopez, with that trusty left boot of his, gets us underway...
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| 2 |
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Thomas looks to burst clear but good defending by the home side, who are awarded the first penalty of the match.
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| 3 |
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Big kick from Jonny Sexton but Lopez calmly gathers and launches France's second attack, but they're struggling to break down the Irish in these opening exchanges.
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| 4 |
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Ireland have decided to attack France from the air, but it's failing to come to anything at the moment. The French backline dealing with everything coming out of the sky so far.
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| 5 |
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Zebo puts his side in trouble with a dodgy pass but France fail to capitalise. It's all on the halfway line at the moment.
Tristan Barclay: "That first scrum was a mess. Referee Wayne Barnes took an age to give the call and then wasn't happy with the engagement. At the second attempt, Ireland's front row appeared to bury itself and it's a penalty to France."
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| 6 |
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Penalty France. Ben Arous gets the better of Ross and Lopez punts into touch just outside the Irish 22.
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| 7 |
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Again, Ireland deal with the attack with style, holding off Bastareaud to win the scrum. That was a huge test for Sexton and he passed with flying colours.
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| 9 |
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Tristan Barclay: Fofana looks to have taken a blow to the head, or neck at least, and there's a break in play while the French medical staff cross their fingers that it's not a concussion...
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| 11 |
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Scrum penalty to Ireland, and Sexton punts into the corner. Tries to find Bowe on the opposite wing and he fails to collect. Back for the offence and Sexton will have a chance to kick for goal.
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| 13 |
3 - 0 |
Sexton takes his time over the kick - and understandably so. And he makes no mistake.
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| 14 |
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France win the lineout in their own half and Spedding bursts before piling on Kearney to win a kickable penalty...
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| 15 |
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Fofana off - clearly that knock earlier was too heavy for the Clermont man to continue.
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| 16 |
3 - 3 |
And no mistake from Lopez. Three-a-piece.
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| 17 |
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Another Ireland penalty. That was silly from Guirado in front of his own posts. Sexton is never going to miss from here...
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| 18 |
6 - 3 |
And he doesn't.
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| 19 |
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Tristan Barclay: "Three kicks now and three rogue voices booing in the crowd. The stadium announcer is unimpressed, telling fans over the tannoy to pipe down."
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| 21 |
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Sexton dominating with his boot. France pinned back on their five-metre line, but Toner fails to bring it down and France recover. Kockart clears.
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| 22 |
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Fofana returns to action.
Tristan Barclay: "Must have been off for those all-important concussion checks. We'll have to wait and see after the game."
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| 24 |
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France win the lineout and Lopez tries to find Huget on the sprint, but Murray collects. Kearney puts the ball back in the air but Spedding gets on the ball to win the penalty. Lopez clears.
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| 26 |
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The hosts looking a touch frustrated here. France's defensive muscle is showing.
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| 27 |
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France's turn to test. Thomas breaks smartly but runs into an Irish wall. He looks hurt. France struggling for possession.
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| 29 |
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Another Irish attack but France snatch the ball at the breakdown. McGrath is penalised and Lopez boots into touch on the Irish 22.
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| 30 |
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The hosts stand off and France themselves are penalised for crossing. Sexton clears.
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| 31 |
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Tristan Barclay: "Thomas is hobbling and I'm not sure he's going to be able to play on. He sent the France medical staff away but called them back over as soon as they'd turned their backs."
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| 32 |
9 - 3 |
Bowe breaks clear and wins Ireland a penalty when Ben Arous doesn't roll away. This is Sexton range - but first Thomas is going to leave the field...
No mistake from Sexton - again. Three from three.
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Lopez bursts clear and this time it's O'Brien who doesn't roll away. Lopez is eyeing up the posts here but it's a long old way out...
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| 35 |
9 - 6 |
But that trusty left boot does it again. Sexton 9-6 Lopez as we approach half-time.
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| 37 |
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Ireland hand an advantage after Le Roux handles in the ruck to try and slow the hosts' attack - but Bowe is halted and we'll come back for a kick which Sexton will not miss...
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| 38 |
12 - 6 |
Make it Sexton 12-6 Lopez and Ireland have edged the battle of the boot in a first half that has failed to really get going as yet.
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| 40 |
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France try to snatch something back before the break but the Irish defence holds firm and forces the knock-on. Wayne Barnes blows his whistle.
First-half analysis from ESPNscrum's Tristan Barclay at Lansdowne Road: "Make no mistake, both sides boast some impressive attacking talent in their backlines, but tonight has been about brute force so far. Breaks have been at a premium and it looks as though Johnny Sexton's boot is going to be the key to any Irish success."
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| 41 |
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We're back underway at Lansdowne Road - and an immediate mistake by Sexton as the fly-half boots the ball straight into touch.
Tristan Barclay: "The Irish fans are as bemused as he is."
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| 43 |
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Much livelier start to the second half and McGrath has Ireland nudging more and more into the France half. Sexton dinks over the defence but it trickles away and France can grab a breather.
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| 44 |
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Sexton breaks but runs straight into the man mountain that is Bastareaud. A proper old fashioned clash of heads and both players are off with a lot of blood on show.
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| 46 |
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Ireland really going at their opponents and an error from Dusautoir hands the hosts a scrum in a good position - just outside the France 22.
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| 47 |
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Referee Wayne Bridge isn't happy and has a word with both teams. Ireland are caught offside but retain possession. The hosts break clear smartly but the French muscle is resilient again. But how much longer can they hold on?
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| 49 |
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Tristan Barclay: "50 minutes in and, like clockwork, France replace their whole front-row."
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| 50 |
15 - 6 |
Heaslip carries to the 22 and his patience pays off as he earns a penalty. Sexton's blood replacement, Madigan, takes over the kicking responsibility and does not let his side down.
Nine points the difference now and what a psychological boost that will be for the hosts.
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Tristan Barclay: "Scott Spedding is trying his hardest not to be withdrawn here but the French medical staff are insisting. Once again, the head injury issue rears its ugly, err, head."
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| 53 |
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Pape is in trouble. He appeared to deliberately knee Heaslip in the lower back. Replays being shown on the big screens and the crowd booing loudly...
It's a yellow for Pape. He looks shocked at the decision but you have to say he's lucky to get away without a red. Into the sin bin for the French lock.
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| 54 |
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Former Ireland captain Phillip Matthews tells the BBC: "A knee to the back, to the kidneys, is potentially worse than a punch to the head. He should be off."
Meanwhile, Sexton is back on for Ireland.
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| 56 |
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Stunning break from Ireland up to the France 22, but Sexton's first touch after returning to the action is heavy and Payne fails to collect. That was a huge chance to pull away.
France, you have to say, have looked far better since that triple substitution.
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| 58 |
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Huge penalty for Ireland from a seven-man scrum as Ireland collapse, and the visitors will kick their way out of trouble...
But first Heaslip will leave the field because of his back problem.
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| 59 |
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Lopez misses the penalty into touch and Ireland kick back, but France win yet another penalty at the ruck.
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| 60 |
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Another yellow! Best is in the bin for sticking a leg out and we'll play two minutes with 14 men apiece.
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| 61 |
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Oh dear. A forgetful couple of minutes for Lopez, who misses what looked like a relatively straightforward penalty kick and the score remains 15-6.
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| 62 |
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Pape's back on and France have eight minutes with a man advantage to reduce the deficit.
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| 64 |
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The new French front row is making a heck of a difference and pressure is really building on Ireland's defence - which is holding firm for now.
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| 65 |
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Referee Wayne Barnes still not happy with the scrum. "Gentlemen, this needs to get better," he tells the players. "You have responsibility too."
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| 66 |
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France fail to take advantage and Ireland get the penalty as Chiocci is penalised for driving in. Sexton into touch.
Ireland win another penalty from the lineout and Sexton again eyes up the posts, but has some distance to clear here...
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| 67 |
18 - 6 |
And clear it he does. Solid fist-pump from the fly-half who makes it five from five. He enjoyed that and France have it all to do now.
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| 70 |
18 - 11 |
Hold on... HOLD ON! Smart build-up play from France and Taofifenua overlaps Huget before bundling over in the corner.
Lopez's kick is nowhere near but game on in Dublin. France must get hold of the ball now.
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| 71 |
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Best is out of the bin and we're all level again in terms of players.
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| 73 |
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France are on the front foot. They win a lineout and Bastareaud tries to smash his way through the Ireland defence who continue to hold strong - but they look ruffled.
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| 74 |
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Sexton's eye wound seems to have opened up again and the medics are on. Looks like Bastareaud's charge caused it.
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| 75 |
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Toner penalised in the scrum and Lopez kicks into touch. France really going for this now. The last five minutes is going to be tense for the Irish fans...
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| 77 |
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France continue to push and win a scrum midway through the Irish half. Good position - can they make it count?
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| 78 |
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Superb defence from Henderson - and boy did Ireland need that. but France have a scrum in Irish territory with a little more than a minute remaining.
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| 79 |
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Ireland holding on. Henderson again stands firm as Parra attempts to bundle through...
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| 80 |
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Jonny Sexton is, unsurprisingly, named man of the match just before Zebo piles his man out of play and the whistle goes!
What a victory for Ireland - a stunning second half and France gave it their all in the last couple of minutes. But you have to say on balance Ireland deserved that.
ESPNscrum's Tristan Barclay at Lansdowne Road: "A riotous end to the second half should not mask what was a brutal encounter under the lights in Dublin. France will have to improve if they want to turn the tables come the World Cup."
Ireland captain Paul O'Connell tells the BBC: "They're a good side - a big side - and we are very relieved to get that win. The pressure told when they scored that try but we defended brilliantly.
"England in a couple of weeks is going to be the kind of challenge many of us have never faced before and we can't wait."
Thanks for joining us and we'll be back tomorrow for Scotland v Wales in Edinburgh.
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