For this weekend at least, Dublin had a distinct French presence. By the final whistle at the Aviva Stadium, thousands of French fans were celebrating an emphatic victory. Their team delivered five tries and 42 points, setting a record score in the city and avenging last year’s heavy defeat. France now stand as firm favorites for the championship, while Ireland face the harsh reality of a comprehensive loss in a crucial match.
The match was a whirlwind of dramatic moments. Sam Prendergast, stepping onto the big stage, struggled from the outset, colliding hard with Yoram Moefana and losing possession to Uini Atonio. Damian Penaud sprinted across the field in one dazzling moment, Louis Bielle-Biarrey outpaced Hugo Keenan to touch down, Jean-Baptiste Gros set up Maxime Lucu with a clever pass, and Oscar Jégou powered through Tadhg Beirne to score.
Facing France in this form is like weathering a storm there’s little to do but try to endure it. Yet within the chaos, Ireland will see opportunities they failed to seize. In the opening 20 minutes, they dominated possession and territory but could not translate it into points. Multiple penalties went either to touch or the posts, yet they emerged from that period scoreless.
Despite these struggles, Ireland were still in contention around halftime. They trailed by just two points before the break and took the lead briefly when Dan Sheehan scored off a maul early in the second half. At that stage, France appeared vulnerable, particularly after losing Antoine Dupont in the 30th minute due to a collision with Beirne. Despite France’s depth at scrum-half, with several strong options, there remains only one Dupont a player around whom their team is built.
Lucu stepped in, and the game’s rhythm shifted. The Irish crowd roared as their team surged forward, pushing France deep into their territory. The pressure increased when Pierre-Louis Barassi was forced off with a head injury following a high tackle from Calvin Nash. With a seven-one forward-heavy bench, France found themselves in a precarious position, improvising by placing flanker Jégou at outside centre.
The gamble, however, paid off. In the 48th minute, with the match finely balanced and Ireland temporarily down a man, France introduced a wave of fresh forwards. The impact was immediate. Ireland lost possession under pressure, Penaud raced away, and France shifted into another gear. Their power, pace, and skill overwhelmed a tiring Irish side, leading to an avalanche of 29 points in just over 20 minutes.
Ireland, typically so well-structured and disciplined, crumbled. Their meticulous style, often compared to precision clockwork, fell apart completely under the relentless physicality of the French pack. Many teams have suffered heavy defeats in Dublin in recent years; now, Ireland find themselves on the receiving end of one. This was a statement victory, and France’s bold selection choices ensured they had too much for their opponents to handle.
