{"id":25095,"date":"2022-02-12T12:49:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-12T17:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25095"},"modified":"2022-02-13T09:51:58","modified_gmt":"2022-02-13T14:51:58","slug":"france-remain-guinness-six-nations-favorites-after-defeating-ireland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25095","title":{"rendered":"France Remain Guinness Six Nations Favorites After Defeating Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Ireland’s Mack Hansen on the way to scoring his side’s first try (INPHO\/Dave Winter)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ireland could not do enough to stop France in their Six Nations clash on Saturday after the home side took an early lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ireland arrived in Paris without the services of injured skipper Johnny Sexton for a crunch Guinness Six Nations clash with pre-tournament favorites France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both sides began with bonus-point wins and, while the championship cannot be won at Stade de France, the match could have major ramifications for the title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joey Carbery filled in for Sexton at fly-half to make his first Six Nations start in the only change to Andy Farrell\u2019s starting XV following victory over Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lock James Ryan took on the captaincy, while Lions pair Iain Henderson and Robbie Henshaw returned to beef up the bench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Les Bleus, Yoram Moefana replaced the injured Jonathan Danty at center, with Francois Cros preferred to Dylan Cretin in the back row.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roared on by a passionate home crowd, France made a rapid start to the match and raced into a 10-0 lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Antoine Dupont collected a pass from Romain Ntamack to touch down the opening try of the evening, with Melvyn Jaminet adding the extras and then kicking a penalty minutes later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ireland swiftly reduced the deficit to 10-7 thanks to Mack Hansen\u2019s maiden Test try, which was converted by Carbery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

France then led 19-7 at the break following a further three penalties from full-back Jaminet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ireland reduced their deficit to 22-14 in the opening minutes of the second period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jaminet\u2019s fifth penalty of the evening initially stretched France\u2019s advantage before Josh Van Der Flier powered over to claim a second try for the Irish, which was converted by Carbery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A pulsating encounter continued to flow from end to end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Van Der Flier\u2019s score, Gibson-Park ghosted through the middle to touch down beneath the posts just five minutes later, with Carbery\u2019s conversion leaving Ireland just a point behind at 22-21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sensing a momentum shift, the home crowd raised the noise levels and their side responded as Cyril Baille claimed Les Bleus\u2019 second try of the evening to make it 27-21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The match was finely poised going to the final seven minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ireland were three points behind at 27-24 thanks to a Carbery penalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The French extended their lead with another score from Jaminet. As the clock ran out Ireland could not find another score, leaving the home side to win 30-24.<\/p>\n

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