Ireland vs France LIVE rugby: Six Nations 2023 score and result as Ireland win Dublin thriller
Ireland 32-19 France: The 2023 Six Nations title could well be heading to Dublin after a brilliant win for Andy Farrell’s Ireland
Ireland underlined their status as the world’s No q team as they overwhelmed defending champions France 32-19 in a fantastic Six Nations match that absolutely lived up to its billing, delivering wonderful tries and relentless skill.
In the first-ever Six Nations clash between the world’s top-two ranked nations, a Hugo Keenan try put Ireland ahead but France hit back with a brilliant counter-attack finished off by Damian Penaud.
Ireland regained the lead with an extraordinarily athletic finish by James Lowe and added a third through prop Andrew Porter. France stayed in touch with three Thomas Ramos penalties but trailed 22-16 at half-time after one of the best 40 minutes the competition has seen for years.
The second half was tighter, but Ireland were disciplined in holding France at bay before Garry Ringrose crossed for the fourth try to cap off a superb display and end a run of three successive defeats by the French.
Relive the action from the Six Nations clash below:
Finn Russell runs the show as Scotland turn on the style to hammer Wales
Finn Russell ran the show as Scotland blitzed Wales 35-7 at BT Murrayfield to kick off a Guinness Six Nations campaign with back-to-back victories for the first time.
The Racing 92 stand-off was at his magnificent best as he laid three of his side’s five tries on a plate for his team-mates and was also heavily involved in another.
Wales, who had won on six of their previous seven visits to Edinburgh, made things tough for Gregor Townsend’s team in the first half, but it was one-way traffic after the break as the hosts notched 22 points without reply to back up their Calcutta Cup victory in style and claim the Doddie Weir Cup.
PA
Finn Russell shines as Scotland turn on the style to hammer Wales
Scotland scored 22 points without reply in the second half at BT Murrayfield.
Ken Owens speaks to the BBC
“We had a lot of changes, especially in the pack, and those boys showed the potential of where we are trying to go. We were perhaps a little bit unlucky not to go in slightly ahead at half-time, but our second half we went back-to-back errors and put pressure on ourselves. You give a team like Scotland, they are full of confidence at the moment, front foot ball they are going to punish you. We allowed them to come at us.
“When you are winning and have got that momentum it is hard to lose. The flipside of that is the same. We have got to work hard next week. It is early days with a new coaching staff and some new players, so we have got to grind out a win and start building that momentum.
“There are positives out there. People back home will say there isn’t but we believe in what we are trying to achieve.”
Welsh woe
Another chastening day for Warren Gatland’s Wales 2.0 - two games, 17 points for, 71 points against, with another string of missed chances. Oddly, there are positive signs for Gatland, certainly in terms of the continued creation of chances and the way the back row functioned at times, but a great many questions, too. Once again you would have to say their more experienced faces failed to truly influence the game.
Jamie Ritchie, trophy in his arms, offers his post-match thoughts
“I couldn’t ask for more from the crowd, they were awesome today,” the Scotland captain tells the BBC. “Again it wasn’t perfect but we did enough to get the job done, so we are delighted.
“The first game here without [Doddie Weir], I’m glad we could do this for Kathy and the boys today.
“We have belief that, if we play to our best, we can beat any team. We will be looking to improve when we go Paris, definitely.”
Scotland win the Doddie Weir Cup
Jamie Ritchie’s captaincy career is only young but the flanker is getting rather used to the feel of silverware - he takes the Doddie Weir Cup from the late lock’s widow Kathy, lifting it aloft to a great Scottish roar.
It feels like there is still more to come from Scotland - and they’ll need it with a trip to Paris next before Ireland visit Edinburgh. But, for the first time in a generation, they’ve made a perfect start to the tournament.
Finn Russell has a natter with BBC
“It’s a great game and a great result for us. I think the boys put in a great performance today which was great to have back here at Murrayfield.
“I was just doing my job out there - making other boys look good! The boys are all on the same page and our attack today was really good. A good performance all round.”
F/T: SCOTLAND 35-7 WALES
Pressure? What pressure. For the first time since 1996, Scotland have won back-to-back games to open their championship, and they move level on points with Ireland at the top of the Six Nations table after another bonus point win. Wales were wasteful but take nothing away from a ruthless Scottish performance, taking hold of the game in the second half and putting it out of sight.
Finn Russell dazzled, but Scotland’s defensive effort was outstanding throughout.
Scotland 35-7 Wales, 81 minutes
It’s all over bar the shouting - and how Murrayfield will shout after this. Rio Dyer nearly cuts through (the wing has been a bright spot for Wales again this evening) and a penalty for the visitors is tapped quickly by Rhys Webb.
But the next penalty is Scotland’s - and that will be that...
Or not! George Horne taps and goes, oddly, and Wales’ day gets worse with another brandishing of the yellow card. I’m not entirely sure in whose direction it was thrust, but it matters not as Finn Russell says enough of the tomfoolery and sends us to a close.
TRY! SCOTLAND 35-7 Wales (Matt Fagerson try, 79 minutes)
Another assist for Finn Russell and Matt Fagerson gets a try he richly deserves!
A maul munching to create the space out wide, and Alex Cuthbert is sucked in as Russell attacks the line on the left. A lifted miss ball gives Fagerson a simple run-in to cap a busy and close to faultless display.
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