France 36-14 Ireland
Bielle-Biarrey scores twice in dazzling display
The Six Nations is under way and already a couple of things are crystal clear. It is going to take a seriously good team to beat France in Paris in this year’s championship and watching them attack will be an absolute treat. Ireland were not so much beaten as outplayed by opponents who will be even more dangerous with a dry ball at their disposal.
Never mind the argument about brief in-game adverts during ITV’s coverage. Irish fans would probably have preferred a total 80-minute blackout or, failing that, an entire evening of cookery programming. Instead those back at home had to watch the visitors being repeatedly sliced and diced by seemingly ravenous hosts. Talk about eating your greens.
Had it been a drier evening it really could have been messy. As it was the spectacularly good Louis Bielle-Biarrey still helped himself to two sparkling tries and France’s close-quarters passing, kicking game and creative élan were sometimes sublime. Ireland arrived with a raft of injuries but, despite a second-half rally, they can now add bruised pride to the list. Their captain, Caelan Doris, rightly described it afterwards as “a very disappointing way to start the tournament.”
