Ireland endured a nightmarish Stade de France return as France turned on the style
The warning shot came early.
With the home fans inside the Stade de France already buzzing from a spectacular pre-match light show and a typically spine-tingling rendition of La Marseillaise, it only took Les Bleus two minutes to show Ireland what they were up against.
For the Parisian crowd, it was instantly edge-of-the-seat stuff. Dynamite winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey collected the ball on the left wing. He chipped the ball over Sam Prendergast's head and set off after it.
It's a tried-and-tested move from the Bordeaux flyer that usually ends with him scoring a try. Only this time it didn't.
