France Dominates Ireland in Six Nations Opener

France secured a bonus-point victory over Ireland with a score of 36-14 in the opening match of the 2026 Six Nations Championship. The game was played on Thursday at Stade de France in Paris, where France established a 22-0 lead at half-time and maintained control for the initial 50 minutes of the game.

Match Highlights

France scored five tries during the match. Louis Bielle-Biarrey contributed two tries, with additional scores from Matthieu Jalibert, Charles Ollivon, and Theo Attissogbe. Mickael Guillard was awarded the Player of the Match for his outstanding performance.

Ireland responded with two tries in the second half, scored by replacement forwards Nick Timoney and Michael Milne, winning the second half 14-10.

A play leading to France's first try, scored by Louis Bielle-Biarrey, involved a pass that some observers considered forward.

Bielle-Biarrey's second try, scored seven minutes into the second half, secured the bonus point for France. Theo Attissogbe scored France's final try of the match.

Team Performances

France

France demonstrated dominance in aerial contests and physical play for the first 50 minutes. New selections and recalled players contributed significantly, with Nicolas Depoortere completing nine carries for 49 meters, and Mickael Guillard completing 16 carries for 46 meters. Theo Attissogbe, in addition to scoring a try, performed effectively in aerial contests and support play.

The rearranged French pack provided crucial carrying and breakdown power, with Francois Cros and Charles Ollivon central to breakdown work. Defensively, Anthony Jelonch made 16 tackles, and Oscar Jegou made 15 tackles.

France maintained 96% ruck retention and gained possession from Ireland six times. They recovered 15 out of 19 aerial balls.

Fly-half Matthieu Jalibert's passing facilitated French carriers against the Irish defense, and the French half-backs displayed effective collaboration. Concerns were noted regarding a decline in France's performance following substitutions.

Ireland

Ireland faced significant challenges, particularly in establishing a consistent scrum platform and in aerial contests, where they recovered only four balls. The team was also affected by an extensive injury list.

Despite these struggles, Ireland secured seven turnovers, with three attributed to Tadhg Beirne. Irish fly-half Sam Prendergast's passing was noted as less effective, contributing to a lack of backline momentum. Despite initial struggles, Ireland's bench players, including James Ryan, Nick Timoney, and Jack Crowley, showed improved performance in the final 30 minutes, coinciding with a decrease in France's performance after substitutions.

Coaching Insights & Context

Ireland's head coach, Andy Farrell, described his team's performance as lacking "intent," indicating a continuation of trends observed in previous seasons.

This victory marks the second consecutive season France has defeated Ireland in this competition, highlighting a recent shift in the rivalry.

Upcoming Fixtures

• Ireland is scheduled to play Italy in Dublin on February 14.
• France is scheduled to play Wales on February 15.