Garry Ringrose half-breaks, turning the France defence on its heels.

Johnny Sexton pumps the kick long, France are running back with interest.

Lovely interplay between Louis Picamoles and Gael Fickou.

Lopez spills forward though from a ropey pass from Baptiste Serin and the visitors' momentum is wasted.

Image source, Getty Images

Nigel Owens is on whistle duties.

He checks his watch, gives Camille Lopez a nod and gets us up and running.

Ireland's players have answered their country's call. 

France have done their Les Miserables thing.

Anthems finished. Time for the action.

Reggie Corrigan
Former Ireland prop on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

I'm delighted with that victory for Scotland, it just shows how difficult this Six Nations Champions is. 

Let's not forget that Scotland were whipping boys for a while, and we've needed a much more level tournament. 

Obviously we know Italy are suffering badly at the moment, but there is nothing between the rest of the teams this season. 

John McEnerney: If Jonny Sexton lasts more than an hour we'll win if not it'll be to the wire, close but a home win! CJ to shine big time again.

Matt McMillan:  Great performance from Scotland, and hoping Ireland can do the same against France.

Malcolm Harvey: That's as good as I've seen Scotland play in the 20 or so years I've watched them. We'll give England a scare next time too.

France and Leicester Tigers centre Maxime Mermoz on Twitter...

You can listen live to all the goings-on in Dublin via 5 live sports extra. Just click at the top of this page.

Image source, Getty Images

Amid all the hype, slo-mos and superlatives of the Six Nations, Ireland replacement Andrew Trimble has talked to the BBC about how his religion has kept him on grounded and sport in perspective. 

"Rugby doesn't define me, I'm defined by something more important. It's a different mindset and perspective," he said.

Last year, he visited a camp in Tanzania. It's run by Oxfam and houses hundreds of refugees from Burundi. He was profoundly moved by the experience.

"Some of these people will live their entire lives in refugee camps. They had families, they had careers, they had hopes and dreams and they've been cut short," he said. 

Image source, Oxfam

Former England international Lewis Moody on Twitter...

Image source, PA

From BBC Sport’s Richard Petrie at the Aviva Stadium: The Aviva Stadium is awash with colour, the green and white of Ireland mixing with the red, white and blue of France, as the atmosphere continues to build ahead of the crucial Six Nations game in Dublin.

The skies are grey but a heavy burst of rain earlier in the afternoon has subsided so the conditions are pretty much perfect. 

Both teams are going through their pre-match preparations on the pitch, with the arrival of the French greeted with a particularly loud roar of approval by the large contingent of visiting supporters.

The reputation of the French as poor travellers is given credence by the fact they have lost their last four Six Nations matches away from home.

Ireland start as favourites but the mood among the home supporters is only one of cautious optimism. No-one is taking anything for granted against the unpredictable French.

Image source, PA

Here we go. Rory Best leads Ireland out of the tunnel, his barrel chest pumped as the skipper walks out with a mascot on each arm, his huge hands gently cupping their much smaller fists.

Almost anthem time. After Ireland president Michael D Higgins scampers out for his usual pre-match handshakes, of course.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Rex Features

Home comforts for Ireland this weekend.

They have gone nine home matches without defeat in the Six Nations - a run that stretches back to 2013.

Where better than the Aviva for a match that they really must win to keep their title hopes alive?

“We know we are under the hammer,” said Schmidt, referring to the state of the championship. 

“We’re not happy to be where we are but we’re excited about the challenge we have got."

Image source, Getty Images

France's tactics against Ireland have long involved getting to Johnny Sexton physically and mentally.

In his last four matches against France Sexton has been forced off through injury.

Before the teams' meeting in the 2015 World Cup, Eddy Ben Arous promised to "hunt him down as often as possible". 

In last year's Six Nations fixture, Yoann Maestri escaped punishment for a cynical shoulder charge on the fly-half that would have occured in the post-match pie queue had it been any later.

Never mind the mouthguard, it might be that the Ireland number 10 needs a tin helmet.

Tom English
Chief sports writer, BBC Scotland

Never mind the stuff about Scotland improving and emerging. They've arrived. 

In the here and now, they're terrific. Resilient and classy.

Image source, Opta

Even the most patriotic Welshman cannot argue that Scotland did not deserve their victory.

More possession, more territory, more tries.

The Welsh were constantly on the back foot and, although they put up a commendable defensive effort, the pressure told.

Image source, Getty Images

Wales head coach Rob Howley speaking on the BBC red button:

"Hugely disapppointed. Our second half performance wasn't good enough.

"Scotland squeezed us. We lacked possession and when we got it, Scotland were hugely effective in the contact area, slowing up our ball or getting turnovers.

"Our changing room was positive at half time but that didn't manifest second half.

"Losing today, our Championship is over but it's about pride in the next two games. Scotland were better than us and deserved the win."

Image source, Getty Images

When Johnny Sexton's two-season stint at Racing 92 came to an end in 2015, it was clear that both parties were pleased to see the back of each other.

One of his Racing team-mates anonymously told a newspaper that Sexton was "the Zlatan Ibrahimovic of rugby”, likening Sexton to the Swede's off-field diva moments rather than on-pitch moments of genius.

"Jonathan had the tendency to employ a rather forceful manner and use a colourful language in the heat of the moment. Sometimes it bordered on insults... at some moments Jonathan was really uncontrollable,” said Racing coach Laurent Labit.  , external

Image source, Rex Features

He's back.

Johnny Sexton - the golden boy of Leinster and Ireland - makes his first start of the 2017 Six Nations.

And of all the teams it could be against...  

Scotland's players depart down the tunnel, slapping palms and taking selfies.

Stuart Hogg exhorts for more noise on his way. Today was another gem of a performance from him with an almost supernatural understanding of time, space and movement to serve up the right pass at the right split second to pave the way for two of the tries.

Right, onto Dublin.

Image source, Getty Images

Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones speaking on BBC One:

"We were efficient with our possession in the first half but there was a definite momentum shift.

"We didn't keep possession in the second half and they capitalised on their possession.

"Ultimately we fell short in the second half."