Summary

  • Ireland beat France 26-14 to keep alive Six Nations title hopes

  • Ireland must beat Wales in Cardiff and hope Scotland beat England

  • Captain Best gave Ireland early lead with try in corner

  • Sexton & Conan also scored as hosts led 19-0 at half-time

  • Earls' 30th try secured bonus-point fourth try

  • France score two late consolation tries

  1. Goodbye!published at 17:28 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2019

    FT: Ireland 26-14 France

    That's it from me - thanks for joining our live coverage.

    So Ireland have completed the penultimate weekend of the championship with a bonus point victory over France.

    It's all to play for on the final day then, where three teams are all in the hunt for the title, and Wales can clinch the Grand Slam.

    Remember, you can watch highlights of this weekend's action on BBC Two at 18:00 GMT.

    Until next time...

    French player waving v IrelandImage source, Reuters
  2. 'It will be a fantastic sign off'published at 17:19 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2019

    FT: Ireland 26-14 France

    Ireland captain Rory Best told ITV: "I think we had chances with a series of scrums on their line and we just let ourselves down a little bit, but we are happy with the way we controlled the game. We had chances in the first half and maybe we could have put more away but you cannot underestimate how physical that French side is.

    "We weren't expecting to get as many line-outs as we did and a few things came off and a few didn't. We know going to Cardiff next week we will have to be a lot better and the exciting thing is how we get our teeth into that.

    "To go to Murrayfield and play like that shows where Wales are at the minute and Cardiff is a tough place to go, so we'll dust ourselves down and prepare well."

    On his final Six Nations game: "It's a great place to finish off my Six Nations career. There aren't many better places to play in world rugby and it will be a fantastic occasion to sign off."

  3. 'Big boost'published at 17:11 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2019

    FT: Ireland 26-14 France

    Cian Murtagh
    BBC Sport NI at Dublin's Aviva Stadium

    As if by magic the sky over Dublin has cleared again and the ominous-looking clouds have vanished.

    Ireland will take this. They could - and possibly should - have won by more but given their difficulties earlier in the championship the one-sided nature of this win will come as a big boost for Joe Schmidt in his final Six Nations home game.

    Conceding two late scores will also dent Ireland's points difference but will not gloss over what was a dreadful French performance.

    Joe SchmidtImage source, Reuters
  4. 'Great start'published at 17:08 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2019

    FT: Ireland 26-14 France

    Ireland lock Iain Henderson told ITV: "We had prepped all week about what we thought France would do and it came off for us after a great start to the game.

    "Coming back into the side and being able to rectify a few things that happened against England was a massive incentive for the boys and it paid off.

    "There is always pressure playing international rugby, the start to the championship wasn't ideal but we'll keep building into next week.

    "We have seen what Wales can do and we will have to put in an 80 minute performance rather than a 50 or 60 minute performance like today."

  5. 'The gods have smiled on Ireland'published at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2019

    FT: Ireland 26-14 France

    Tony Ward
    Former Ireland fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    The gods have smiled down on us today. That sleet shower about half an hour before kick-off would have made this a very different and more difficult game for Ireland.

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:03 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2019

    #bbcrugby

    Andrew: In Garry Ringrose, Ireland have that special spark back in the number 13 shirt again.

    Phil: This is the worst French side I have ever seen. Absolutely awful performance. Italy will be licking their lips ahead of next week!

    Ian: Sport can be a strange old game, France were 16-0 up against Wales in the opening game of the 6 nations. Now Wales are going for the grand slam and France look absolutely woeful.

  7. Cardiff callingpublished at 16:58 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2019

    FT: Ireland 26-14 France

    Tony Ward
    Former Ireland fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    Ireland were better than 12 points superior to France today. They delivered a performance as well as a result and it will be a superb contest in Cardiff in a week's time.

  8. Full-time - Ireland 26-14 Francepublished at 16:57 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2019

    The referee brings play to an end and despite France's late flurry, Ireland have secured the bonus point victory.

    It all goes down to the final weekend where three teams can win the championship.

    Ireland 26-14 FranceImage source, Reuters
    FranceImage source, Reuters
  9. converted try

    Converted try - Ireland 26-14 Francepublished at 80 mins

    Camille Chat (con Baptiste Serin)

    It's taken 75 minutes but France have finally arrived in Dublin.

    Backs join forwards to push Camille Chat over from close range and France have their second try.

    There was a slight pause to see if it was held up, but the try stands and Baptiste Serin kicks the conversion.

    Arthur IturriaImage source, Reuters
  10. Postpublished at 16:51 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2019

    Ireland 26-5 France

    Tony Ward
    Former Ireland fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    It was well taken by France who have fought hard throughout but have been monopolised by Ireland from minute one.

  11. converted try

    Converted try - Ireland 26-7 Francepublished at 77 mins

    Yoann Huget (con Baptiste Serin)

    France are on the board and it's a well-worked try for Yoann Huget to score under the posts.

    Gregory Alldritt find a gap among the green shirts and he strolls through to feed the winger who does the rest.

    Baptiste Serin adds the two points.

    Yoann HugetImage source, Getty Images
  12. Postpublished at 75 mins

    Ireland 26-0 France

    France lose their own line-out but they will have another chance 10 metres further back as Ireland clear their lines straight into touch.

  13. Postpublished at 74 mins

    Ireland 26-0 France

    Now then, as we go into the final five minutes, France have a line-out inside the Ireland half on the right-hand side.

    This is a real chance to score their first points of the afternoon, but there doesn't seem to be any urgency in the run-up to the mark.

  14. 'Shades of Georgie Best'published at 16:44 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2019

    Ireland 26-0 France

    Tony Ward
    Former Ireland fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    The crowd were on their feet to herald that try that never quite came from Jordan Larmour. There was shades of Georgie Best the way that he lit up the atmosphere there...

  15. Postpublished at 72 mins

    Ireland 26-0 France

    Jordan Larmour dances through but he is hauled down just short.

    The full-back is fed the ball by Bundee Aki before stepping back against the traffic and running past defenders almost at will.

    He is stopped agonisingly short and France pump the ball long.

    Jordan LarmourImage source, Getty Images
  16. Postpublished at 70 mins

    Ireland 26-0 France

    Demba Bamba has to come back on for Louis Picamoles.

    The ball spills out of the scrum on the French side and the visitors momentarily clear their lines.

  17. Sin-binpublished at 67 mins

    Dorian Aldegheri

    It's been coming.

    Replacement prop Dorian Aldegheri will spend 10 minutes in the bin for an infringement at the scrum.

  18. Postpublished at 65 mins

    Ireland 26-0 France

    The men in green are starting to turn the screw.

    France concede the penalty defending a five-metre scrum.

    Peter O'Mahony says 'same again please sir'.

    Bundee AkiImage source, Rex Features
  19. Wholesale changespublished at 16:33 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2019

    Ireland 26-0 France

    Cian Murtagh
    BBC Sport NI at Dublin's Aviva Stadium

    The Ireland head coach responds to the bonus-point try by calling Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray, Rory Best, Tadh Furlong and Iain Henderson ashore - six days until Cardiff...

  20. 'Sexton back to his best'published at 16:32 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2019

    Ireland 26-0 France

    Jim Neilly
    BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra commentator

    Johnny Sexton has been back to his imperious best today after a couple of iffy games. I think he, like the rest of the team, have taken a bit of a while to recover from that defeat by England on the opening weekend.

    Jonny SextonImage source, PA