Seven points to make up on the title favourites. Or Ireland's Six Nations hopes are gone before the first rest weekend.

Forty minutes to do it.

Here we go. And James Lowe's clearing kick is a duffer...

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland - France

Possession: 61%-39%

Territory: 69%-31%

Metres run: 170-154

Clean breaks: 0-3

Defenders beaten: 7-9

Tackles made/attempted: 62/71 (87% success) - 86/93 (92%)

Penalties conceded: 3-6

Michael Morrow
BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

An optimist would say Ireland are at least matching France in most departments.

A pessimist would say that France haven't really got going, had a man in the bin and are seven points to the good.

Tommy Bowe
Former Ireland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

France showed how dangerous they are to take the lead despite playing with 14 men for 10 minutes.

Andy Farrell will be disappointed. Ireland have had pretty much all the possession and will have to look at how they are going to get France going backwards and get over the tryline.

You have to be clinical in international rugby.

Canny from France as they play the low-risk one-out stuff for the final minute in their own half. Keeping their hands on the ball and the clock winding down.

As soon as it turns red, Matthieu Jalibert thumps the ball into the stands to send his side into the break with a comfy cushion.

Could have kicked it in carpet slippers...

France stretch out to seven in a half in which they have copped a sin-binning as well...

Cian Healy fails to roll away from the bottom of a ruck right in front of his posts.

This is gimme range for Matthieu Jalibert...

A little bit of the Harlem Globetrotters stuff from Antoine Dupont as he flips one round his back to Charles Ollivon.

The France scrum-half gives Cian Healy a little too long a look on his next dart though and is enveloped by the Ireland loosehead.

His mates are on the scene quickly to make sure the ball gets to ground and that their star man isn't swallowed whole.

CJ Stander bellyflops over the top of a ruck and is pinged for a penalty.

That was a very easy call for referee Luke Pearce.

France are starting to strut with the ball in hand as well. Damian Penaud dummying, darting and causing some damage.

Tommy Bowe
Former Ireland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Ireland have had 70-80% of possession but have only got three points.

France have had one chance with 14 players and taken it.

I know James Lowe had a try ruled out but if you have an opponent in the sin-bin you have to capitalise.

France scored that try with Bernard Le Roux in le bin.

The second row is back on and his side are ahead after that power play blew up in Ireland's face.

Michael Morrow
BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

Last week Ireland spent considerably more time in Wales' 22 than vice versa, but Wales turned their territory into two tries to Ireland's one.

Again, they've been on top in the opening half hour here but one France attack has yielded one France try.

Magnificent stuff from the visitors, with a bit of Dupont magic in the middle of it - can't argue with that.

Tommy Bowe
Former Ireland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

That shows the danger of France with their offload game. They broke through three tackles and had Ireland scrambling.

Ireland, with a man advantage and six minutes left on the power play after Bernard Le Roux's yellow card, are still applying the pressure.

A superb kick and regather from Hugo Keenan at full-back... and France are penned back in their own 22m....

Tommy Bowe
Former Ireland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

James Lowe has great strength in a one on ones. He's got these huge hips that players seem to bounce off. He's lifted his feet up to try to stay away from the touchline and had it been given it would have given Jonny May's finish a run for his money.

You are talking centimetres there.

The TMO almost wears out the rewind button as they whip back and forth over James Lowe's toe and the sideline whitewash.

Eventually they decide that James Lowe was just about in touch. No try.

Image source, PA Media

James Lowe into the corner at full pelt!

But the cover defence of Brice Dulin and Gael Fickou are coming across at maximum speed as well...

Is the Ireland wing forced into touch? Luke Pearce has a try on field, but the video gods will decide....

Tommy Bowe
Former Ireland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

That is dangerous because Keith Earls is about to go into the air for the ball.

Bernard Le Roux is no criminal mastermind.

The French second row cynically trips Ireland wing Keith Earls as the pair chase an Ireland up and under.

The referee has a look on the big screen and the yellow pops out of his pocket.