Ireland Grand Slam hopes ended by rampant France

Men's Six Nations

Ireland (6) 27

Tries: Sheehan, Healy, Conan Cons: Prendergast 3 Pens: Prendergast 2

France (8) 42

Tries: Bielle-Biarrey 2, Boudehent, Jegou, Penaud Cons: Ramos 4 Pens: Ramos 3

Rampant France took control of the Six Nations title race as they scored 34 unanswered points to thrash Ireland in Dublin and end the home side's Grand Slam hopes.

Despite losing captain Antoine Dupont to a suspected "serious" knee injury after 30 minutes, France scored four second-half tries to move two points clear of Ireland at the top and avenge last year's defeat in Marseille.

Tournament top scorer Louis Bielle-Biarrey crossed twice for Les Bleus and Paul Boudehent and Oscar Jegou also touched down to secure the bonus point before Damian Penaud equalled Serge Blanco's French record of 38 tries at the end of a signature breakaway.

Dan Sheehan's early second-half try put Ireland - who temporarily lost Joe McCarthy and Calvin Nash to yellow cards in either half - 13-8 up, but France's response was emphatic as they put themselves in pole position before hosting Scotland in their final game.

Ireland, however, must beat Italy in Rome next week and hope other results go their way as they chase an unprecedented third straight Six Nations title.

England, currently in third, can move above Ireland with a home victory over Italy on Sunday (15:00 GMT).

Early pressure fails to produce Irish try

This was a devastating defeat for Ireland - their first at home in the Six Nations since France won in Dublin in 2021 - and for retiring trio Peter O'Mahony, Cian Healy and Conor Murray.

Their woes began before kick-off when they lost James Lowe to a back injury sustained in the warm-up, the wing replaced by Calvin Nash as Jamie Osborne switched to the left side.

Lowe's last-minute withdrawal did not rattle the holders, who started with serious focus and intent.

However, despite 13 minutes of sustained pressure, they failed to pocket an opening score, as Caelan Doris was held up on the goal-line before fly-half Sam Prendergast's first kick at goal struck a post.

Then France offered the first glimpse of their electric counter-attacking threat.

After Penaud stole Hugo Keenan's attempted pass to Bundee Aki, the winger sped away and fed scrum-half Dupont, who left Prendergast in his wake to score. But following a lengthy TMO review, the try was ruled out for a knock-on.

From there, the momentum shifted dramatically, and after McCarthy was yellow carded for cynically pulling back Thomas Ramos, France immediately capitalised on their numerical advantage as Dupont sent Bielle-Biarrey over for his sixth try of the tournament.

That would be one of Dupont's last acts, though, as a knee injury sustained in a collision with Ireland second row Tadhg Beirne forced the French captain off to be replaced by Maxime Lucu, France's solitary backline replacement after head coach Fabien Galthie opted to pack seven forwards on to his bench.

Within five minutes of Dupont's exit, Ireland finally got on the scoreboard through Prendergast's penalty, and while Irish obstruction straight from the kick-off enabled Ramos to respond, the Ireland out-half's dead-eyed kick from halfway cut France's lead to two at the break.

France blow Ireland away in second half

Like they did in the first half, Ireland came flying out of the traps after the restart and scored within three minutes when Sheehan touched down in the corner from a maul.

Prendergast converted and Ireland led 13-8, but that was as good as it got for the hosts as France hit back swiftly through Boudehent.

It was a try that angered Ireland, who felt Thibaud Flament should have been penalised for taking out O'Mahony off the ball, and their frustrations deepened when Nash was shown a yellow card for head-on-head contact with Pierre-Louis Barassi.

From there, France ruthlessly seized control. Having introduced considerable firepower from their bench, France won the ball and worked it to Penaud, who sent Bielle-Biarrey down the left wing for his second after latching on to his own kick.

Replacement flanker Jegou - filling in at centre following Barassi's injury - sealed the visitors' bonus point, and while Flament was sin-binned soon after, Penaud compounded Irish misery with a signature breakaway score.

After Ramos intercepted Prendergast's pass, the prolific Bordeaux wing broke into space and ecstatically dove over the line as he drew level with Blanco, rubbing salt into Irish wounds.

France's 42-point haul was the most they have ever scored in Dublin and with 26 tries they are just three shy of England's championship record set in 2001.

Having felt the full force of a ferocious French performance, Ireland did score late tries through Healy and Jack Conan.

It was not enough to secure a try bonus, though, on an afternoon that belonged to France and Ireland will want to soon forget.

Line-ups

Ireland: Keenan; Nash, Henshaw, Aki, Osborne; Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Bealham, McCarthy, Beirne, O'Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).

Replacements: Herring, Healy, Clarkson, Ryan, Conan, Baird, Murray, Crowley.

Sin-bin: McCarthy (20), Nash (47)

France: Ramos; Penaud, Barassi, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Ntamack, Dupont (capt); Gros, Mauvaka, Atonio, Flament, Guillard, Cros, Boudehent, Alldritt.

Replacements: Marchand, Baille, Aldegheri, Meafou, Auradou, Jegou, Jelonch, Lucu.

Sin-bin: Flament (74)

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)