Summary

  • Ireland Grand Slam hopes end with defeat

  • France go clear at top of Six Nations table with famous win in Dublin

  • Visitors score 27 unanswered points in second-half blitz

  • France captain Antoine Dupont goes off injured in first half

  1. France's story so farpublished at 13:12 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March

    Ireland v France (14:15 GMT)

    Antoine DupontImage source, Getty Images

    For a lot of this year's Six Nations, France have looked close to unstoppable with Antoine Dupont leading the charge.

    However, after demolishing Wales in their opener, they came unstuck against England, who mastered the slippy and damp conditions to come away with a famous win at Twickenham.

    France dusted themselves down to hammer Italy in the third game week, scoring 11 (yes, ELEVEN) tries in Rome as they were back to their clinical best.

    Much like with Ireland, what France will show up today?

  2. Ireland's story so farpublished at 13:08 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March

    Ireland v France (14:15 GMT)

    Ireland celebrate the Triple CrownImage source, Inpho

    Looking at the results to far, it's been the perfect start to the Six Nations for Ireland with three wins and a Triple Crown in the bag.

    However, after overpowering a resurgent England and putting on a clinic against Scotland, Ireland were perhaps a touch fortunate to get over the line in Cardiff in their third outing after a showing that was far below the levels we have come to expect from the men in green.

    They overcame Garry Ringrose's 20-minute red card to beat a determined Wales side and keep their hopes of a Grand Slam alive.

    What Ireland show up today? That could determine the outcome.

  3. Postpublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March

    Ireland v France (14:15 GMT)

    Here's how things stand with just two rounds of fixtures to go.

    It's all to play for at the top.

    Six Nations tableImage source, BBC Sport
  4. The weekend's actionpublished at 13:02 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March

    Ireland v France (14:15 GMT)

    We're starting off with an absolute blockbuster.

    The other two matches aren't half bad either. This could be some weekend.

    The weekend's Six Nations fixturesImage source, Inpho
  5. The big onepublished at 12:57 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March

    Ireland v France (14:15 GMT)

    While England against France is known as 'Le Crunch', this might just be 'Le Crunch Grande' in this year's Six Nations.

    Heading into the penultimate round of fixtures, Ireland and France lead the way at the top of the table and the winner in Dublin will be in pole position to win the title heading into the final weekend.

    England are waiting in the wings to capitalise if either slip up, so it's going to be some end to the championship.

    We'll have live commentary on BBC Radio 5Live, Radio Ulster and you can get it all right here or on BBC Sounds, so we'll have you covered.