SAINT-DENIS, France – While Antoine Dupont’s return from an 11-month absence grabbed the pre-match headlines, it was Louis Bielle-Biarrey who stole the show at the Stade de France, with the electric winger continuing his remarkable try-scoring streak.
France sent a chilling warning to their Six Nations rivals in the opener on Thursday night, dismantling Ireland 36-14 in a performance that showcased the exhilarating attacking rugby that has become their hallmark.
Bielle-Biarrey tormented the Irish defence all evening, taking his international tally to 22 tries in just 23 caps, numbers that underline his status as one of world rugby’s most lethal finishers. Even more remarkably, these scores represented his 26th and 27th tries in 27 matches for club and country since the last Six Nations, a strike rate that would make even the most prolific scorers envious.
Matthieu Jalibert orchestrated proceedings with the kind of mercurial play that has French fans purring. The fly-half didn’t just control the tempo; he shattered it with his ingenuity, scoring one try and creating havoc with his tactical kicking game. Yet it was lock Mickael Guillard who walked away with the man-of-the-match award, recognition for the grunt work that allowed the flair players to flourish.
Ireland arrived in Paris with ambitions of making a statement of their own, beginning the contest with a series of probing up-and-unders. Those aerial interrogations, however, quickly proved futile as France turned the opening 40 minutes into a masterclass of attacking rugby.
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The warning signs flashed early. Charles Ollivon nearly crossed in the opening minutes, only for a knock-on following Bielle-Biarrey’s chip ahead to deny him. France wouldn’t have to wait long.
On 13 minutes, Bielle-Biarrey produced the kind of try that will feature on highlight reels for years to come. A move of slick, rapid-fire passing created the opening, and the wing needed no second invitation. He scampered down the tightest of gaps along the touchline, beating Jamison Gibson-Park before Sam Prendergast’s tap tackle briefly halted his progress. Undeterred, Bielle-Biarrey picked himself off the turf and skinned Jacob Stockdale on the outside to dot down.
The hosts maintained their stranglehold on proceedings. After forcing Tommy O’Brien to touch down behind his own line, Dupont, operating with the sharpness of a man who’d never been away, teed up Jalibert from the resulting five-metre scrum. The fly-half needed no further encouragement, bursting through the Irish defence on 22 minutes.
Thomas Ramos kept the scoreboard ticking with a penalty after Joe McCarthy transgressed at the breakdown, before France kicked into overdrive once more. Jalibert’s delicate chip had Ireland scrambling backwards, and when the hosts recovered possession, Guillard provided the final pass for his second-row partner Ollivon to crash over on 34 minutes.
At 22-0, it was the the first time Ireland had been held scoreless in the opening 40 minutes of a Six Nations encounter. The statistic spoke volumes about France’s dominance.
Les Bleus emerged for the second half with their appetite unsated. Dupont’s chip was volleyed on by Ramos, and Bielle-Biarrey streaked clear for his second, showing the kind of finishing prowess that has become his trademark.
At this point, France appeared destined for a comprehensive drubbing. Yet complacency crept into their game, and Ireland finally found a foothold. Three-quarters of the way through the contest, substitute flanker Nick Timoney raced under the posts to give the visitors something to cheer about.
Irish tails were up, and replacement prop Michael Milne burrowed over to threaten turning a procession into a contest. For a fleeting moment, France’s only blemishes, periods of overplaying born from confidence and enjoyment, looked like they might prove costly.
But champions respond to adversity, and France had the final say. More brilliance and enterprise created space out wide, and Theo Attissogbe exploited it ruthlessly, touching down in the corner to restore the comfortable margin.
The victory represents an ominous marker for the rest of the Six Nations. With Dupont back in harness, Jalibert pulling the strings, and Bielle-Biarrey in the form of his life, France look every inch the team to beat. Ireland, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly and address the defensive frailties that were so ruthlessly exposed under the Paris lights.
