Ireland got the 2024 Guinness Six Nations off to the best possible start with a record 38 – 17 victory over France at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.
Here is a full player ratings from this evening’s action.
France
15. Thomas Ramos – 6
Positionally solid as ever despite playing flyhalf all season for Toulouse, with one miss from the tee, but otherwise strong in that department.
14. Damian Penaud – 7
He was lively as ever but just didn’t see enough ball on the front foot, he took his try well and had some strong attacking moments.
13. Gael Fickou – 5
Anonymous throughout in attack and slipped a few costly tackles, he really looked to be carrying the scars of the World Cup.
12. Jonathan Danty – 6
He had a couple of strong carries and had a physical battle with Bundee Aki, but, like his centre partner, did not look full of confidence.
11. Yoram Moefana – 2
Out of position and routinely exposed by the Irish wingers, he is firmly a centre and the gamble to play him out wide didn’t pay off.
10. Mathieu Jalibert – 5
Questions about his ability to control a match persist; he had a couple of clever attacking moments but otherwise was firmly the second-best flyhalf on the pitch.
9. Maxime Lucu – 5
His opposite number rushed him and was far from his best with his box kicking, he was a great player generally but not in the same class as Dupont, and it showed.
8. Gregory Alldritt – 6
He is arguably the best French forward, as he carried strongly throughout whilst putting in some huge hits. Unfortunately, he lacked support from his team.
7. Charles Ollivon – 6
Second behind his captain with some solid carries and was generally good in the air.
6. Francois Cros – 4
Pretty anonymous which is rare for the normally destructive Toulouse utility forward.
5. Paul Willemse – 0
It was an utterly disastrous evening for someone trying to make an impact; there is no doubt that both of his yellow cards were deserved, and the second one was unforgivable.
4. Paul Gabrillagues – 5
He scored a try (albeit it will be debated as to whether it was touched down); outside of this, he had some good line-out moments but struggled to cover for his red-carded lock partner.
3. Uini Antonio – 3
Far from his powerful best, he looked to be out on his feet for the majority of the contest in what will be an alarming sight for French fans.
2. Peato Mauvaka – 5
Industrious but not as effective as normal, the dynamic hooker got close to going over for a try from a quick tap only to be stopped short by the Irish defensive line.
1. Cyril Baile – 6
Non stop effort like Mauvaka and had some strong carries but was up against an Irish pack that was aware of the threat he posed. Certainly had his moments at scrum time too and looks to be the freshest of the French front row.
Replacements
16. Julian Marchand – 6
17. Redi Wardi – left injured early on
18.Dorian Aldegheri – 5
19. Posolo Tuilagi – 7 (A bright future awaits in the blue jersey)
20. Cameron Woki – 7
21.Paul Boudehent – 6
22. Nolan Le Garrec – 3
23.Louis Bielle-Biarrey – 6 (Should’ve started)
Ireland
15. Hugo Keenan – 8
Cool, calm and collected as ever, cleaned up every French kick and put in a huge tackle on Charles Ollivon to stop a promising French attack.
14. Calvin Nash – 7
A rock-solid first Six Nations start capped off with a try, definitely a different player to Mack Hansen but will certainly grow as he gets more opportunities. His pace and ability in the air, combined with his powerful carrying, makes him a lethal threat.
13. Robbie Henshaw – 7
Slotted in for Garry Ringrose seamlessly, a couple of breaks created Irish tries, and defensively, he shut down the French attack time and again.
12. Bundee Aki – 8
Carrying his form from the World Cup into the Six Nations, Aki got on top of Danty and battered some of the big French forwards. His ability at the breakdown caused headaches for the French as he latched on to several ball carries and slowed the action right down.
11. James Lowe – 8
A brilliant showing from the winger, utilising his left boot to great effect, he took pressure off Crowley and found some great touches. In attack, his strike running and power with ball in hand wrecked the French defensive line, one collision with Penaud had the Bordeaux winger flying backwards.
10. Jack Crowley – 9
Johnny who?… We joke, but what a performance from the Munster flyhalf, who is clearly built for the big stage and has added an extra dimension to the Irish attack with his step and pace. Not everything came off, but he was never deterred whilst his goal-kicking was sublime outside of one miss.
9. Jamison Gibson-Park – 9
Utterly superb, his box kicking was pinpoint, passing was slick and his running game had the French defence on the back foot.
8. Caelen Doris – 8
Very strong defensively and had some great carries, he certainly came out on top of his individual battle with Alldritt.
7. Josh van der Flier – 7
Industrious as ever, van der Flier attacked the French breakdown time and again. His tackling was on point in what was his best performance of the season so far.
6. Peter O’Mahony – 7
Lead with aplomb (yellow card aside), early in the contest he won a crucial turnover which took the wind out of a French attack and set the standard for his teammates.
5. Tadhg Beirne – 9
What more is there to say about the Munster secondrow? He is world-class and was once again this evening. Turnovers, tries, and, crucially, a highly effective line-out were all part of a good evening for Beirne.
4. Joe McCarthy – 9
Mark these words: McCarthy will be the building block of the Irish pack for the next decade. The 22-year-old obliterated his French counterparts and was deservedly named player of the match, his carrying ability was off the charts.
3. Tadhg Furlong – 7
Getting back to his best, the tighthead, by and large, held off the power of the French scrum and maul; his carrying game is coming back to the fore, too.
2. Dan Sheehan – 8
Put to rest any debate that he is the best hooker in the Six Nations by outshining Mauvaka and then Marchand. Sheehan is essentially a backrow playing hooker but with the footwork of a centre and the pace of a winger, a true specimen.
1. Andrew Porter – 6
It was an error-strewn evening for Porter in terms of discipline; he did put in some great hits and had some strong carries but will need to cut down on the silly penalties (he conceded 5 in total).
Replacements
16. Ronan Kelleher – 7
17. Cian Healy – 6
18 Finlay Bealham – 6
19. James Ryan – 6
20. Ryan Baird – 7
21. Conor Murray – 6
22. Ciaran Frawley – Only on for one minute.
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