France launched their Six Nations title defense with authority on Thursday night, running in five tries to secure a 36–14 bonus-point victory over Ireland at a rain-soaked Stade de France.
Having set a tournament record with 30 tries last year, Les Bleus wasted no time picking up where they left off. They stormed into a 29–0 lead, with left winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey once again at the heart of the damage.
Bielle-Biarrey opened the scoring in the 12th minute and underlined why he was voted last year’s player of the tournament. Electric down the left flank, he shrugged off two tackles — even momentarily dropping to his knees — before powering over. Fullback Thomas Ramos added the conversion.
Recalled flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert, making his return a year after a difficult outing in French colors, crossed for the second try after slicing through a soft tackle from Ireland’s Sam Prendergast. Though Ramos missed the conversion, a subsequent penalty stretched the lead to 15–0.
France’s third try showcased their growing cohesion. Prop Jean-Baptiste Gros reacted quickest to a loose ball and linked with lock Mickaël Guillard, whose offload sent Charles Ollivon crashing over for his 18th international try. Ramos converted to keep the scoreboard ticking.
After halftime, Ireland briefly threatened a comeback. Ramos produced a moment of improvisation — a deft, soccer-style flick with the outside of his foot — to release Bielle-Biarrey for his second try in the corner, his 22nd in just 23 Tests.
“It’s a great result for us, but we shouldn’t get carried away,” Ramos said. “We won the territorial battles and the aerial challenges, which helped us to keep them under pressure.”
Ireland finally found reward through substitutes Nick Timoney and Michael Milne. Timoney finished after a break from Stuart McCloskey, while Milne powered over from a driving maul. Prendergast converted both to cut into the deficit.
Tempers flared late on when lock James Ryan flattened Jalibert off the ball, but France had the final say. Jalibert recovered to set up Théo Attissogbe for a last-minute try in the right corner, which Ramos converted to seal a commanding win.
“We did the basics well and managed to play a bit, too. We combined business with pleasure,” said scrumhalf Antoine Dupont.
With Romain Ntamack still sidelined by a kidney injury, Jalibert’s assured display alongside Dupont likely secures him the No. 10 jersey for France’s trip to Wales on February 15.
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