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3rd February 2018
07:34pm GMT

Ireland had been the favourites going into the match and they looked the better team for most of it. They looked in control but rarely threatened to score a try. With France keeping them contained it was always going to be a dog-fight.
Sexton's miss, slightly to the right of the posts, on 56 minutes was his only blemish but it looked like it would prove costly. The fact that he then turned over French ball in his own 22 was a sign that the man was not going to walk off this pitch without doing so a winner.
There were two other magic moments during those 41 phases. Iain Henderson won one hell of a re-start over on the left wing and then Sexton connected with a soaring Keith Earls for a stunning cross-kick.
In the middle of it all, Dan Leavy and Peter O'Mahony made some great carries and Devin Toner was a demon for ruck clear-outs. Nigel Owens was never likely to award a penalty and Ireland were too far out to realistically gun for a try. Ireland refused to panic and left it to Sexton.
https://twitter.com/TV3Ireland/status/959865993072861186
My God, he did not disappoint.
Heart of stone. Unerring foot. Balls of steel.Explore more on these topics: