A solid start for the boys in green.
Ireland led France by 9-3 at half-time of their first round Six Nations clash with France in the Stade De France on Saturday. Two early Johnny Sexton penalties helped Ireland settle into the game early on.
Joe Schmidt’s side started well in Paris. Jacob Stockdale made an early break, while Bundee Aki alongside him was making his presence felt with a few typically thunderous challenges, one of which led to an early French casualty.
Aki was quick to rise to his feet after the challenge, but his opponent came off the worse, unsurprisingly.
Running into Bundee Aki pic.twitter.com/bD6ltCwRNO
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) February 3, 2018
France’s first choice out half Matthieu Jalibert was the victim, and he was subbed for a head injury assessment after 30 minutes of the action, and the exciting youngster was replaced by another exciting youngster in Anthony Belleau for the home team.
Maxime Machenaud took over the kicking duties and he responded with a penalty for Jacques Brunel’s side.
Johnny Sexton soon restored Ireland’s six point lead.
Iain Henderson was competing ferociously on the deck, while Tadhg Furlong was a savage.
Here. We. Go. #FravIre #ShouldertoShoulder #TeamOfUs Ireland. pic.twitter.com/0sIjCDh2PO
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 3, 2018
All the talk was about that man Jacob Stockdale, however. The Ulster man landed a couple of crucial first half tackles, and was always a willing, destructive runner in that first 40 minutes of rugby.
Stockdale is a beast #IREvFRA
— Gee_McK (@Gee_McK) February 3, 2018
Jacob Stockdale already doing bits #FRAvIRE #COYBIG
— owen roberts (@oesni1) February 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/unlaoised/status/959830721203441666
Great start for Aki and Stockdale.
— Ian Frizzell (@rava_ian) February 3, 2018
