Share
10th March 2019
04:54pm GMT
Keith Earls - 7
Cut inside, early on, for a lovely line break. Was teed up for a couple of cross-kick contests with Huget but only one could be considered 50/50. Cracking line and impressive speed to score from a move that started with him in the Irish lineout.
Garry Ringrose - 6
Was bulldozed back by Bastareaud and had to juggle a couple of stray passes but looked lively. Came off second best in another coming together with the big French centre, when he was turned over, and was denied what would have been a great try by the video replays. Made a lovely blindside hit on Dupont to win his side a turnover. Nailed Dupont again to get Ireland a five-metre scrum but missed a few tackles and was penalised before being subbed off, late in the game.
Bundee Aki - 6
Showed calmness and strength to retain the ball when he slipped taking a pass on his 22. Made 11 carries without much cutting edge and tackled well.
Jacob Stockdale - 6
Was enjoying the physicality of it out there and put both Ramos and Penaud under pressure on kick-chases. Blew one opportunity when chipping a ball over the endline when one-on-one with his marker. Repeated the trick in the second half.
Johnny Sexton - 7.5
Lovely touchline conversion, on four minutes, settled nerves and helped him get into the contest. Really grew into this contest and was pulling strings, and pulling France apart, from 20 minutes on. Scored a classic, Leinster/Ireland loop try.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/1104770168444604418
Conor Murray - 6
Passing was scratchy in the opening 20 minutes and he did a lot of griping about French players slowing ball down. Good to see the box-kick causing trouble again.
Cian Healy - 6
May have been lucky to avoid sanction when he slapped out an admonishing hand, much to French annoyance. Nearly had a try when France stalled at the breakdown on their own line, but knocked on. French were trying to wind him up all afternoon. Missed a few tackles but solid in set-pieces.
Rory Best - 6
Got over for his 10th Test try after three minutes of play. Lineout looked a lot better than in Rome, when Best was missing, but he was still guilty of an overthrow. Missed three of seven tackles attempted.
Tadhg Furlong - 7
Much more like it from Furlong as he made a couple of strong carries and showed off his passing in a couple of moves that stretched France.
Iain Henderson - 8
Great performance from Henderson. Full of physicality and bite. Drove many a French player back where they came from and carried well. Gave away a penalty, on 50, and was warned for back-chat.
James Ryan - 8.5
Antoine Dupont knows not to try run out from behind his line when Ryan is around. Was another player that produced the good and won the physical battle against most that he came across. Up there with Stander for Ireland's best player.
Peter O'Mahony - 8
Made for days like this. A nuisance to the French, in attack and defence, but he really stepped up at openside when van der Flier came off. Secured a couple of turnovers and got involved in a few of his customary jersey-grabbing dust-ups.
Josh van der Flier - 5
Was tipping away okay, without making any massive inroads, when a suspected knee injury ended his participation after 24 minutes.
CJ Stander - 8.5
Good to have him back. Led the way for carries and tackles as Ireland got comprehensively on top in the first 40. So vocal too. Beauty of an inside switch pass for Earls' try. One second half carry saw him swatting Huget and Ntamack away before Bastareaud pasted him.
[caption id="attachment_195666" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
(Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile)[/caption]
Explore more on these topics:
