Ireland vs France

The Ireland vs France player ratings after the two best ranked sides in the world battled out a fierce 80 minutes of rugby in Dublin.

Turnovers: James Lowe (Ireland) – 2 Metres: Hugo Keenan (Ireland) – 202 Carries: Hugo Keenan (Ireland) – 18

Ireland player ratings live from Aviva Stadium: The arrival of France was the perfect moment to stress test progress under Andy Farrell.

[Tadhg Furlong](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/tadhg-furlong/) steeling their scrum and he was tops again here, even having the audacity to show that grizzly-looking tightheads can have the softest of hands. Would have been under pressure to be a good version of the ball-carrying [Dan Sheehan](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/dan-sheehan/) and he had his moments, including an early tilt at the line. Played the last 23 minutes in place of O’Mahony and he featured to positive effect. Thrown into the fray on 26 when the groggy Herring was hooked, he didn’t flinch in making his presence felt. Did get a warning from the referee to get out of his ear with the constant chatter about rucks, but other than that he was flamboyant and classy in everything he did. Was later involved in that extraordinary moment when [Antoine Dupont](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/antoine-dupont/) denied him from reaching out to score. Last week’s penalty trouble was a thing of the past here as he was immense in a wonderful battle between two excellent teams. Like a vintage wine, he is getting better with age and this will go down as one of his finest-ever performances for Ireland given the circumstances: his father is ill in hospital after a serious road traffic accident. There was a first-half moment when you wondered how influential he would be – he was the one who indicated for Hansen to garryowen and chase rather than offer himself for the pass when Penaud countered to score. Started with the bemusement of seeing a kick blocked by the aerial spider cam, but his second kick, which resulted in the French conceding a lineout five metres out, set the tone for Ireland. He had the hands to go with the heft in breaking the line and it’s only now that he is deservedly getting to show this at Test level. Four first-half tries – three to the Irish – had the crowd, both green and the visiting blue supporters, in raptures.

Ireland 32-19 France: The 2023 Six Nations title could well be heading to Dublin after a brilliant win for Andy Farrell's Ireland.