Astonishing, epochal stuff by Ireland and it wasn’t even near perfect

This win broke at least two points records for Ireland against a side that for so many years was their nemesis.

2 February 2024; Rónan Kelleher of Ireland, hidden, scores his side's fifth try during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between France and Ireland at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Forget Ireland’s woeful record at World Cups. More to the point before kick-off in Marseille was the national team’s inability to shake off those disappointments in time to make amends come the Five or Six Nations that followed.

Only once since the first of those World Cups in 1987 had Ireland made any sort of meaningful dent in Europe’s next backyard brawl. That was in 2004 when they followed up an opening day loss - in France - with four straight wins and a Triple Crown.