As it happened: Ireland suffer 36-14 defeat in bruising opening-night defeat in Paris
UP AND RUNNING: France's Louis Bielle-Biarrey breaks through to score their first try of the game during the Guinness Men's Six Nations match at the Stade de France, Paris. Picture date: Thursday February 5, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Adam Davy/PA Wire
Ireland captain Caelan Doris doesn't hide from what was mostly a horrid oul night for Ireland. This was as chastening an opening to a championship as Ireland have had for some time.
"That's definitely not how we foresaw the start of our campaign going. We left ourselves too tall of a mountain to climb in the first half," Doris said. "We were lacking a bit of fight definitely. Some class from them but not good enough from us. We didn't shut them down enough. Not good enough from us in the collision. Our kick chase let us down. Some grit and determination in the second half, good impact from our bench but very disappointing overall.
"Not only was it 19 missed tackles but the amount of offloads we allowed them to get away. We allowed them to do that way too much. I think some of our defence played into their hands. It was exactly what they wanted. They flourished with that."
A burst in the middle of the second-half, as the French switched off for a spell, threatened to give Andy Farrell something quite tangible to carry away from Paris. Would Ireland even have grabbed that coveted B-word in the headlines — a brave defeat. Attissogbe's delightful footnote popped that bubble plenty. Ireland leave with something closer to the hiding that it mostly felt like. Next Saturday lunchtime it's Italy in Dublin. It had better be a whole pile better.
On the field and off it, that pair of late Ryan interventions have fired up the French to finish it with a bang and Attissogbe provides it. After Serin makes the break the Pau winger hot-steps down the sideline to finish superbly and in truth the scoreline is much closer to the reality of the night. Ramos adds two more to give the French a 22-point triumph. What a start for them.
Ryan, who tarnished Ireland's autumn with a moronic clearout in the wild defeat to South Africa is again in the spotlight after a late hit on Jalibert. The Stade de France are irate but Dickson insists all is okay. Looks like the right call.
France turn over a lineout and suddenly remember where the Ireland tryline is. A flourish to finish is on the menu but they're held up. Minutes later the hosts offload in a dreamy sequence before Ramos is shoved into touch. The home crowd roar for a James Ryan transgression but get no joy.
Craig Casey is in for Gibson-Park who'll surely be tender tomorrow after skittling off lots of French bodies. Dupont's night is done and he gets an ovation fitting a Parisian prince. The French are kicking it deep and away as they count down the minutes now.
"I have no idea what just happened!" — A most fitting quote from the microphone of Karl Dickson as Ireland's latest assault ends with the ball dribbling out the side before a French player inexplicably passes to Ronan Kelleher who, to be on the safe side, touches down. The TMO helps to sort it all out. Knock-on Ireland, scrum France. Seven to go.
There are less than 10 minutes to go and Ireland are back in French territory hunting another slice of at least consolation. Doris is carrying well and Conan is backing him up manfully as French tackles pile up. What a peculiar turn of events.
For a man making his Six Nations debut, Michael Milne sure has made an impression. The Munster prop made a couple of huge carries before scoring his first Test try. On a night of few positives for Ireland, the birthday boy has put in some really nice work off the bench.
France 29–14 Ireland
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 5, 2026
Michael Milne powers over for Ireland.#VMSport #GuinnessM6N #FravIre pic.twitter.com/584qzE0W6B
Does this have a frisson of 2006 about it? Back then Ireland found themselves in a horrid hole — 43-3 down after 47 minutes. It was a debacle. Then Eddie O'Sullivan's men found the most unlikely flourish — Ronan O'Gara, Gordon D'Arcy, Andrew Trimble and Donncha O'Callaghan scoring four tries in 13 minutes and Ireland cutting it down to 43-31 before the revival fell short.
Three in two minutes! French replacements haven't been able to keep the tempo of their starters and sloppiness has crept in. Another penalty may have resulted in a yellow but Ireland get plenty of reward anyway. A booming kick from Prendergast gives Farrell's men great position and Michael Milne burrows over. There's a TMO check for a knock-on but nothing there. Prendergast puts two more on the board and it's somehow, someway, a 15-point game.
Ireland finally spend a little bit of time in the French half. Gibson-Park pleads for some sympathy from Karl Dickson. A penalty is eventually won. It's all gone a little helter-skelter but the chaos provides some consolation as Ireland work the ball through the hands, Prendergast offloading delicately, McCloskey carrying to good effect and replacement Nick Timoney races in from close range. Prendergast tacks on two more. The goose egg is off the scoreboard.
It's just about No.5 for France after a risky Prendergast fling to Gibson-Park is plucked out of the sky by Theo Attissogbe. A Crowley tap-tackle helps to stop the onslaught.
Ireland can't even get their replacements right as Jacob Stockdale is hauled ashore only to be sent back in. All told it's a four-man switch. Ryan, Timoney, Conan and Crowley are brought in for McCarthy, Van der Flier, Cian Prendergast, and O'Brien. Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley are both out there now as Ireland look to arrest one of the more alarming nights in recent memory.
Andy Farrell is reaching for the bench in a big way and you cannot blame him. France are threatening to exceed their biggest-ever total against Ireland — the 45 points they racked up in 1996.
We've suffered painful football nights at the Stade de France and Thomas Ramos seems determined to remind us of that as his fancy footwork helps Bielle-Biarrey scurry in for his second and wrap up the bonus. Dupont was, inevitably, involved too with the first chip forward which Ramos half-volleyed into space. Ramos adds two more and the rout is in full flow.
A rare French error inside the Ireland 22 as they're pinged at maul time and Karl Dickson's whistle is met with Irish roars. The slightest relief and it's followed by the first French penalty of the evening. Josh van der Flier high fives teammates as Ireland look for even a flicker of momentum.
Some rollicking Daft Punk electro gets the second half underway. Andy Farrell was, the commentators tell us, "very animated" in the Ireland dressingroom at the interval. Well, you'd surely hope so. At the risk of having that Mick McCarthy meme thrown our way in 40 minutes' time, it surely can't get any worse for Ireland?
There's a bit of chatter about Karl Dickson's handling of the breakdown and whether France's second try may have some question-marks around it but, honestly, pointing at the referee when you've been as abject as Ireland have isn't a great look. Nearly 20 tackles missed, over a dozen turnovers lost, some baffling options taken, not a single French penalty conceded. It's been ugly stuff.
Here's a look at that gorgeous third French try as the home team scythed through Ireland. While you're watching digest these numbers: in that half France carried 91 times for 319 metres, Ireland just 37 times for a paltry 112m.
He will not be stopped!
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 5, 2026
Try France! Charles Ollivon finishes a slick move from the lineout — conversion added. France lead 22–0.#VMSport #GuinnessM6N #FravIre pic.twitter.com/WMJdnWyaqI
Well, at least the lineout started well! Paris traffic can be hectic at the best of times but it's been all one-way out in Saint-Denis this Thursday night. An utterly dominant half of rugby from the hosts. The tries came from Bielle-Biarrey, Jalibert and Ollivon. The only surprise may be that no one else got in on the party. It's hard to think of a single positive for Andy Farrell and his brains trust to cling to as they regroup in the changing rooms. It's 22-0 and Ireland are lucky to be nil.
That third was a wonderful team try for the hosts who have played some spellbinding stuff in a half that has gone by in a blur of brilliant blue. Yet the green-tinted lenses have found little positive to focus on. Bielle-Biarrey was threatening again before Osborne snuffed it out. Halftime can't come quickly enough for Farrell.
Mickael Guillard had spent the better part of a half hour barrelling into Irishmen with huge carries. Now he turns provider to his fellow second rower Charles Ollivon who powers over, Ireland's defence in shambles. The two locks looked more like backs with the hands and lines. For Ireland, this is a Thursday night horror show. France are threatening to have the bonus wrapped up before the break.
The number that matters most is, of course, on the scoreboard. It already feels like the next score needs to be Ireland's. But there are other ugly numbers swirling in the Stade. How about this one: Ireland have missed 19 tackles in less than a half hour. Ouch.
— Joe McCarthy, one of many Irish carriers who has got his hands on precious little ball in this opening half hour, gives away a frankly brainless penalty but that's what pressure can do and Ireland have been under a mountain of it. Ramos extends the lead.
Here's that opening try from Bielle-Biarrey that got us all started. Last year's player of the championship is clearly eager to retain his crown. Scintillating!
⚡️ Try France! Louise Bielle-Biarrey shows blistering pace to open the scoring. France 5–0 Ireland#VMSport #GuinnessM6N #FravIre pic.twitter.com/z7MO7GOzar
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 5, 2026
— And the second score that has been threatened since the first was dotted down does arrive. It's all too easy from an Irish perspective as Dupont picks from the back of the scrum and Jalibert bundles over with ease. Small mercy as Ramos pings an upright with the extras but this is a 12-0 hole that feels very deep already.
Irish bodies are bopping and banging off French ones but it's those in green that are all going backwards as the French decamp to the Ireland 22. Gibson-Park is defending manfully but France are on the brink of another when the ball inexplicably is offloaded not to a blue jersey but to Prendergast. All Ireland can do is give up a five-metre scrum.
Ireland are pinged again for going off their feet, the second penalty they've conceded since that French try. Before we've hit the 20-minute mark this has unquestionably become the test of Irish mettle we'd expected.
— Mon Dieu! Bielle-Biarrey has picked up exactly where he left off. Ireland were pinned back and a kick towards the right corner is dealt with in less than typical fashion as Prendergast volleys it back upfield. It's back down Ireland's throat in a blur of Bleu as Bielle-Biarrey finds room where there is none, three Ireland players unable to stop the wing wonder. Ramos adds the extras. A solid start is undone in a flash.
There's been plenty of deep kicking already but Sam Prendergast opts to change tack with a lovely cross-field effort that sends Tommy O'Brien scampering down the right wing before Thomas Ramos gets back to handle things. That will have helped the Ireland No.10's confidence. Andy Farrell is already busy sending instructions down from upon high.
After surviving two scrums, Ireland get some gorgeous relief at the foot of Osborne who shows not a flicker of rust with a 50:22 beauty. Another smooth lineout routine works and Ireland briefly get moving towards the French 22 before a turnover. A third scrum within the first seven minutes. This was always going to be a night for the set piece.
Woof, there are early scares and then there's the scare Ireland just suffered — but survived. Louis Bielle-Biarrey scorches down the wing after an Irish box kick didn't work out and with the line at their mercy, the French knock on. First scrum incoming.
Like he'd never left, Dupont finds touch with a booming kick to test the Ireland lineout within 30 seconds. It's been a trouble area for Ireland but the first one went off without issue.
If you haven't had the pleasure of hearing a Stade de France rendition of La Marseillaise in person, we'd suggest throwing it on the wish/bucket list. Tonight's was mostly a cappella and was as stirring as ever. So we're just about ready to go.
Ireland's more recent trips to the Stade de France felt like home games, the 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign seeing a Zombie-soundtracked Irish invasion. It won't be anything like that tonight as the teams emerge out into a cauldron of French noise and flames with enough Jean-Michel Jarre lasers to take down a Death Star. It's a show in Paris alright. Time for the anthems...
For the record, it would appear that Dupont did indeed get the French night off on the right foot (or flick) by winning the toss. A bad omen for Caelan Doris and Ireland? We'll see soon enough...
🇫🇷🤝☘️ C'est l'Irlande qui donnera le coup d'envoi ce soir ! @IrishRugby !#XVdeFrance #FRAIRL pic.twitter.com/DqyVjsQTYo
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) February 5, 2026
For Farrell the new year has been full of fresh headaches. Injury and ill-discipline have seriously restricted his options in Paris. At the coalface things have been particularly dire. Injuries to Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle mean Jeremy Loughman will start at loosehead for the first time in two years. Jamie Osborne will deputise for Hugo Keenan at full back but hasn't played a game since November. Farrell has opted for a 6-2 split on the bench.
15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Jeremy Loughman Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 James Ryan, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Nick Timoney, 22 Craig Casey, 23 Jack Crowley
Back to full fitness and his mesmerizing best, Dupont will lead a French XV that hasn't been without its own upheaval. While the skipper will make his first Test appearance in 11 months having injured his knee injury in this fixture last year, Fabien Galthie caused plenty of stir by naming his a 42-man tournament squad without Gregory Alldritt, Gael Fickou and Damian Penaud. Midway through a World Cup cycle, tonight's France XV contains plenty of experience and explosiveness (Louis Bielle-Biarrey is back for more) but new blood too. On the other wing, Pau's Théo Attissogbe, a star of the French club game in recent times, must be watched.
15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Theo Attissogbe, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont (c); 8 Anthony Jelonch, 7 Oscar Jegou, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Mickael Guillard, 4 Charles Ollivon, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros. Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Hugo Auradou, 20 Emmanuel Meafou, 21 Lenni Nouchi, 22 Baptiste Serin, 23 Kalvin Gourgues.
Why are we even doing all of this on a Thursday night, you may be wondering? Friday night kickoffs had become part of the Six Nations programme in recent times but with the 2026 Winter Olympics kicking off with an opening ceremony in Milan tomorrow night, rugby's powers that be have played friendly neighbours and avoided a clash. So a Thursday night coin toss has officially got us going with home captain Antoine Dupont doing the honours...
We know the Parisiens put on one hell of a party. The pre-match pageantry in St. Denis seems to kick up a notch or two with every new season. Tonight they've broken out a giant mirrorball and a disco dancefloor tunnel to welcome the players. Magnifique!
Serious party vibe at the Stade de France before this Six Nations opener
— Brendan O'Brien (@byBrendanOBrien) February 5, 2026
Don’t think many are expecting Ireland to spoil the mood pic.twitter.com/mMQcSdNP1P
We're just about 40 minutes away from our 8.10pm kick-off so there's still time to ease nerves or perhaps fray them even more with some pre-match reading. The Examiner's always essential Donal Lenihan has teed up the task at hand for Farrell and his team with a focus on the injuries and absences which will test the scrum, lineout and Ireland's backline resilience.
It's Joe Callaghan here on the desk but the Examiner's dynamic duo, Simon Lewis and Brendan O'Brien, are in situ in the northern suburbs of Paris. The weather hasn't been all that pleasant there either but has improved a little as kickoff approaches. The boys have caught up for a last-minute chat on what to expect from an opening night with many questions:
The first sign of spring? Listen, after what feels like a solid month of Status Yellow, Orange and Red, we’ll take anything that looks even remotely like a change in the seasons. So, for better or worse, bring on Status Bleus.
An unorthodox Thursday night kickoff of the 2026 edition of the Six Nations will do just fine as a distraction but it’s shaping to be one hell of an opening examination for Andy Farrell’s men. Ireland have arrived in the French capital minus fitness, form, fortune and, perhaps understandably, much in the way of wider confidence across the country.
Yet the championship which sees itself as rugby’s greatest is rarely short on a surprise or two. Can this year’s edition kick off with one?
Stay with us here over the next few hours as we keep you up to date with everything that’s happening at the Stade de France where the No.4 and No.5 team in the world try to get us off to a flying start…
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