Slick Ireland score bonus point win over France in Six Nations

IRELAND made it two wins from two in the Six Nations Championship when scoring a thrilling 32-19 bonus pihnt victory over holders France at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

World number one ranked side Ireland bagged four tries in ending the visitors' 14-game winning run.

In-form Ireland have now won 19 of their last 21 matches. including their last seven in-a-row

France have won each of their three three meetings with Ireland prior to kick-off

After Thomas Ramos kicked France in front with an early penalty, Ireland hit back with a delightful opening try.

A beautiful inside pass from prop Finlay Bealham unsettled the visitors' defence and he set full-back Hugo Keenan away to run in for the five-pointer off an excellent training ground move.

Sexton's successful conversion had Ireland 7-3 to the good.

Back came France, however, and Ramos cut Ireland's advantage to a single point when dissecting the uprights from a 15th minute penalty award.

France then hit the front in the 18th minute when a little bit of Gallic flair saw Damian Penaud race clear to score. 

Ramon' successful conversion had the Bleus 13-7 in front.

Straight from the restart, Ireland responded in style. The home side won win possession back from the kick-off, opting to go wide, and winger James Lowe produced a stunning finish to ground the ball in the left corner, despite incredible pressure from Penaud.

Sexton was off target with the conversion, but Ireland trailed by just a point, 12-13.

On 25 minutes, France lost prop Uini Atonio to a yellow card for a high tackle on Ireland hooker Rob Herring. Match referee Wayne Barnes and his TMO decided the collision carried a low degree of danger. However, on another day it might have been red.

Ireland made thieir numerical advantage tell a minute later, however, as prop Andrew Porter burrowed over the tryline to score on his 50th cap. Sexton landed the straight forward connection and Ireland led 19-13 after 26 minutes.

The sides traded further penalties before half-time through Ramos and Sexton to leave Ireland leading 22-16 at the break.

Ireland pushed two scored in front, 25-16, when replacement Ross Byrne converted a penalty goal at the end of the third quarter with both sides opting to empty the replacements bench by now.

The see-saw nature of the scoring continued when French full-bacl Thomas Ramus kicked a sweetly struck drop goal in the 62nd minute to reduce the home side's lead to six points, 25-19.

However, Ireland sealed the win when centre Gary Ringrose scampered over in the final 10 minutes to secure the bonus point.

IRELAND: Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster), James Lowe (Leinster); Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster) (capt), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster); Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster), James Ryan (UCD/Leinster), Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster), Caelan Doris (St. Mary's College/Leinster). Replacements: Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster), Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster), Tom O'Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster), Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster), Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster), Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht).

FRANCE: Thomas Ramos (Stade Toulousain); Damian Penaud (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Gaël Fickou (Racing 92), Yoram Moefana (Union Bordeaux-Bègles), Ethan Dumortier (LOU Rugby); Romain Ntamack (Stade Toulousain), Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain) (capt); Cyril Baille (Stade Toulousain), Julien Marchand (Stade Toulousain), Uini Atonio (Stade Rochelais), Thibaud Flament (Stade Toulousain), Paul Willemse (Montpellier Hérault Rugby), Anthony Jelonch (Stade Toulousain), Charles Ollivon (RC Toulon), Grégory Alldritt (Stade Rochelais). Replacements: Gaëtan Barlot (Castres Olympique), Reda Wardi (Stade Rochelais), Sipili Falatea (Union Bordeaux-Bègles), Romain Taofifenua (LOU Rugby), François Cros (Stade Toulousain), Sekou Macalou (Stade Français), Baptiste Couilloud (LOU Rugby), Matthieu Jalibert (Union Bordeaux-Bègles).

REFEREE: Wayne Barnes (England)