Match Centre: Ireland 32-19 France
Garry Ringrose was one of the try-scorer for Ireland
©PA
Ireland 32-19 France, Aviva Stadium
Ireland justified their number one ranking as they went on to defeat France 32-19 in the second round of the Six Nations tournament in Dublin on Saturday.
This is 13th consecutive win for Ireland at home as they now have registered two wins from as many games while France's chance of a second successive Grand Slam comes to an end.
An early infringement from Ireland allowed France an opportunity to get off the mark and Thomas Ramos kicked a 40m penalty goal to start the proceedings.
Ireland almost hit back straightaway as Finlay Bealham's pass allowed Hugo Keenan to score and skipper Jonathan Sexton kicked the conversion to make it 7-3.
A second penalty kick from Rams helped the Les Bleus narrow down the gap to one point when Anthony Jelonch breached the Irish defence to send Damian Penaud over and Ramos followed with the conversion making it 7-13.
Andy Farrell's men seized the control back as Garry Ringrose spread the ball wide to James Lowe, who dived in the corner but Sexton's conversion went wide.
France were down to 14 players temporarily in the 25th minute as Uini Atonio was sin-binned for a high tackle on Rob Herring and Andrew Porter on his 50th appearance scored their third try shortly before Sexton kicked another penalty goal to take them to a 22-16 lead at the end of the opening half.
France had their opportunity to narrow down the gap but Ramos missed a long-range penalty goal and shortly Sexton was forced to leave the field with Ross Byrne kicking a three-pointer of his own to take Ireland's lead to 25-16.
Ramos kept France in contention with his 61st minute penalty goal but Garry Ringrose had other plans as he went past three three French tacklers and touched down to give Ireland the bonus-point win.
Team line up:
Ireland: Keenan; Hansen, Ringrose, McCloskey, Lowe; Sexton, Murray; Porter, Herring, Bealham, Beirne, Ryan, O'Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris.
Reserves: Kelleher, Kilcoyne, O'Toole, Henderson, Conan, Casey, Byrne, Aki.
France: Ramos; Penaud, Fickou, Moefana, Dumortier; Ntamack, Dupont; Baille, Marchand, Atonio, Flament, Willemse, Jelonch, Ollivon, Alldritt.
Reserves: Barlot, Wardi, Falatea, Taofifenua, Cros, Macalou, Couilloud, Jalibert.
