France unleash 50-minute masterclass to open Six Nations with win over Ireland

France beat Ireland 36-14 in Paris to start the 2026 Six Nations with a 50-minute masterclass of aerial contest and breakdown dominance, aided by five tries from Bielle-Biarrey, Jalibert, Ollivon and Attissogbe; Ireland then fought back in the second half, scoring through Timoney and Milne, but the damage was done. Sam Prendergast struggled at out-half for Ireland, while Mickael Guillard earned Player of the Match as France’s bench depth maintained the edge. The result underlines France’s title-defence pace and highlights Ireland’s need for depth and retooling ahead of Italy.