France 17 Ireland 38: Irish romp to bonus point win as Paul Willemse’s clumsy red card hands Les Bleus nightmare start

DAZZLING Ireland launched the Six Nations in the most ominous way possible – romping to a bonus-point win over much-fancied France.

Paul Willemse’s ridiculous first-half red card for two replica yellows added to the French woes as Ireland toppled them five tries to two.

Alamy

Try scoer Dan Sheehan leads irish joy[/caption]

Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park storms over for the first try of the championshipSportsfile

PA

Paul Willemse amazingly saw red for two replica yellow-card offences[/caption]

Alamy

Damian Penaud flies over for France’s first score[/caption]

Misfiring France conceded too many early penalties, Jack Crowley tucking the opening points of the tournament from one such offence after eight minutes.

It got worse for the hosts as Willemse was soon sin-binned for a shoulder that forced Irish prop Andrew Porter off.

And to the surprise of many Willemse escaped a red card following a review.

Rapid recycling then led to Jamison Gibson-Park crossing for an Ireland try, Crowley’s conversion putting the Six Nations champs 10-0 up to underline their rampant start.

Ireland could easily have gone over again, while Crowley also missed a penalty from inviting range.

Thomas Ramos cut the deficit as the French finally asserted some presence from a scrum.

But they were ripped open for Tadhg Beirne to score a converted try out of nothing down the middle.

And soon, incredibly, Willemse put in his shoulder again – this time leaving Caelan Doris needing treatment – and earning a second yellow and so a red card.

Yet that roused the French before the interval.

And they defied their man disadvantage for Damian Penaud to surge over, leaving them 17-10 at the break.

Ramos surprisingly missed a penalty opportunity to put France just four points adrift early in the second period.

Instead Robbie Henshaw cleverly set up Six Nations debutant Calvin Nash to seemingly make the game safe for Ireland with a touchdown in the corner on 46 minutes, Crowley knocking over a brilliant conversion.

But there was another dramatic swing in fortunes.

Paul Gabrillagues squeezed the ball over – replays confirming the try – while Ireland’s Peter O’Mahony was sent to the sin-bin.

that left it 14 vs 14 – and France just 24-17 behind after a brilliant conversion.

However, Ireladn hooker Dan Sheehan went ovre followign a catch and drive – to secure a bonus point.

Reliable Crowley added the two points to put the Irish 31-17 up into the last quarter of an hour.

Ronan Kelleher bagged Ireland’s fifth try four minutes from time.

AFP

Ireland scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park offloads in the Six Nations opener[/caption]