France crush Ireland 36-14 in dominant Six Nations opener
France launched their Six Nations 2026 campaign with an emphatic 36-14 win over Ireland on February 5 in Paris, overpowering the visitors at the Stade de France to send an early title message.
Les Bleus set the tone before halftime, storming into a 22-0 lead as Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored twice, Matthieu Jalibert finished a sharp attack and Charles Ollivon added another try, leaving Ireland struggling to cope with France’s tempo.
Ireland responded after the break through tries from Nick Timoney and Michael Milne, briefly reducing the deficit, but France quickly reasserted control. A late try from Théo Attissogbe sealed a bonus-point victory and capped a commanding display.
“It was about intensity and accuracy from the first minute,” said France head coach Fabien Galthié after the match. Ireland captain Caelan Doris admitted his side “gave France too much space early on,” while analysts pointed to Ireland’s difficulties handling sustained pressure.
France move on with confidence to their next fixture, while Ireland face early questions as the tournament continues.