France XV kicked off the Six Nations tournament in style, defeating Ireland 36-14 at Stade de France on Thursday evening. Coach Fabien Galthié expressed great satisfaction with his team's performance, calling this opening a 'reference'. Despite a dip in the second half, the Blues displayed energy and discipline.
France XV delivered a convincing performance in the opening of the 2026 Six Nations tournament, beating Ireland 36-14 at Stade de France. The first half was perfect for the Blues, leading 22-0, before reaching 29-0 shortly after halftime, according to post-match analyses.
Coach Fabien Galthié hailed this start as a 'reference', comparable to the 2020 win against England (24-17) and the 2021 victory over Italy (10-50). 'It’s a reference tournament start', he stated in the press conference. He highlighted the players' energy and commitment, evident from the ten days of preparation. For 50 minutes, the team left 'no space, no hope for the opponent', following a well-built framework and adding their offensive and defensive talent.
Galthié praised the precision of the offensive animation, with remarkable foot-hand alternation despite challenging weather conditions. 'It’s one of the most precise offensive performances by the team in a very long time', he added, while noting room for improvement in game launches.
Aerial duels were a major satisfaction in the first half, with full commitment from the specialists, allowing recovery of pressure balls. Discipline, intensely worked on, also impressed: 'I’m blown away by their response', Galthié confided, noting they offered no opportunities to Ireland in the first period.
A dip between the 50th and 70th minutes saw Ireland, ranked world number 3, partially come back, going from 14-0 to 14-7. Galthié attributes it to the opponent's quality and a possible imbalance from introducing a new front five. 'You have to be humble at this level, accept mistakes', he tempered. Support from the crowd and Stade de France helped regain control.
Damian Penaud was noted among the performers, while Matthieu Jalibert silenced critics and Paul Guillard impressed, according to specialists' ratings. Next match: Cardiff on February 15.
