Ireland boosted their Six Nations title hopes and ended France’s run of 14 straight wins as they battled to a pulsating bonus-point win in Dublin. Ireland scored three first-half tries with Hugo Keenan, James Lowe and Andrew Porter all crossing, Damian Penaud’s brilliant counter-attacking try and three Thomas Ramos penalties kept France in touch.
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Ireland will be without hooker Dan Sheehan for Saturday’s blockbuster Guinness Six Nations clash with France but Conor Murray has been passed fit for the Aviva Stadium showdown. Andy Farrell has made just one enforced change to the starting line-up which dispatched Wales with Sheehan missing out to a hamstring injury.
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Defending champions France came from behind to avoid a shock defeat against Italy in a thrilling Six Nations game. The Azzurri led 24-22 before Matthieu Jalibert sniped over from close range as France claimed a bonus-point win at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
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Didier Deschamps has extended his contract as France head coach until June 2026 and is expected to remain in charge for a fourth World Cup. He led France to World Cup victory in 2018 and to the 2022 final in Qatar, which they lost to Argentina on penalties.
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France striker Karim Benzema has announced his retirement from international football – on his 35th birthday – a day after Les Bleus lost against Argentina on penalties in the World Cup final. The Ballon d’Or winner, who scored 37 times in 97 appearances, was expected to lead the line for France in Qatar but missed the tournament after sustaining a thigh injury in training the day before it started.
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