Bielle-Biarrey dazzles on opening night to stun Dublin

The Six Nations is under way and already a couple of things are crystal clear.

- Robert Kitson

It is going to take a seriously good team to beat France in Paris and watching them attack is already a genuine treat. Ireland were not so much beaten as outplayed by opponents who will be even more dangerous with a dry ball.Never mind the argument about brief in-game adverts during ITV’s coverage. Irish fans would probably have preferred a total 80-min-ute blackout. Instead those back at home had to watch the visitors being repeatedly sliced and diced by apparently ravenous hosts. Talk about eating your greens.

Had it been a drier evening it really could have been messy. As it was the spectacularly good Louis Bielle-Biarrey still helped himself to two sparkling tries and France’s close-quarters passing, kicking game and creative elan were sometimes sublime. Ireland came intothis game with a raft of injuries but, despite a second-half rally, they can now add bruised pride to the list. It will also be food for thought for the rest of the field.

France were without one or two key forward themselves but you would never have guessed it from their first-half performance in particular. Les Bleus are not yet the finished article and eased off slightly with the match already won but their promise is unmistakable. Ireland, for their part, were made to look poor for the opening 40 minutes and will be grateful to their bench for bringing a little more second-half energy.