Jonathan Sexton’s dramatic late drop-goal propelled Ireland to an attritional but famous victory over France in their Six Nations Opener in Paris.
The Leinster fly-half had already landed four penalties before Teddy Thomas’ exhilarating long-range score, converted by Anthony Belleau, put France 13-12 ahead in the 72nd minute.
Yet the nerveless Sexton kept cool to land an expertly-executed drop-goal with the last play of the game to give the Irish the spoils in a match that was in stark contrast to a rather more entertaining tournament opener between Wales and Scotland earlier in the day.
The Welsh had run in four tries to claim a bonus-point win in Cardiff but this was a more closely-fought encounter which will nevertheless have left Joe Schmidt and his players delighted.
Despite Irish failing to score a try, a win is a win and this success will pour confidence into the Irish as they bid to claim a first Six Nations title since 2015.
England, of course, have been crowned champions in the past two years but if any side is going to deny them an unprecedented hat-trick of titles, it is likely to be Ireland.
France went into the tournament off the back off a terrible autumn campaign in which they failed to win any of their four fixtures.
Newly-appointed head coach Jacques Brunel handed a debut to 19-year-old fly-half Matthieu Jalibert.
The Owen Farrell lookalike, who was coached by Jalibert at Bordeaux-Begles before he took charge of Les Bleus, became the first teenager to start a Six Nations match at 10 for fifty years.
For all that filled the home crowd with optimism ahead of kick-off, there remains the nagging suspicion that the cash-rich domestic Top 14 league in France is affecting the national side.
Les Bleus are now without a win in seven games and have lost six of their past nine matches in the Six Nations.
Ireland, by contrast, have a settled team working under a settled coach and arrived in Paris in buoyant mood.
Moreover, they are now on an eight-game winning streak and have registered 11 wins in 13 matches.
Jacob Stockdale, Bundee Aki and James Ryan made their first Six Nations appearances for Ireland.
Ryan, who made his Ireland debut in the summer before playing for Leinster, was selected at lock ahead of Devin Toner.
Stockdale has scored four tries in his previous four appearances, while Aki made his debut in the autumn win over South Africa.
Ireland made an assured start and Sexton's first penalty put them ahead inside the third minute.
Well-drilled defences from both sides made genuine try-scoring opportunities scarce and Sexton sent a drop-goal attempt wide before adding another penalty.
In the 29th minute, Jalibert was forced off for a head injury assessment after attempting to tackle Aki.
Maxime Machenaud then got France off the mark with his first penalty in the 36th minute before Sexton landed his third three minutes later.
That made it 9-3 to half-time after Ireland had dominated possession and the penalty count.
Eight minutes after the break, Sexton kicked his fourth goal but Machenaud's second three-pointer gave France a scent in the 54th minute.
Sexton then sent a penalty wide and, with six minutes remaining, France struck in glorious fashion.
Thomas collected a kick out wide, skipped past an Ireland defender and raced clear from distance before diving under the posts.
Belleau’s conversion edged France in front but, still, Ireland were not finished as Sexton’s educated right boot ensured they emerged victorious.
The last kick of the game steal it for Ireland as they beat France 15-13!
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