Ireland v France player ratings: Caelan Doris delivers ‘absurdly good’ performance

Ireland kept their dream of a Grand Slam alive as they got the better of France in a pulsating clash at the Aviva Stadium. 

Within the opening quarter, three tries of the highest quality – two Irish, one French – were scored, setting the stage for one of the finest clashes in recent Six Nations history. 

There were plenty of performances which matched the brilliance of the game itself, with both sides featuring at least one performance which might well be considered flawless.

Ireland

15. Hugo Keenan

Mightily impressive – as ever. The full-back’s footballing poise is masterful, showcased in both Ireland’s opening try – which he finished – and a 50:22 at a crucial juncture in the match. 9/10

14. Mack Hansen

Quietly becoming a mainstay in this Ireland team and with good reason. As dependable a wing as there is in world rugby; his error count is miniscule. 8/10

13. Garry Ringrose

The statistics might say three missed tackles but to hell with those. The timing of his defensive interventions was almost telepathic and his finish for the final try typical of his quality. 9/10

12. Stuart McCloskey

Has he made the shirt his own? Not quite, but he was solidity personified. Offers a focal point to this Irish attack and defends superbly alongside Ringrose. 8/10

11. James Lowe

Fortunate to have been awarded his first half try owing to a foot in touch but that should take nothing away from his acrobatics. His left foot caused France untold problems. 8/10

10. Johnny Sexton (c)

Even with the jewels at its disposal, the captain remains the fulcrum of this Irish side. Seeing him shake his head as he departed inside 50 minutes was a concern, too, as if he knew it was serious. 8/10

9. Conor Murray

Showed tremendous composure to play at such a high level despite his father’s serious bike accident on Friday morning. Rattled and hummed around the Irish ruck. 8/10

1. Andrew Porter

We might have had the world’s two premier looseheads on show on Saturday. Makes the odd error but more than makes up for them. Bagged a score for his efforts. 8/10

2. Rob Herring

All the talk in the week centred on how Ireland would cope without Dan Sheehan. Until Herring’s failed HIA, the answer would have been: resoundingly well. 8/10

3. Finlay Bealham 

Like his hooker, Bealham deputised for regular tighthead Tadhg Furlong and performed admirably. Held his own at the scrummage and his reverse pass for Keenan’s try was a pip. 9/10

4. Tadhg Beirne

His partnership with Ryan is getting into the realms of Botha/Matfield or Retallick/Whitelock. A menace on the floor and his chop-tackling was irrepressible. 9/10

5. James Ryan

No Irishman made more tackles than the Leinster lock (17) – and only Doris carried more frequently in the Ireland pack. A monumental shift. 9/10

6. Peter O’Mahony

With so few line-outs, he struggled to impose himself as much as he otherwise might. That being said, his work-rate and commitment to the cause are unquestionable. 7/10

7. Josh van der Flier

It was not quite vintage Van der Flier but not far off. Part of the superior back-row effort and it ultimately told. Some of his scrambling defence takes the breath away. 8/10

8. Caelan Doris

A scrap between him and Ardie Savea for the No 8 jersey in a world XV has become a reality. Absurd yet again, his pass for the match-sealing try was as good as they come. 10/10

Replacements

There was a fear, with the departures of Herring and Sexton, and with Ireland down to their third-choice tighthead, that France would dominate the latter stages. Those fears never materialised; the opposite, in fact. 9/10

France

15. Thomas Ramos

A mixed bag, veering from the sublime to the scruffy. Kicked immaculately – including a drop goal – and looked a threat with the ball, but did not convince in the air. 7/10

14. Damian Penaud

Astonishing. One of the all-time great wing performances. An irrepressible force on the French flanks who repeatedly made one of the world’s best defences look foolish. 10/10

13. Gael Fickou

A persistent threat in the French midfield but Les Bleus never quite found a way to unlock him due to Ringrose’s harrying. Defended mightily, though. 8/10

12. Yoram Moefana

Being frank, it was all a little one-dimensional which, without the power of the injured Jonathan Danty, was not as effective as it needed to be. 7/10

11. Ethan Dumortier

Dumortier simmered last week and again in the first half on Saturday before hitting boiling point in the second half. Wiry and vicious, but France need it more regularly. 8/10

10. Romain Ntamack

The talent and the skill have never been in doubt but the jury remains out as to whether he has the control and organisation to fully unlock this terrifying French backline. 7/10

9. Antoine Dupont (c)

France’s maestro was well marshalled by Ireland in attack, but remains the heartbeat of his side. Time stopped for his first-half tackle on Hansen; one of the great try-savers. 9/10

1. Cyril Baille

Terrific. Would still be out there carrying into the heart of Ireland on Tuesday if he could. Solid at the scrummage and held up the Irish twice over the line. 9/10

2. Julien Marchand

One of the world’s leading hookers did not get much change out of Ireland’s aggressive rucking but he never gave up. Carried enthusiastically. 8/10

3. Uini Atonio

Extremely lucky that his annihilation of Herring ended up as yellow and not red. Scrummaged his heart out after his return but a man of his size should offer more. 6/10

4. Thibaud Flament

Perhaps his finest display. A bundle of energy on both sides of the ball and his battle with the Irish locks was one of the most impressive head-to-heads. 9/10

5. Paul Willemse

Hooked only five minutes into the second half for Taofifenua – which told its own story. There were some forceful hits but the frequency of them was far below his 2022 best. 6/10

6. Anthony Jelonch

The flanker’s carry and over-the-shoulder, Campo-style offload for France’s first try was mesmeric. Fought tirelessly but was guilty of an unforced error or two. He was not alone. 8/10

7. Charles Ollivon

France’s premier aerial forward. Ruled the restart but barely laid a finger on the Irish throw. Defensively phenomenal but struggled to generate attacking momentum. 7/10

8. Grégory Alldritt

Eclipsed by Doris, but teamed up wonderfully with Baille on two occasions to save France’s bacon. Needs a statement performance soon to keep the doubters from the door. 7/10

Replacements

Falatea brought French fizz both in attack and in the jackal – and Taofifenua gave them thrust. The issue, however, was that France trailed when the cavalry arrived, and they could not overturn the tide. 8/10