France beat England; Sexton gives Farrell winning start as Ireland coach

Captain Charles Ollivon scored two tries as France kicked off a new era under recently-appointed coach Fabien Galthie with a thrilling 24-17 victory over England in their opening 2020 Six Nations match on Sunday.

Galthie took over full-time in the wake of France’s quarter-final exit at last season’s World Cup in Japan and looks to have thoroughly revived the France XV, featuring just one player over the age of 30.

Two first-half tries by Vincent Rattez and Ollivon, along with two conversions and a penalty from Romain Ntamack handed the home side, powered magnificently around the pitch by scrum-half Antoine Dupont, a 17-0 half-time lead.

A second converted Ollivon try extended France’s lead but World Cup runners-up England hit back with a Jonny May brace of tries both converted by Owen Farrell.

There was a buzz around Stade de France not felt for some time and the expectant crowd were soon rewarded after a ferocious start as the two sides piled into each other.

Livewire winger Teddy Thomas darted in-field, only to be brought down by George Furbank.

The ball was quickly recycled and an inside Ntamack pass found Rattez, the late replacement for the injured Damien Penaud easily riding Ben Youngs’ tackle to score a fine team try.

Ntamack converted, hit a 16th minute penalty and then another conversion as new skipper Ollivon showed a clean pair of heels to make the line for France’s second try after Courtney Lawes failed to gather a Dupont box kick, Rattez playing provider on the tapdown.

Farrell spilled the ball in midfield and George Ford’s kicking was consistently too long, allowing an easy bedding-in for France’s debutant full-back Anthony Bouthier, who produced one stunning 90-metre kick out of hand.

Meanwhile, Johnny Sexton scored all Ireland’s points to give his team a 19-12 victory over Scotland in coach Andy Farrell first match in charge, a nail-biting encounter at Lansdowne Road.

Sexton scored a try and kicked the rest to take his Test tally for the Irish past 800 points.

However, the hosts got out of jail as Scotland missed a host of chances, the most glaring when captain Stuart Hogg dropped the ball going to touch down for a try.

“Scotland are a super team,” Ireland flanker Peter O’Mahony told ITV. “Every time we play each other it’s borderline warfare. It’s testament to the way they showed up. They tested us incredibly.”

The loss leaves the Scots without a win in Dublin since 2010. “Pretty gutted,” Scotland prop Zander Fagerson told BBC Radio Scotland. “Played some great rugby, got some opportunities, just not clinical enough in their 22.”

Agence France-Presse