Rugby news: France finish 5th in 2016 Rugby Six Nations

France finished the 2016 Six Nations Championship in 5th place: RBS 6 Nations 2016: France 10 – 9 Ireland

The France side were inspired their captain, hooker Guilhem Guirado, who scored two tries in the RBS 6 Nations Championship and was named man of the match in France’s narrow win over Ireland – their first defeat of Ireland since 2011.

Maxime Medard's late try, the only score of the second half, made it two wins from two matches for France under the leadership of manager Guy Noves, with a hard-fought win in bad weather against Ireland at the Stade de France that kept France’s grand slam hopes alive in the opening games of the tournament.

Medard started in France's first three games of the RBS 6 Nations before coming off the bench in the games against Scotland and England. Recalled by Les Bleus this season under France boss Guy Novès, full-back Maxime Medard’s morale is good and he enjoyed being back on the national squad.

Médard recently scored one try in Toulouse's 36 - 3 defeat of Stade Français, and believes he is in fine form after his impressive display on his return to league club competition after Six Nations international action.

"I was very happy to take part in the whole of the Championship. I was pleased to start or come off the bench,” said Medard. "With France we have a squad that rotates but we get on well together. Then again, I hadn't played much in the last two weeks and so it went well for me. Next week there will be another.”

"I'm going through a good period at the moment, but I'm really happy because the work is paying off,” added twenty-nine year old Medard.

The reigning Six Nations champions, Ireland, threw away a win in Paris as they were defeated by the France National Team 10 - 9.

Ireland’s championship hopes of a historic third Six Nations title in a row were already pretty much over anyway when three Jonathan Sexton penalties put the men in green in front at the break.

France, 23 - 21 winners over Italy in their opening Six Nations match went face to face with two-time defending champions Ireland, who opened their Six Nations campaign with a hard fought 16 - 16 draw against Wales.

Ireland were dominant in slick conditions at Stade de France over the French side in the first 60 minutes of the game, but were unable to score enough points no matter how much pressure they applied.

Jonathan Sexton kicked three penalties and Jules Plisson kicked one in the game’s first-half, before Medard crossed for the winning try late in the second half, converted by Plisson. The French full-back went over with only ten minutes left to end a run of 5 games without a victory for Les Bleus over Ireland.

A late hit by Yoann Maestri on Sexton gave Ireland their first chance for points and the fly-half kicked Ireland into a 3-0 lead. Then Sexton made it 6-0 for Ireland. After a dominant opening period, Joe Schmidt’s Ireland side who were leading 9-3 at the break lost their focus in the second half as the weather worsened. No points were scored by either side in the third quarter. France grew into the game as the fourth quarter wore on. Maxime Medard eventually went over for a 10-9 score that France deserved.

France finished the game still on course for the grand slam but it would take a miracle to attain it.

Stats for France v Ireland

France: (3) 10
Try: Medard
Conversion: Plisson
Penalty: Plisson
Ireland: (9) 9
Try: 0
Penalty: Sexton 3

France v Ireland Six Nations Squads

France

Medard; Thomas, Mermoz, Danty, Vakatawa; Plisson, Bezy; Poirot, Guirado (capt), Atonio; Flanquart, Maestri, Lauret, Camara, Chouly. Replacements: Chat for Guirado 47, Slimani for Poirot 44, Ben Arous for Atonio 44, Jedresiak for Maestri 58, Goujon for Camara 67, Machenaud for Bezy 56, Doussain for Danty 76, Bonneval for Thomas 44.

Ireland

R Kearney; Trimble, Payne, Henshaw, D Kearney; Sexton, Murray; McGrath, Best (capt), White; McCarthy, Toner; Stander, O'Brien, Heaslip. Replacements: Strauss for Best 71, J Cronin for McGrath 73, Furlong for White 62, Ryan for McCarthy 62, O'Donnell for O'Brien, Reddan, Madigan for Sexton 69, McFadden for D Kearney 29.

Not used: Reddan
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU)
Hooker Guilhem Guirado was named man of the match.

"It was a narrow win but a massive win in terms of confidence for France”, said former France International Thomas Castaignede.

France National Team

The France National Rugby Union Team represents France in international rugby union. France compete annually in the Autumn Internationals and the RBS 6 Nations Championship against England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy.

Manager: Guy Noves
Captain: Guilherm Guirado
Nickname: Les Bleus
Most caps: Fabien Pelous (118)
Top try scorer: Serge Blanco (38)
Arena - Stadium: Stade de France
Union: French Rugby Federation – Federation Francaise de Rugby

France 6 Nations 2016 Results

Round 1: France 23 - 21 Italy
Round 2: France 10 - 19 Ireland
Round 3: Wales 19 - 10 France
Round 4: Scotland 29 - 18 France
Round 5: France 21 - 31 England

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