France could not have dreamt of a better way to launch their campaign in this 2026 Six Nations. On Thursday night, in a red-hot Stade de France, France saw off Ireland with remarkable authority (36-14). According to information reported by L’Équipe, Fabien Galthié’s players produced a first half close to perfection, heading back to the changing rooms with an emphatic 22-0 lead.

The big man of the evening is, once again, Louis Bielle-Biarrey. The French wing let his searing pace do the talking to grab a brace, taking his numbers to a surreal level with 22 tries in as many caps. In tune with him, Matthieu Jalibert shouldered the responsibilities of the fly-half shirt perfectly. Between his kicking game and his try in the 22nd minute after a pass from Antoine Dupont, the Bordeaux man silenced the doubts over his ability to run the French game on the big occasions.

Despite a slight lull around the hour mark following the many changes made by the staff, the French never really wobbled. Above all they impressed with their surgical discipline, conceding their first penalty only in the 45th minute. That level of application will be indispensable on 15 February for the trip to Wales if they are to back up this masterful opening act.