Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of this titanic match between France and Ireland.
Andy by titanic, I mean titanic. The winner of this match will top Pool D and progress to the quarters to face Argentina. The loser will end up as runner-up and go ahead to play the All Blacks.
The winner of this match won't have an easy ride against Argentina though. Their second-string side
smashed Namibia 64-19 earlier.
The lovely Sian is the
Sports Mole reporter at the Millennium Stadium today.
Let's see what she has to say:
"It's the Pool D decider, with the winner of this evening's match between France and Ireland avoiding the All Blacks in the last eight. Both teams are already through, but don't expect them to be taking this one easy. When they last met in the Six Nations earlier this year it was a heated affair. Ireland have by far the majority of the support, with green shirts dominating the stands, but the French team have just come out for their warm-up, receiving a huge ovation. It certainly doesn't look like there are many neutrals here!"
This will be the 94th meeting between the two sides. France have won 55 of these while Ireland have won 31. There have been seven draws.
Let's have a look at today's teams shall we..
France: Spedding, Nakaitaci, Bastareaud, Fofana, Dulin, Michalak, Tillous-Borde; Ben Arous, Guirado, Slimani, Pape, Maestri, Dusautoir (c), Chouly, Picamoles
REPLACEMENTS: Kayser, Debaty, Mas, Flanquart, le Roux, Parra, Tales, Dumoulin
Ireland: R Kearney, Bowe, Earls, Henshaw, D Kearney, Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best, Ross, Toner, O'Connell (c), O'Mahoney, O'Brien, Heaslip
REPLACEMENTS: Strauss, McGrath, White, Henderson, Henry, Reddan, Madigan, Fitzgerald
Both sides's defences will have to hold firm today. France have made an average of 477 metres per match, while Ireland have made 564.
Freddie Michalak starts for the French at 10 today. He's their all-time top RWC points scorer with 136.
Keith Earls meanwhile is Ireland's top try scorer in the history of the World Cup. He has three so far in 2015 and eight overall.
This is the fourth time that the two teams have met in a World Cup. Ireland have never won any of these encounters....
All change today?
I don't think so.
This is Sian's view at the Millennium.
In the second match of today's rugby extravaganza, Italy beat Romania, but I tell you what,
they were made to work for it.
We're just five minutes away here from this 2015
Rugby World Cup match, hosted by England, held in Wales.
Here are the anthems. France's is a lovely little jingle, while Ireland's is a bit more patriotic.
Ireland, Ireland, la la la la.
The Millennium Stadium meanwhile sounds mental. A real cauldron of noise and passion.
Nigel Owens is our referee today, and here we go! Michalak kicks off!
Ireland clear it downfield and
Scott Spedding runs it back.
Peter O'Mahoney has ripped that though and Ireland crash it up midfield.
Robbie Henshaw and Paul O'Connell are making good headway. They are up to the French 10.
Sean O'Brien is penalised for coming in at the side though, and Spedding kicks to the Irish 22 as
Pascal Pape receives treatment on his ribs.
Ireland hold up the rolling French maul from the lineout and they get the put in.
France have the heavier pack by 13kg but we all know that means nothing.
Rock solid scrum and Ireland are running this from their 22.
Earls surges forward with O'Connell in support, but Devin Toner is penalised and Michalak is lining up a kick at goal.
Shocking connection there and the kick goes nowhere near the posts.
Louis Picamoles returns the 22 restart with interest and the French pick and go before firing it wide. Wesley Fofana is bundled into touch though.
France retain possession from Conor Murray's box kick but Ireland knock on while attempting to tackle Mathieu Bastareaud.
Ireland drop the scrum giving the French a penalty. Here's Sian:
"There hasn't been all that much to separate the two sides in the opening few minutes of this match, but one obvious difference is the support both sides are receiving - the Irish fans are creating an unbelievable noise in support of their side. There are polite applause for the French, but when Ireland were awarded a scrum a few moments ago, you'd be forgiven for thinking a try had been scored. It really is like a home match for the side in green. There's just been the one points-scoring opportunity to speak of, with Frederic Michalak missing the posts with a nervy-looking slice."
Spedding steps up for the long-range penalty.
He hits the post though and Ireland clear their lines.
Ireland win the lineout and
Jonny Sexton tries a little chip over. The French gather but fumble and are penalised for offside. It's now Sexton's turn to try a long-range penalty.
PENALTY! France 0 - 3 Ireland (Sexton)
Straight down the middle from the Irish 10.
Rob Kearney hoists up a Garry Owen from the kick off and the French rumble up in midfield, before Michalak sees half a gap and makes valuable yards.
Ireland rip the ball but
Thierry Dusautoir is there to rip it back and earn France another long-range effort at goal.
PENALTY! France 3 - 3 Ireland (Spedding)
The big fullback smashes it over.
Ireland have the ball from the kick off and surge forward. The pack have the ascendancy and Sexton tries a drop goal that hits the post. The Irish had the advantage though.
© Getty Images
PENALTY! France 3 - 6 Ireland (Sexton)
Easy penalty from just outside the 22 for Sexton.
The sides swap possession from the restart and a poor kick from
Rob Kearney sees Spedding run forward.
They pass it wide and Guirado cops a high tackle from O'Mahoney. Spedding's lining up the kick again from just over the halfway line.
PENALTY! France 6 - 6 Ireland (Spedding)
That's been smashed over from about 52 metres out.
Kearney spills a box kick from the restart and the French are motoring forward again through Spedding.
They spill the ball but Earls's kick is straight to France and they recycle on the halfway line.
Sean O'Brien is up quick on Bastareaud though and the big centre knocks on.
Here's Sian:
"There really has been very little to separate the two sides in the opening 20 minutes or so, as is reflected in the scoreline. France looks the more likely of the two on the break, but Ireland have produced a couple of promising runs themselves. France continue to be pretty wasteful though. Meanwhile, there could be a problem for the Irish as Jonny Sexton has gone down, and seems to be holding his ribs. They won't want him to go off!"
Sexton is down after copping a big hit from Picamoles and he's having to go off actually. Ian Madigan comes on after 25 minutes.
Rob Kearney attacks the ball from deep and Ireland go through the phases in midfield through Toner and Healy.
Pape gives away a penalty on his 10 metre line and new boy Madigan is going for the posts.
PENALTY! France 6 - 9 Ireland (Madigan)
And he nails it.
Murray hoists up the box kick and Noa Nakaitaci is penalised for obstructing Tommy Bowe as he looks to go up for it. Ireland kick to within 10 metres out.
It's gone long though and Brice Dulin smashes it clear.
No! Ireland run a superb move in midfield that sees Bowe break on the inside shoulder. He has a two-on-one with Earls but the centre can only juggle the ball and spill it.
Ireland have to attack from deep but the French defence is fierce and there's no way through. France eventually win the penalty and clear to touch.
Fofana ends up under the posts but France have knocked it on in the lineout.
The French win the scrum though and they are in the Irish 22.
Guirado is penalised for holding on though. It's Jamie Heaslip who has the won that penalty.
O'Brien makes big yards off that lineout and quick ball sees Madigan knocks a lovely kick into touch just five metres out.
France clear but Henshaw and Heaslip are rumbling forwards. Madigan flings it out to Henshaw again but France are holding firm.
Best, O'Mahoney, Rob Kearney and Healy all carry hard but there's still no way through.
Henshaw eventually skews a poor kick away and Spedding pumps it downfield. Madigan tries to kick it back but he overcooks it and it goes dead.
Spedding makes some big yards down the far side and France are in a dangerous position.
So much effort from France but Ireland are holding on and Damien Chouly is penalised for holding on.
HALF-TIME!
That's the half but there's further bad news for Ireland as O'Connell is down on the floor as Owens blows his whistle. It looks bad.
Let's see what Sian has to say at half-time:
"We're still waiting for the first try in this gripping encounter, but it feels like it's coming as both sides seem to be finding their rhythms. Tommy Bowe's run for Ireland a few moments ago deserved better than a drop from Earls, while Wesley Fofana thought he was in for France, only to turn around as see Nigel Owens signalling for a scrum. This match has been building slowly, but it feels like it's about to explode into life."
O'Connell had to receive oxygen on the field after the rest of the players left, before eventually leaving via a stretcher. He looks to have twisted his knee in a ruck and that could be his tournament over.
O'Brien will be in trouble after the match too. That Pape injury early on was caused after the Irish flanker gave him a solid right hook in the ribs. That's going to be a fairly lengthy ban.
We're back underway for the second half!
Madigan sends an early cross kick Bowe's way but it has just a little bit too much on it.
France clear but Ireland's backs are going through the phases in midfield.
That was close. The French defence finally splits and with an overlap in front of him, O'Brien can only knock out with Dave Kearney free outside him.
It's the French's turn to go wide but Dulin's chip through is easily dealt with and Kearney kicks it deep.
Toner gives away a penalty though and the French kick to touch.
Ireland win the lineout though and Dave Kearney surges into the French 22.
The ball is recycled well but again, France hold firm and Healy knocks just outside of the 22.
Let's see what Sian says in this third quarter:
"There's been a real intensity about Ireland in the opening couple of minutes of the second half, perhaps with the added incentive that they now have to do this for their injured skipper, who has not returned for the second period. Tommy Bowe and Dave Kearney both try to work the ball forward, but France hold on. With the sides so closely matched in the first half, scoring the opening try could be decisive."
Ireland have a scrum just inside the halfway line.
And they make use of it! Henshaw smashes past the gain-line and his pass outside finds Bowe who ships it to Rob Kearney. The ball is recycled but a French hand is in there to knock it on.
© Getty Images
TRY! France 6 - 14 Ireland (Rob Kearney)
Bowe takes another inside line off the scrum, the forwards pick and go before Murray passes blind to find Rob Kearney who goes over. Madigan misses the conversion.
The two sides trade possession after the restart and as France try and run it from deep, Dusautoir drops the ball.
Ireland look to score again but Iain Henderson can only knock on as he finds half a gap.
Here's our Sian:
"Well you certainly have to say that has been coming since the restart. Ireland have had all the meaningful possession in this second half, and make it count with a real team effort setting up Rob Kearney for a leap over in the right corner. It's a real party atmosphere in the Millennium Stadium now, the whole ground is shaking as the Ireland fans go wild!"
More bad news for Ireland. The stretcher is now required for Peter O'Mahoney and Chris Henry comes on in his place.
Ireland are knocking away in midfield again through Healy, Earls and Henry.
Rory Best is eventually penalised for blocking though.
France win another penalty in midfield and they kick for touch.
The use Basta off the lineout again but again, it's turned over and Madigan clears his lines.
Henshaw is looking lively in midfield and Ireland are making yards again,
Heaslip is penalised for holding on though and Spedding clears.
Picamoles smashes in and it's another penalty. Morgan Parra, just on, kicks for goal.
PENALTY! France 9 - 14 Ireland (Parra)
Straight through the middle.
Uh oh. Earls has to go off with an injury and Luke Fitzgerald is on.
France have a lineout and although it's scrappy, Jack McGrath is penalised for a high tackle on Parra.
These French subs are making an impact and Dulin breaks down the far side. The ball is recycled but Parra knocks on - this is really scrappy from the French now.
Ireland win the scrum but Kearney can only slice the ball away.
France are penalised for crossing so let's see what Sian thinks of the contest so far:
"If Ireland had the first 20 minutes of the second half, it looks like France are doing everything in their power to make sure they're the better team in the final 20. Morgan Parra's kick has closed the gap, leaving them just a try behind, but Les Bleus are starting to build some possession in Ireland territory again. Ireland will need a bigger lead than this if they're going to finish top in Pool D."
Ireland have a lineout in the French 22.
TRY! France 9 - 21 Ireland (Murray)
Ireland rumble through the forwards off the lineout, it's dominant, it's physical and eventually Murray is on hand to place the ball against the post. Madigan converts.
Every forward must have carried at least once then.
It's scrappy again in midfield and Ireland win the scrum.
And they win the penalty. Madigan points to the posts.
PENALTY! France 9 - 24 Ireland (Madigan)
He slots it. Surely that's the game.
The French knock on from the restart and Irelabd win a penalty from the resulting scrum. Those French lads look out of it now.
Ireland are just playing keep ball in the French half now but they end up knocking on. Last play of the game.
That sums up their performance. Picamoles has a two-one-one off the scrum but Spedding can only knock on. Game over.
FULL-TIME! France 9 - 24 Ireland
That's it guys! Ireland top Pool D and progress to face Argentina. France will now have to play New Zealand.
Here's Sian with the final word:
"So there we have it, Ireland progress to the quarter-finals as Pool D winners! It was a superb second half display, with the team peaking at the right moments to secure the win, aided by a passionate crowd in Cardiff. It really has been a terrific atmosphere!"
That's it from me guys but stick around for live commentary of the Japan v USA match.
