France 17-38 Ireland: Reigning Six Nations champions kick off defence with Marseille win after Paul Willemse sees red

Ireland began the defence of their Six Nations crown with a clinical 38-17 demolition of a much-fancied France in front of a packed-out Orange Velodrome.

Andy Farrell’s side was dominant from the outset and laid down an ominous marker for the rest of the competition, while it was a performance that will spark widespread concern in the French camp.

Les Bleus, regarded as having one of the most devastating attacks in world rugby, barely fired a shot in what was an uncharacteristically lifeless display.

It was the reigning Grand Slam champions who started by far the brighter. Two yellow cards for Paul Willemse – for high hits on Andrew Porter and then Caelan Doris – put the hosts on the backfoot and left them to play the majority of the game a man down. And they were made to pay.

Jack Crowley, at fly-half in place of the recently retired Johnny Sexton, opened the scoring with a nerve-settling penalty in front of the posts before the Irish crossed the white line for the first try of the tournament.

It was exactly what they deserved and was scored in style. Bundee Aki ran a typically devastating line before offloading in the tackle to Jamison Gibson-Park for the run-in.

A Thomas Ramos penalty got France on the board to reduce their arrears but Ireland went straight back on the attack, scoring under the posts after Crowley’s perfectly timed pass for Tadhg Beirne clean through a hole.

France struck right before half-time through Damian Penaud and again in the second half when Paul Gabrillagues snuck over the line but there was no stopping the green machine.

Calvin Nash scored on his debut shortly after the break before Dan Sheehan put the result beyond doubt and secured the bonus point, crashing over at the back of a dominant lineout drive in the 62nd minute.

Ronan Kelleher added a late try to put the gloss on an Irish performance for the ages.

It was billed as a blockbuster clash that could go either way and that could go some way to determining the tournament winner. If that’s the case, Ireland may as well be crowned right now.

As clinical a performance as you’re likely to see away to France, the defending champions rarely looked troubled against one of the most devastating attacks in world rugby.

The red card for Paul Willemse undoubtedly had a part to play but even when it was 15 on 15, the visitors were in the ascendancy.

After the disappointment of last year’s World Cup, that will be the perfect tonic for Ireland fans, who will already be dreaming of another Grand Slam. Who would bet against them?

A special mention to Jack Crowley, who was magnificent at fly-half. It was a performance that will ease concerns among Irish fans that the side would struggle after Johny Sexton’s retirement, but Joe McCarthy gets the nod this time.

The lock was everywhere across the 80 minutes on his Six Nations debut. He carried the ball exceptionally well and played a key role in a couple of Ireland’s tries. He was a constant thorn in France’s side defensively, too.

At 22, Ireland have got another gem in their ranks.

FRANCE: Ramos 6, Penaud 6, Fickou 6, Danty 6, Moefana 5, Jalibert 5, Lucu 5; Baille 4, Mauvaka 6, Atonio 5, Gabrillagues 6, Willemse 1, Cros 5, Ollivon 6, Alldritt (c) 6. Subs: Marchand 4, Wardi 3, Aldegheri 3, Tuilagi 4, Woki n/a, Boudehent n/a, Depoortere n/a, Bielle-Biarrey 4

IRELAND: Keenan 7, Nash 8, Aki 7, Lowe 7, Crowley 8, Gibson-Park 7; Porter 6, Sheehan 8, Furlong 7, McCarthy 9, Beirne 8, O’Mahony (c) 7, Van der Flier 7, Doris 8. Subs: Kelleher 7, Healy n/a, Bealham n/a, Ryan n/a, Baird n/a, Conan n/a, Murray n/a, Frawley n/a

7′ PENALTY – FRANCE 0-3 IRELAND: It’s just how Crowley would have dreamt it up – right in front of the posts to open his account. He makes no mistake and Ireland lead 3-0.

9′ WILLEMSE YELLOW CARD: The TMO has flagged potential foul play. Willemse makes contact with Porter’s head whem attempting to clear out and Dickson sends the Frenchman to the sin-bin, pending a bunker review.

16′ TRY! FRANCE 0-10 IRELAND (GIBSON-PARK): Ireland make the man advantage count in style. A slick move of finished off by Gibson-Park after some brilliant offloading in the tackle by Henshaw and Aki. Crowley adds the extras and Ireland deservedly lead by 10.

30′ TRY! FRANCE 3-17 IRELAND (BEIRNE): Ireland are straight back on the attack, doing what they do best: relentlessly going through the phases. The ball is shipped to Crowley and the fly-half times his pass to perfection to put Beirne in for the simplest of finishes under the posts. Crowley adds the extras and Ireland are almost out of sight.

32′ RED CARD – WILLEMSE OFF FOR FRANCE: Willemse is be in trouble again here. He receives a second yellow for a high hit on Doris and France are down to 14. What a huge blow.

40′ TRY! FRANCE 10-17 IRELAND (PENAUD): Mauvaka taps quickly and goes himself after Ireland concede another penalty. The hooker gets within a metre but it’s try-scoring machine Damian Penaud who eventually crosses the whitewash after some lightning ball opened up holes in the Irish defence. Ramos adds the two and it’s game on once more.

45′ TRY – FRANCE 10-24 IRELAND (NASH): Nash has a try on his SIx Nations debut! Porter is awarded a penalty and Crowley kicks for the corner. Henshaw almost gets over before Doris feeds Nash to tap down in the corner. Crowley slots a brilliant conversion to make it a two-score game once more.

53′ TRY – FRANCE 17-24 IRELAND (GABRILLAGUES): The footage is far from decisive so Karl Dickson’s on-field decision stands. It’s a try for France AND a yellow card for O’Mahoney. Ramos slots the extras and it’s game on – again!

62′ TRY – FRANCE 17-31 IRELAND (SHEEHAN): Ireland go for the corner and win the lineout before decimating the France maul to crash over the line for the bonus point. Crowley pings another brilliant conversion from a tight angle.

77′ TRY – FRANCE 17-38 IRELAND (KELLEHER): Fickou concedes a penalty and Ireland are going for the corner. Talk about confidence. The lineout is secured and the drive eventually gets going and over the line, with Kelleher touching down for a fifth Ireland try. Confident. Clinical. Game Over.

• That was the biggest away win in France Ireland have ever recorded.