France 13-15 Ireland: Sexton steals Six Nations win
Johnny Sexton's monster drop-goal gave Ireland a last-gasp 15-13 NatWest 6 Nations victory over France in Paris.
The fly-half landed a long-range kick in the third minute of added time, to pinch Joe Schmidt's side a victory that had appeared already lost.
Teddy Thomas' mazy solo try looked to have floored Ireland, as France conjured a 13-12 lead from nowhere in Jacques Brunel's first game as Les Bleus boss.
But just when Ireland appeared beaten, Sexton unleashed a stunning drop-goal to wrestle victory - and keep hopes alive of a Grand Slam decider with England at Twickenham on March 17.
Ireland appeared in control for the majority of the match, failing only to add a try to their composed performance. But Joe Schmidt's men almost crumbled after the otherwise reliable Sexton missed a regulation penalty just past the hour.
The previously subdued France summoned fresh levels of zeal and grit - and Ireland came so close to finding no answer to Thomas' scything finish.
Replacement fly-half Anthony Belleau then slotted the conversion that so nearly secured France's one-point victory.
But after Belleau failed with a testing penalty effort, Ireland rallied once more, with Sexton taking the glory - and then being mobbed on the field by his team-mates.
Ireland carried a deserved 9-3 lead into the break courtesy of three Sexton penalties.
The visitors dominated the first 40 minutes, but ought to have turned around with at least one try.
Cian Healy was robbed on the ground after Ireland had ploughed through 13 phases in the France 22, and with that turnover went their best chance of crossing the whitewash in the half.
Compounding errors almost cost Schmit's side, when CJ Stander was stripped in contact, and then Rob Kearney was penalised for holding on in a botched counter-attack.
Maxime Machenaud posted France's solitary penalty for the half, leaving both sides craving a genuine breakthrough.
Sexton's fourth penalty edged Ireland further ahead to open the second half, before the visitors laid siege yet again on the French whitewash.
But just as in the first half, another long-winded set of phases - this time 15 - ended with France clearing their lines, not an Ireland try.
Machenaud's second penalty cut Ireland's lead to 12-6, and so the scores stayed until the hour.
Sexton served up a surprise miss with his fifth penalty attempt, emboldening France into a frenzied attack.
And as Les Bleus continued to build, Ireland failed to turn the tide. Just as with French sides of old, Brunel's outfit switched in a flash from rabble to rampant.
Wing Thomas fielded a wayward clearance, set off on a determined run - and bisected Ireland's hamstrung defence.
The prostrate Sexton's pained face after failing to rebuff Thomas told the full story. Replacement fly-half Belleau slotted the facile conversion, and France had the 13-12 lead.
Belleau missed a penalty shot with three minutes to play, handing Ireland renewed impetus and hope of clawing their way back to victory.
And Sexton delivered, nailing his drop-goal to atone for his earlier miss, before disappearing under a mountain of joyous green-clad team-mates.
Match-winner Sexton said: "I'm just happy I got another chance. In the last moment something caught my eye and just happy to get another chance to get victory for the boys.
"We've worked so hard for the last two weeks and it's great to be in the position we are now after an away win."
When asked what he thought of before kicking the winning goal, the fly-half said: "I went back to many years ago when we played Treviso away and I was in an almost identical position and just flashed back to that. Just got there in the end."
WHAT A FINISH! After an incredible contest with Ireland retaining the ball for an age, out-half Jonathan Sexton has landed an incredible drop-goal to give @IrishRugby a sensational win in Paris!
— NatWest 6 Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 3, 2018
FULL-TIME: France 13-15 Ireland. #FRAvIRE #NatWest6Nations
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