Reiging champions France threw down an ominous marker for their Six Nations rivals as Louis Bielle-Biarrey inspired them to a 36-14 victory over Ireland on Thursday.
Star scrumhalf Antoine Dupont may have been making his long-awaited return to the national team 11 months after a cruciate knee ligament injury, but it was flying wing Bielle-Biarrey and mercurial flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert who stole the show, although lock Mickael Guillard was rewarded for his industry with the man-of-the-match award.
Bielle-Biarreys brace took him to 22 tries in just his 23rd match, while Jalibert scored one try and lit up the Stade de France with his ingenuity.
