Ireland heartbreak as loss to France means they finish third in Six Nations 2020

Ireland held their fate in their own hands when they faced France in Paris in the final match of the 2020 Six Nations on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, England's 29-point victory over Italy moved them to the top of the table, just above Ireland in second.

However, Ireland went into the match knowing that all they needed to do was win by six or more points, or win with a bonus point in order to secure the 2020 championship.

The match was particularly special, in addition to what was at stake, for prop Cian Healy, who ran out for the hundredth time for his country.

Both sides started off well, with neither side willing to give the other the early momentum.

France gave up an early scrum penalty, just short of 60m out of the posts. Conor Murray stepped up, but pushed it just left of the posts.

After the missed opportunity, France regathered the ball in the middle of the field before shifting the ball wide.

Fael Fickou beat his man, before offloading inside to Antoine Dupont, who scored under the posts. Romaine Ntamack extended the lead to seven points in the first eight minutes.

Ireland were close to getting one back moments later, though, as Hugo Keenan chased down a clever kick and was close to scoring before France's Anthony Bouthier knocked the ball into touch deliberately.

Hugo Keenan of Ireland attempts to collect a kick from team-mate Jonathan Sexton next to the try line as Anthony Bouthier of France closes on during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between France and Ireland at Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Sportsfile

He was shown yellow for the cynical play, however it was deemed that a try was not certain, and no penalty try was awarded. France managed to clear Ireland out of their 22m, and the visitors needed to start again.

Andy Farrell's men heaped the pressure on the French while Bouthier was off the pitch, however, the hosts absorbed most of it and made Ireland work hard for their points.

France held the Irish out for most of their ten minutes with 14 men, however it was the centurion Healy who powered his way over the line for Ireland's first try.

Johnny Sexton added the conversion to level matters, as Bouthier ran back onto the pitch.

With 25 minutes played, Sexton put Ireland into the lead for the first time through a penalty for offsides by France. All they needed to do was keep adding to the scoreline at this stage to win the title.

Conor Murray of Ireland during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between France and Ireland at Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Sportsfile

Ireland let their concentration slip, however, as a loose ball went towards Ireland's in-goal area. Caelan Doris tackled Francois Cros without the ball, which awarded France the penalty try and Doris a yellow card.

A penalty from Sexton kept the visitors within a point just after the half hour mark. This was wiped away shortly after, though, as Ntamack added a penalty of his own with two minutes left of the first half.

Ireland were unable to use their field position in the final minute of the half to their advantage, and France shut them down on their own try line to head into the half leading by four.

The hosts got the second half started in rip-roaring fashion, as they recovered a poor kick from Bundee Aki, to put the ball into the hands of Fickou who chipped ahead.

Cian Healy of Ireland, with the help of team-mate James Ryan, on the way to scoring his side's first try during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between France and Ireland at Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Sportsfile

Dupont regathered an offloaded to Ntamack just before he was about to be tackled out to get the try for the hosts. Ntamack could not add the extras to the try, however managed to get a few penalties ahead of the hour mark.

With Ireland looking as if they were on the back foot, Robbie Henshaw took matters into his own hands to break through the French defence.

He ran through the half gap and powered his way over the line to close the gap to eight after Sexton's successful conversion.

In the final ten minutes of the match, France sealed their victory with a great try off of an Ntamack break that was finished off by Virimi Vakatawa.

Ntamack brought the lead out to 15 points, and all but secured the victory for Les Bleus.

With just two minutes left, France were content to simply let the clock run down and earn their victory.

Jacob Stockdale managed to get one back for the visitors in the final minute of the match, but it was not enough.

The French win was not enough to wrestle the title away from England, who were crowned 2020 Six Nations Champions.

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