For pure, compelling drama, a frantic and fascinating contest between Ireland and France lived up to the hype. Inevitably, this meant that referee Angus Gardner and his officiating team were presented with controversial and complex incidents.
Here, we examine five pivotal ones and how Gardner dealt with them.
29th minute: Beirne ends Dupont’s game
Close to the half-hour mark, Antoine Dupont twists awkwardly at a breakdown and sustains an injury that forces him to leave the field.
Buffeted by Andrew Porter, Tadhg Beirne drives through and dips towards the floor, inadvertently putting his weight through Dupont’s outstretched right leg and causing it to hyperextend.
Despite protests from Grégory Alldritt, the new France captain, Gardner insists that this is an unfortunate accident.
Verdict: Certainly, Beirne’s actions are far less reckless than other players in incidents that have brought about cards. England lock Charlie Ewels, for instance, was sent off for a rash clear-out on Michael Leitch of Japan last July. Beirne’s clear-out was somewhat lateral, but the initial contact is on the shoulder of a jackalling Dupont and looks legal.
There is no obvious direct targeting of the lower limb. The injury is caused in the ensuing milliseconds, as Dupont is bumped into a vulnerable body position.
Another angle from France’s goal-line shows the second action of the clear-out, as Beirne falls on to Dupont. Without the initial contact, this makes the coming together seem far more sinister.
Sur cet angle, Beirne semble délibérément déblayer sur l’articulation de Dupont.
Je pense que ça aurait au moins dû être revu, sans aucun doute. Incompréhensible et inquiétant.pic.twitter.com/PobbEAuOdE
— Pablo Guillen (@pablo_guillen_) March 8, 2025
Later, Gardner said to Alldritt: “Grégory, mate, I genuinely hear your concerns. You’ve got to trust us that we’ve reviewed it. Sometimes in rugby, as unfortunate as it is, people get injured.”
This did not stop an incensed Fabien Galthié from teeing off in his post-match press conference, yet it is difficult to argue with Gardner.
30th minute: O’Mahony takes out Bielle-Biarrey
As Bielle-Biarrey chipped ahead towards the vacant dead-ball area, aiming to use his electric pace in trademark style, a trailing Peter O’Mahony dived across him in an apparent charge-down that obstructed the kicker.
Bielle-Biarrey looked frustrated, clearly feeling as though he should have been awarded a penalty. Gardner, though, saw no offence.
Verdict: This seemed to be a moment of exceptionally streetwise cynicism from O’Mahony, which potentially saved seven points for Ireland. He effectively disguised his charge-down as a block, with expert timing.
Any later, and O’Mahony would have been penalised. As it was, Gardner fairly explained: “I’m going to play on; committed to the charge-down.”
46th minute: Nash escapes with a yellow
In the build-up to Paul Boudehent’s try, France centre Pierre-Louis Barassi spears towards the gain-line and is met by Robbie Henshaw and Calvin Nash in a two-man tackle.
On replays, a head clash is identified. Gardner sin-bins Nash and refers the incident to the bunker official. It stays as a yellow card rather than being upgraded.
Verdict: Another good decision. The head clash was serious enough to end Barassi’s afternoon, but there is enough mitigation for the sanction to remain at a yellow card because of the stoop that Barassi adopts as he braces for contact.
46th minute: O’Mahony not allowed to milk penalty
To sum up the frenetic nature of this encounter and just how difficult it would have been to officiate, this is another incident from the same passage of play that brought about Boudehent’s crucial score.
On the back of a carry in midfield from Yoram Moefana, seconds after the Nash tackle on Barassi, O’Mahony pushes Moefana to the floor and backs off. Thibaud Flament is in support, and bumps into O’Mahony, with the latter falling to the floor.
Play continues and Boudehent goes over from Maxime Lucu’s offload, and Gardner adjudges that the try should stand after surveying several replays.
Verdict: This is probably a 50-50. Flament does make contact with O’Mahony beyond the ball, opening up space for Jean-Baptiste Gros, but O’Mahony appears to go to the ground very easily in an attempt to milk a shrewd penalty. Had the try been chalked off, having been labelled legal on the field by Gardner, France would have been justifiably irritated. Similarly, neutrals would have understood if play returned to the France penalty for Nash’s offence. Minutes previously, prior to Dan Sheehan’s try, Mickaël Guillard thought he had earned a breakdown penalty. This one evened it up.
“I’m going to stick with my on-field decision,” Gardner told Ian Tempest, his television match official, in a discussion that was broadcast around the stadium to a cacophony of boos. “I’ll tell you why; because six [O’Mahony] is retreating backwards as a matador and gets bumped, so the on-field decision stays.”
51st minute: Did Bielle-Biarrey touch it down?
Bielle-Biarrey skates after his own kick ahead to finish a stunning counter from France, featuring a mesmeric pass from Damian Penaud that threads the eye of a needle between two Ireland defenders.
An alternative angle shows Bielle-Biarrey and Lucu always getting in one another’s way as the former touches down.
Verdict: Tempest will have scrutinised as Thomas Ramos was eyeing up the conversion. Even with split-second, frame-by-frame shots, it is impossible to tell for sure whether or not Bielle-Biarrey’s fingertips come off the ball before it is pressed into the turf.
Because Gardner awarded the try on the field, there would have been compelling evidence to the contrary to deny France.
Overall verdict
Referees are regularly lambasted in the wake of matches like this, which are characterised by ferociously intense competition and extremely fine margins. In truth, Gardner and his team kept their composure to address divisive calls accurately and clearly. As ever, supporters from both sides will feel aggrieved with the odd decision. However, the officials deserve praise.
