Player ratings: Johnny Sexton impressive in Ireland win

Here are our player ratings for Ireland after Johnny Sexton kicked them to a dramatic 15-13 victory over France on Saturday.

15 Rob Kearney – Apart from one dropped high ball, it was a solid evening for the ever-reliable full-back, who ran for 40 metres and looked to create with some intelligent angles. 6/10

14 Keith Earls – One of Ireland’s brightest attacking threats in a game which did not really suit the outside backs. While Sexton will claim the glory, it was Earls’ brilliant claim from the fly-half’s cross-field kick which helped set up the position for the winning score. 7/10

13 Robbie Henshaw – The outside centre very rarely has a bad game and leads the defence superbly, but he has the talent to display more in attack. Another of the Ireland players to be solid without setting the game alight. 6/10

12 Bundee Aki – A very good Six Nations debut from the powerful midfielder. While he drifted out of the game in the second period, Aki created several indents in the first half and certainly looks a useful asset for Irish rugby. 7/10

11 Jacob Stockdale – Stockdale showed his talent on occasions but, despite plenty of endeavour, he was sometimes forced back by the sheer ferocity of the France defence. A decent performance but the wing will no doubt improve. 6/10

10 Johnny Sexton – Missed one relatively simple effort off the tee but was otherwise flawless with his kicking. Prodded and probed in open play without really creating anything with ball in hand, but he was Ireland’s match-winner yet again. 8/10

9 Conor Murray – The scrum-half’s kicking, as ever, was pinpoint and on a couple of occasions he almost broke through after a sniping run, but his influence waned slightly as the game went on. 7/10

8 CJ Stander – Once again, the South African-born number eight was Ireland’s most prominent carrier and tended to make ground in the tight. Much like the Lions tour, however, he was a bit 'head down' and could possibly use his frame to greater effect. 7/10

7 Josh van der Flier – The openside was solid during his time on the field, carrying five times and making four tackles, but Van der Flier was forced off after a nasty-looking injury late in the first half. 6/10

6 Peter O’Mahony – Strangely anonymous for someone who is usually such a nuisance at the breakdown. It was a game which should have suited someone like the blindside but it was instead the bigger ball-carriers in the back five that were more prominent in getting Ireland over the line. 5/10

5 James Ryan – An excellent performance by the big lock. Does all the basics well, has a good understanding of the game and Ryan’s power in the tight exchanges was unrivalled by anyone else on the field. It won’t be a surprise for those that have followed his progression through the age groups, however. 8/10

4 Iain Henderson – Ryan’s lock partner also carried well and was a crucial component in their success, making 23 metres from 11 carries when primarily going into traffic. Providing they can sort out their lineout issues – it wasn’t exactly smooth on Saturday – this could be Ireland's second-row pairing for years to come. 7/10

3 Tadhg Furlong – Once again, the Lions’ tighthead was an absolute workhouse but the prop didn’t make the impact he would have liked. Was solid in the scrum and started to get on top before being taken off after 70 minutes. 6/10

2 Rory Best – Didn’t really find his range in the lineout and was pretty absent in open play, it was not Best’s greatest performance. Another where the game should have allowed him to thrive, with the hooker’s ability to get over the ball at the breakdown, but the match rather passed him by. 5/10

1 Cian Healy – Made more impact than Furlong in the loose but again it was all a bit head down. Ireland got a bit too narrow at times and it didn’t help Healy who, despite his size, was running into a solid wall. 6/10

Replacements:

16 Sean Cronin – Had a couple of runs but was not really on long enough to make a significant impression. 6/10

17 Jack McGrath – Scrum improved when he came on but that was about it. 6/10

18 John Ryan – Not on long enough.

19 Devin Toner – Like Cronin, came on late and used his 6ft 11 frame to decent effect in the lineout. 6/10

20 Dan Leavy – Very impressive from the young Leinster back-row, who came on for Van der Flier and carried superbly. 7/10

21 Luke McGrath – Did not come on.

22 Joey Carbery – Did not come on.

23 Fergus McFadden – Not on long enough.