Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton’s match winning drop goal against France in Paris on Saturday night has already gone down in Six Nations folklore. But the 40 Phases that led up to the winning kick, which came 82 minutes and 42 seconds into the match, was almost as extraordinary as the kick itself.
Here we break down the extraordinary last drive from Ireland that started with a drop out on their own 22 and finished five minutes and 13 seconds later with Sexton’s drop goal sailing over the cross bar.
77.17 Anthony Belleau’s penalty attempt scrapes the outside of the post, leaving the door open for Ireland.
77.29 Johnny Sexton takes the 22 drop out. He kicks to the left where Iain Henderson takes the ball uncontested and sets up a ruck. (Phase 1 – Ball on Ireland 25 metre line)
Bundee Aki sets up the ruck
77.48 After a couple of tight phases Conor Murray spreads it wide to Bundee Aki who is well tackled by committed France defence (Phase 4 – Ball on Ireland 30 metre line)
77.59 Murray passes to Sexton on the left who interchanges with CJ Stander. Sexton then collides with Stander but referee Nigel Owens lets the play go on. Sexton is wrapped up near the Ireland 40 metre line. No8 Kevin Gourdon is down injured for France near the halfway line. (Phase 5)
78.12 Rob Kearney bobbles a pass but holds on. The ball goes wide to Aki who again makes ground, up to the Ireland 45 metre line. (Phase 6)
78.39 CJ Stander is going backwards and France are over the ball through Dany Priso. But somehow Stander manages to re-cycle. (Phase 9 – ball on Ireland 42 metre line.)
79.01 The ball goes loose on the ground from Dan Leavy but Owens says backwards. Play on. (Phase 12 – ball on Ireland 40 metre line.)
79.26 Ireland going backward. Aki takes it up for the third time in the move but is stopped on the Ireland 40 metre line. (Phase 15)
Robbie Henshaw makes a few yards
79.41 Ireland get some quick ball. Murray feeds back to back phases to Sexton who finds Robbie Henshaw out on the left. The Leinster centre makes good yards almost to the halfway line. (Phase 17)
80.05 The clock ticks into the red as replacement hooker Sean Cronin is tackled right on half way. Any mistake now and the game is over. France will win. (Phase 20)
80.17 Aki takes it up again but the French defence swarm and he is brought down back near the 40 metre line. Ireland are starting to look bunched. (Phase 22)
80.35 Sensing something needs to be done to break France open Sexton audaciously kicks across the field for Keith Earls. The Munster winger leaps high as opposing winger Virimi Vakatawa gives him space, not wanting to be penalized for playing the main in the air. Earls takes he baall cleanly and jinks inside taking it down to the France 40 metre line – inside drop goal range. (Phase 23)
Keith Earls leaps high to take Sexton’s cross field kick
80.51 France lying in the ruck but Owens is down on his haunches making sure it comes back. Ireland are almost in drop goal range but Sexton is down with cramps. He stretches his right leg, his kicking foot, and scrambles back up. (Phase 26 – ball on France 40 metre line.)
81.28 Very slow ball for Ireland. Four phases where they make zero yards with Devin Toner, Peter O’Mahony, Jack McGrath and Stander all being scythed down. Priso is lying in the ruck again but Owens calls play on. (Phase 30)
81.41 Good defence from Cedate Gomes Sa. Owens warns Murray on the run: “Don’t look for the penalty. I’ll deal with it.” Ireland go wide with Sexton finding Aki for the fifth time but they are going nowhere. They are now back on the halfway line. (Phase 33)
81.56 Murray tries a quick interchange with Fergus McFadden close to the ruck. The Leinster winger gives them a little zip and together they make a few precious yards. (Phase 34 – ball on France 40 metre line.)
82.04 Leavy takes it up again, his third time in the move, but the ball is very slow. O’Mahony gets a good leg drive on but Ireland can’t get past the France 40 metre line, still a few good metres out of drop goal range. (Phase 36)
Ireland lock Iain Henderson gets chopped down
82.16 Sexton passes inside to Henderson but the big lock is chopped down. Still on the France 40 metre line. (Phase 37)
82.31 Henderson again but this time he skips through the tackle of reserve hooker Adrien Pelissie and makes five crucial metres. Ball on the France 35 metre line – field goal range. (Phase 39)
82.35 Now in drop-goal range Murray passes infield to Stander who sets the ruck up in the centre of the field. Sexton drops back. (Phase 40)
82.38 Murray hits Sexton with the pass 45 metres out right in front. The Leinster fly half drops it on to his right boot.
Johnny Sexton lets his drop goal fly
82.42 The ball sails through the air for a never ending four seconds, just clearing the cross bar – Ireland have won.
