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DUBLIN — France has replaced Ireland's hand on the Six Nations rugby trophy after a momentous 42-27 win in Dublin. France decisively took over the lead of the championship with a bonus-point victory Saturday. It can clinch its first title since 2022 in the final round at home next Saturday when it hosts Scotland. Meanwhile, Ireland's Grand Slam hopes have been destroyed in the fourth round for a second straight year and its hopes of a third successive outright title, unprecedented in the tournament's 142-year history, are probably sunk. The breadth of France's win, running up its highest score in Ireland, was even more impressive in the absence for the last 50 minutes of captain Antoine Dupont because of a knee injury.
