The Ireland Women ran hosts France close in the Pool C decider, building towards this evening's Cup quarter-final showdown with Canada at the HSBC France Sevens in Toulouse.
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Megan Burns' early try was eventually eclipsed by scores from Joanna Grisez and Jade Ulutule as les Bleues took a 12-5 verdict, which puts Ireland on a collision course with Canada (kick-off 6.37pm Irish time).
It will be Ireland's fourth successive Cup quarter-final appearance and they have a very good record against Canada this season, with their three wins-out-of-four including a 36-12 victory at this stage in Seville.
Head coach Aiden McNulty brought in Burns and recent new cap Vicky Elmes Kinlan for the France match at a sunny Stade Ernest Wallon, with Eve Higgins unfortunately sidelined and Erin King moving to the bench.
Ireland made the early running, Brittany Hogan's offload out of a tackle almost creating a try before Burns brilliantly jinked around Carla Niesen in the second minute to score to the left of the posts.
The home crowd, including the traditional brass band, created a superb atmosphere and the Irish fans, made up of family members, friends and team-mates (including the injured Beibhinn Parsons), also brought plenty of colour and noise.
The exchanges were tight and tense, France struggling to get out of their own half with Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe showing impressive strength to retrieve a loose ball and Stacey Flood breaking through the defence.
It remained 5-0 up to half-time and with France kicking out on the full, Ireland had another bright spell at the start of the second half with Flood finding some space through the middle and linking with the newly-introduced King.
However, the breakthrough came for France when they created an opening for Joanna Grisez and she had the legs to score from far out. Jade Ulutule's conversion edged them ahead at 7-5.
With two minutes remaining, Ulutule unlocked the Irish defence with a quick tap in midfield and despite Lucy Mulhall's tackle before the line, the grounding was good.
That proved to be the match-winning score, leaving Ireland to advance as Pool C runners-up. Canada also finished second in their pool thanks to wins over Spain (26-12) and Scotland (14-7). They lost 17-0 to New Zealand this morning.
It remained 5-0 up to half-time and with France kicking out on the full, Ireland had another bright spell at the start of the second half with Flood finding some space through the middle and linking with the newly-introduced King.
However, the breakthrough came for France when they created an opening for Joanna Grisez and she had the legs to score from far out. Jade Ulutule's conversion edged them ahead at 7-5.
With two minutes remaining, Ulutule unlocked the Irish defence with a quick tap in midfield and despite Lucy Mulhall's tackle before the line, the grounding was good.
That proved to be the match-winning score, leaving Ireland to advance as Pool C runners-up. Canada also finished second in their pool thanks to wins over Spain (26-12) and Scotland (14-7). They lost 17-0 to New Zealand this morning.