The Ireland Women are aiming to match the achievements of their 2009, 2013 and 2017 predecessors and overcome France on home soil in tonight’s eagerly-anticipated Women’s Six Nations showdown at Energia Park.
2019 WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, March 9
IRELAND WOMEN (4th) v FRANCE WOMEN (3rd), Energia Park, Donnybrook, 7pm (live RTÉ 2/www.rte.ie/player/RTÉ Radio 1/France 4/Six Nations YouTube stream (UK/Italy only)/FloRugby (USA))
Team News: Ireland Women’s head coach Adam Griggs has made four personnel changes to the team to play France in their eagerly-awaited Women’s Six Nations match. It was originally five alterations but injury ruled out Juliet Short and brought Aoife McDermott back into the starting XV.
19-year-old UL Bohemians starlet Enya Breen will make her Ireland debut, replacing Michelle Claffey who had to undergo surgery on an ankle injury and will miss the rest of the tournament. Newcomer Breen, who played in January’s warm-up win over Wales, joins Sene Naoupu in the centre.
The rest of the back-line is unchanged from the 29-27 defeat to Italy as Lauren Delany, Eimear Considine, who bagged a brace of tries in Parma, and Alison Miller form the back-three again, while Old Belvedere youngster Kathryn Dane gets her second successive start alongside Nicole Fowley at half-back.
Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird comes in for her first start after two appearances off the bench, slotting in at hooker with Fiona Reidy taking over at tighthead prop from the injured Leah Lyons (AC joint) who could be out for six weeks. They are backed up by McDermott and Nichola Fryday in the second row.
A rejigged back row sees Ulster’s Claire McLaughlin get the nod at number 8, with captain Ciara Griffin reverting to blindside flanker and Claire Molloy staying at openside. The bench is boosted by the return of scrum half Nicole Cronin from an Achilles injury, while the withdrawal of Megan Williams (hamstring) from the matchday squad means 17-year-old Ballinasloe flyer Beibhinn Parsons could make her Six Nations debut.
Meanwhile, Jessy Trémoulière will make her 2019 bow for the France Women as she completes her comeback from a knee injury. The reigning World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year returns at full-back as one of six personnel changes to the French side that won 41-10 in Lille where they ran in seven tries.
Caroline Boujard is promoted from the bench to start on the right wing, Rennes’ Yolaine Yengo joins Gabrielle Vernier, the scorer of a hat-trick against the Scots, in midfield, and Emma Coudert makes way as Yanna Rivoalen gets her first start of the tournament at half-back with Pauline Bourdon switching to the number 10 role.
Les Bleues, who have won four of their last five clashes with Ireland, are missing the injured Safi N’Diaye and Lenaig Corson up front, but are able to bring Bayonne’s Celine Ferer into the second row and Lise Arricastre of Lons gets the nod at loosehead prop, with Toulouse’s Mailys Traore reverting to the bench.
Women’s Six Nations Results/Fixtures
Women’s Six Nations Table
IRELAND WOMEN: Lauren Delany (Firwood Waterloo Ladies/IQ Rugby); Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster), Enya Breen (UL Bohemians/Munster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht); Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster); Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht), Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (UL Bohemians/Munster), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster), Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Galwegians/Connacht), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt), Claire Molloy (Wasps), Claire McLaughlin (Old Belvedere/Ulster).
Replacements: Emma Hooban (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Anna Caplice (Richmond), Claire Boles (Railway Union/Ulster), Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemians/Munster), Ellen Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Beibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe/Connacht).
FRANCE WOMEN: Jessy Tremouliere (ASM Romagnat Rugby Féminin); Caroline Boujard (Montpellier RC), Yolaine Yengo (Stade Rennais), Gabrielle Vernier (Lille Métropole RC Villeneuvois), Ian Jason (Stade Toulousain); Pauline Bourdon (AS Bayonnaise), Yanna Rivoalen (Lille Métropole RC Villeneuvois); Lise Arricastre (Lons Rugby Féminin Béarn Pyrénées), Caroline Thomas (ASM Romagnat Rugby Féminin), Clara Joyeux (Blagnac Rugby Féminin), Celine Ferer (AS Bayonnaise), Audrey Forlani (Blagnac Rugby Féminin), Gaelle Hermet (Stade Toulousain) (capt), Coumba Diallo (Stade Français Paris), Romane Menager (Montpellier RC).
Replacements: Laure Touye (Blagnac Rugby Féminin), Mailys Traore (Stade Toulousain), Chloe Pelle (Lille Métropole RC Villeneuvois/FFR), Laetitia Bobo (Stade Toulousain), Fiona Lecat (Stade Toulousain), Emma Coudert (ASM Romagnat Rugby Féminin), Camille Imart (Stade Toulousain), Marine Menager (Montpellier RC).
Referee: Ian Tempest (England)
Assistant Referees: Nikki O’Donnell (England), Dermot Blake (Ireland)
Television Match Official: Claire Hodnett (England)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ireland Women to win: 9/2; Draw: 25/1; France Women to win: 1/7
Pre-Match Quotes – Adam Griggs (Ireland Women):
We have a big fortnight ahead of us with two tough matches to finish this competition off. We’ve put a lot of work in since Italy to rectify some of the areas that we felt let us down and cost us that result. We need to be clinical when we get into good areas of the field and put teams under pressure with our physicality and strong defence to make teams work harder for their points.
“There have been a lot of positives in each game we’ve played and we must keep building on them along with our work-ons to put together a more comprehensive performance. France is no mean feat and we know they are coming to Dublin to try and get a result.
“They are the current champions for a reason and are coming here on the back of two good wins. But we know if we can get our detail right we can put them under pressure and make them have to re think the way they approach this game.
“The atmosphere in Energia Park has been fantastic. There was a record crowd there for the recent game against England, and we’re expecting another great turnout on Saturday night. I know the team want to give the supporters a really strong performance and show them we are grateful for their support.”
Annick Hayraud (France Women):
Injuries have impacted our team selection for this game, including another one yesterday. So we have to adapt and call on players who have been doing well in the league. We expect a better performance than the one against Scotland. Yes we scored 40 points, so from a results point of view, it was good, but performance-wise we can be better, concede fewer turnovers and make less handling errors.
“We need to be more accurate in those areas and also avoid conceding two tries like we did against Scotland. I expect the girls to raise their level against this Irish team.”
Pre-Match Links –
Nic A Bhaird Brings Sevens Work-Rate To Irish Front Row
In-Form Considine Aims To Make Home Advantage Count Against France
Griggs Targets Strong Start To Ireland Women’s Final Home Game
In Pics: Ireland Women Hold Captain’s Run At Energia Park
Recent Meetings –
2016: Women’s Six Nations: France Women 18 Ireland Women 6, Stade Aime Giral, Perpignan
2017: Women’s Six Nations: Ireland Women 13 France Women 10, Donnybrook; Women’s Rugby World Cup – Pool C: France Women 21 Ireland Women 5, UCD Bowl
2018: Women’s Six Nations: France Women 24 Ireland Women 0, Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse
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