Disappointing Defeat For Ireland, But Pride In Performance

Ireland were left to rue missed first-half opportunities, with three tries ruled out by TMO Matteo Liperini, as France seized the momentum after the break to a claim a 26-7 win in Clermont-Ferrand.

The result means Ireland’s wait for a first victory over France since 2017 goes on, but the performance, particularly during the opening 40 minutes when Aoife Wafer was immense, was one to be proud of in the Stade Marcel Michelin cauldron.

Scott Bemand’s side were aggressive and attack-minded from early on, capitalising on Pauline Barrat’s sin-binning with Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald’s 11th-minute maul try, which was converted with aplomb by Dannah O’Brien.

However, the visitors crucially could not convert their 61% possession and 73% territory into a half-time lead. As they tried to respond to Ambre Mwayembe’s levelling score, Brittany Hogan, Fiona Tuite, and Moloney-MacDonald all had tries ruled out.

The trend of France being the better team in the second half of their recent matches continued, though, as this gripping Guinness Women’s Six Nations contest flipped in their favour. A 51st-minute effort from the impressive Carla Arbez gave them a 14-7 lead.

After an O’Brien penalty attempt drifted wide, les Bleues upped their physicality and execution and picked up maximum points thanks to final quarter tries from Anaïs Grando and Léa Champon.

It is a hammer blow to Ireland’s hopes of breaking into the Championship’s top two, but they will still be targeting three wins out of five when they host Wales (May 9) and Scotland (May 17) in their remaining fixtures.

Full report to follow…