France 38 Ireland 17
Ireland's Aoife Dalton comes up against Lina Queyroi of France
Ireland lost their first game of the Women’s Six Nations but there were some promising green shoots in their performance against France at the Stade Marie-Marvingt, Le Mans. Ireland conceded five tries but they scored two thanks to Aoife Wafer and Aoife Dalton in the final ten minutes. Considering Ireland have lost by an average margin of 39 points to France over the previous four games, this was an improved display especially in defence.
It was a nightmare start for Ireland with France scoring their first try after just 130 seconds. The home-side’s line-out maul is one their big weapons and they used it to devastating effect after two minutes with scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus peeling off to score the first try of the 2024 Women’s Six Nations. It was a nervy start by Ireland but they settled and a penalty from Nicole Fowley in the 14th minute got Ireland on the scoreboard at 7-3.
Fowley certainly didn’t play like it was her first Six Nations game since 2019 with an effective and pragmatic kicking game. It was also Ireland’s defence that stood out in the first half with French attacking waves being halted or overturned as Ireland scrambled and soaked up the pressure. The work done by new defence coach Declan Danaher was translated onto the pitch by the players. They were dogged as they made 96 tackles in the first half to France’s 74.
There were bright moments. Number 8 Brittany Hogan made a brilliant break up the pitch after 23 minutes and followed it up with a minute later with a brilliant tackle on Nassira Konde. While the French were having problems of their own at the line-out, this was a major issue for Ireland with four lost line-outs in the first half.
For 25 minutes Ireland kept the scoreboard at 7-3 until France got their second try eight minutes before the break. After a brilliant reverse pass from Sansus, Marine Menager ran a great line and sidestep to score. The conversion and penalty from Lina Queyroi helped France to a 17-3 half-time lead.
There was a change of outhalf for Ireland at the start of the second half as Dannah O’Brien replaced Fowley. Once again, France scored a try early in the half, this time from lock Madoussou Fall. France got their bonus point thanks to another powerful French rolling maul with hooker Agathe Sochat at the end of the move.
Squeezed between France’s fifth try scored by replacement Elisa Riffoneau were two Ireland tries. Ireland enjoyed some possession coming into the final 10 minutes and as they pounded the line, it was Wafer who dug her way over. It was Ireland’s first try against France in two years. O’Brien added the extras. And their hardwork paid off with a second try three minutes before full-time. A mistake by Lina Tuy on her own tryline saw Dalton quick to pounce and score Ireland’s second try. O’Brien added the conversion.
France won 38-17. Ireland need to fix their line-out and produce more attacking threat but it is a display that can be built on for their first home game of the championship against Italy at RDS on Sunday week. Perhaps then we can see more from a rising Ireland team.
Scorers – France: P Bourdon Sansus, M Menager, M Fall, A Sochat, E Riffonneau all trys, L Queyroi 4 cons, 1 pen, M Bourgeois con
Ireland: A Wafer, A Dalton try, D O’Brien 2 cons, N Fowley pen
France: E Boulard; K Arbey, N Konde, G Vernier, M Menager (M Bourgeois 44) L Queyroi (L Tuy 72), P Bourdon Sansus (A Chambon 61); A Deshayes (A Mwayembe 56) ,(A E Riffonneau 65), A Khalfaoui (C Joyeux 65), M Feleu (capt), M Fall (E Gros 51); C Escudero, G Hermet, R Menager
Reps: E Riffonneau, A Mwayembe, C Joyeux, K Zago, E Gros, A Chambon, L Tuy, M Bourgeois
Ireland: L Delany; K Corrigan (M Deely 67), E Higgins, A Dalton, B Parsons; N Fowley (D O'Brien 40) A Reilly (M Scuffil-McCabe 64); L Djougang, N Jones, C Haney (S McGrath 64); D Wall (F Tuite 56), H O'Connor; A Wafer, E McMahon (G Moore 51), B Hogan
Reps: S Delaney, N O'Dowd, S McGrath, F Tuite, G Moore, M Scuffil-McCabe, D O'Brien, M Deely
Referee: Kat Roche (USA)
