Sluggish Ireland outgunned by physical French
Women’s Six Nations Championship
France 24
Ireland 0
Daire Walsh
Toulouse
Ireland’s Women’s Six Nations campaign began in disappointing fashion on Saturday, with a heavy defeat to France at Toulouse’s Stade Ernest Wallon.
Eye-catching tries from Cyrielle Banet, Jade Le Pesq (two) and Jessy Trémoulière comfortably secured a bonus-point victory for an impressive French outfit, and Ireland hooker Cliodhna Moloney admitted their opponents were so much more efficient on the night.
“It was very physical from France in attack and defence. They were probably much more physical than us and more clinical,” Moloney acknowledged.
“Once they got inside our 22, they capitalised on whatever chances they had and unfortunately we didn’t.”
This game represented the dawn of a new era for Ireland, following the retirement of several key players and the appointment of interim head coach Adam Griggs.
After full-back Trémoulière combined effectively with Pauline Bourdon in the sixth-minute, Montpellier winger Banet stepped inside from the right-wing for a deadlock-breaking score.
The returning Niamh Briggs subsequently found touch from a brace of penalties to establish some territory for Ireland, before Les Bleus eventually claimed their second try on 25 minutes.
Bourdon’s crossfield ball was gathered by Caroline Boujard – who released Le Pesq for a superb effort underneath the posts.
Trémoulière supplied the bonuses, before crossing over herself to give France a 17-0 interval lead. This left Ireland with a lot of ground to cover, and they lost Ciara Cooney to injury just before the hour mark.
In the absence of the Railway Union second-row, Ireland worked hard to halt France’s quest for a fourth try. However, Le Pesq eventually completed the scoring with a neat finish on 72 minutes.
The loss places a significant dent in Ireland’s Championship prospects, though Moloney sees next Sunday’s home encounter against Italy as an ideal opportunity to bounce back.
“There’s a lot of work-ons, but there’s a chance to make things right next weekend. We’re going to go for a big win at home in Donnybrook,” the Leinster star added.
Scorers for France: J Le Pesq 2 tries, J Trémoulière try, 2 cons, C Banet try.
FRANCE: J Trémoulière; C Boujard, J Le Pesq, C Boudaud, C Banet; P Bourdon, Y Riovalen; L Arricastre, A Sochat, J Duval; C Ferer, S N’Diaye; M Mayans, G Hermet, R Ménager.
Replacements: M Ménager for Boujard (46), G Mignot for Sochat, P Carricaburu for Duval (both 50), D Traore for Arricastre, A Forlani for Ferer (both 54), G Venier for Riovalen, C Diallo for R Ménager (both 59), E Coudert for Banet (72).
IRELAND: K Flood; M Williams, C McLaughlin, S Naoupu, A Miller; N Briggs, A Hughes; L Peat, C Moloney, F Reidy; C Cooney, O Fitzsimons; A Caplice, C Molloy, C Griffin.
Replacements: N Fryday for Fitzsimons, P Fitzpatrick for Caplice (both 45); L Lyons for Reidy (50), C O’Connor for Cooney, M Healy for Hughes (both 57); M Coyne for McLaughlin (66), N Caughey for Briggs, L Feely for Peat (both 75).
Referee: I Tempest (England).