Six Nations: Ireland 15 France 27
These two sides could well meet in a World Cup quarter-final in Exeter next September, and if Ireland add the composure and accuracy that was needed to see this performance through then they will happily trade a defeat here for a win in under six months’ time.
Saturday’s loss may have been Ireland’s eighth in a row against Les Bleus but whereas the average score in the last seven games was 35-9, here Ireland scored three tries against France for the first time since the 47-17 defeat in 2019.
Indeed, when the Irish maul rumbled over for a second time in the 65th minute for the outstanding Aoife Wafer to score her second try – she had powered through two tackles off a clever attacking lineout in the first half – the normally reliable Dannah O’Brien had a kickable conversion to draw the sides level.
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Alas, having nervelessly landed the penalty to beat Scotland in last season’s finale which earned Ireland automatic World Cup qualification and promotion to WXV1, O’Brien missed for a third time.
“Sometimes you can get a game like that,” reasoned head coach Scott Bemand. “I have been here for two WXVs and a Six Nations to this point and Dannah’s kicking has been unbelievable. It’s been a real point of difference for us.
“Other kickers included here, we have gone a bit too close to the touchline and that has given France entries,” added Bemand in reference to two kicks out on the full.
“It’s a skill that needs to stand up to pressure and it is an important part of our game. We are getting better at it but we never came in saying we were perfect at it. The more experience, the more likely they are to execute standing up to that pressure.”
In truth, the missed conversions might well not have affected the outcome. With France restored to 15 players after the completion of a 20-minute red card for try-scoring French centre Gabrielle Vernier on her eventful 50th cap, the visitors underlined they remain the more complete side for the time being.
Their greater experience shone through and recalled fullback Morgane Bourgeois landed a penalty and converted a well-worked try by replacement Emilie Boulard. The former’s five from five, 12-point haul effectively proved the difference between the teams.
Initially, the signs had been a tad ominous for the home side when Bourgeois converted tries by Vernier and Marine Menager amid the flow of penalties against the home side and their handling errors.
But Wafer’s first finish changed the mood music among the 6,976 attendance, as did a resilient, near 10-minute spell of defending and after Myra’s interval performance had whipped the crowd up some more, Ireland’s genuine belief that they could win this game was palpable.
A famous fourth win over the French in 33 attempts didn’t follow but as squad captain Edel McMahon said afterwards: “We were in contention right from the start. A game can flip on its head and get away from you, and the fact we can regain momentum is a massive positive, knowing that if we meet France again, we’re contending with them.”
On her return to the side, such is the all-round quality and work rate of Wafer, Erin King and Brittany Hogan in the Irish backrow that McMahon was among a 6-2 split on the Irish bench which further fuelled the team with energy and oomph.
There were other impressive performances from mobile loosehead Niamh O’Dowd, who put in a huge shift, and as usual from Neve Jones, while Aoife Dalton made a major contribution in defence and with one searing break.
Unrecognisable from a year ago, there was no doubting the Irish ambition and, indeed, they had the better of all the attacking metrics, including six line breaks to two, albeit that seemed to sell France short given their three tries alone were effectively line breaks.
But although Ireland’s kicking and ball retention improved after the interval, five dropped balls or misplaced passes in the opening 15 minutes displayed clear signs of rustiness. In the final analysis, a whopping 31 handling errors contributed to 20 turnovers and fatally undermined them.
This perhaps also shows that the Celtic Challenge, as things stand, is simply not fit for purpose as a build-up to such a massive leap in standard against the world’s fourth-ranked side.
Understandably, when this was put to Bemand, he had to be diplomatic in his response.
“Our point of reference is where were we last year to where are we this? Last year we’d not scored a point against France for three years. The last try we scored against them over there last year was probably end of game ‘Frenchism’, you could call it,” he admitted in reference to Ireland’s second late try in a 38-17 loss in Le Havre.
“We’re moving in the right direction. To close a gap takes a bit of time. France are still a good team and they have their pro league over there. We have moved forward. At times we are going to want more from the domestic competition so we can use that to continue our growth. But at this point in time, from where we were, we have used the time and we have four more games to go.
“We have to back up how we played today and back it up with some winning performances.”
SCORING SEQUENCE – 7 mins: Vernier try, Bourgeois con, 0-7; 18: Menager try, Bourgeois con, 0-14; 22: Wafer try, 5-14; 33: Bourgeois pen, 5-17; Half-time 5-17; 45: Jones try, 10-17; 67: Wafer try, 15-17; 72: Bourgeois pen, 15-20; 74: Boulard try, Bourgeois con, 15-27.
IRELAND: S Flood; A McGann, A Dalton, E Higgins, A Costigan (capt); D O’Brien, E Lane; N O’Dowd, N Jones, L Djougang; R Campbell, D Wall; B Hogan, E King, A Wafer.
Replacements: E Breen for Higgins (45-52 mins); C Moloney for Jones, F Tuite for Wall, E McMahon for Hogan, A Reilly for Lane (all 55); G Moore for Campbell (68); S McCarthy for O’Dowd, C Haney for Djougang (both 78).
FRANCE: M Bourgeois; M Llorems Vignères, N Konde, G Vernier, M Menager (co-capt); C Arbez, P Bourdon-Sansus; Y Brosseau, A Sochat, R Bernadou; M Feleu (co-capt), M Fall-Raclot; C Escudero, S Okemba, T Feleu.
Replacements: E Boulard for Konde (34 mins); A Chambon for Bourdon-Sensus (51-61 and 70-80); M Bigot for Sochat, A Mwayembe for Brosseau, C Joyeux for Bernadou (all 55); A Berthoumieu for Vernier, L Champon for Okemba (both 66),; L Queyroi for Artez (70).
Red card: Vernier (44 mins).
Referee: H Davidson (Scotland).
