Last week Ireland ran seven tries past hapless Wales. Today back home they leaked eight tries to a rampant French side who made them look ordinary again. Such are the gulfs set between the competing nations; twas ever thus.
The Irish started well enough: Emeline Gros made two errors, first not catching the kick-off, then throwing a careless ball away inside her 22. The French fell off-side in the scramble and Hannah Tyrrell converted the penalty. But from then on neither she nor her half-back partner Kathryn Dane had the time they enjoyed against the Welsh to weave their webs.
The French looked back to their very best as the ball was consistently recycled and moved around the pitch at dizzying pace. Caroline Boujard was on the end of a dazzling move from first phase to score. Caroline Drouin, back from Dubai, converted well. Irish marking was at fault.
The next score was telling. The Irish advanced threateningly, but when halted by the defensive wall, they lost the ball forward. In an instant Laure Sansus hoisted a high box kick over her shoulder into no-man’s-land. Emilie Boulard read her intentions so well that she was first to get a hoof to the ball. She dropped on it as it crossed the line. Who needs Jessy Trémoulière, a Player of the Year, when you have a youngster like Boulard on your books? A more Gallic score you could not imagine.
Now it was the pack’s turn; they rumbled forward and Aoife McDermott saw yellow as Sara Cox awarded a penalty try. The card was another example of a player being accused of pulling down when a Martian might claim she had been run over by a bus. Ciara Griffin had inexplicably gone off-side at a ruck to set up the position.
Ireland responded well. A kick deep to the corner saw the forwards drive and Cliodhna Moloney cross for an opening try.
On the half-hour Boulard tapped a penalty and broke; at a following offence Drouin was asked to add three points and she obliged.
Events were running away from the Irish. Madoussou Fall nearly got over the line, but there was Safi N’Diaye to show her how. There was still time before the break for Cyrielle Banet to add to her try-count and me to get a point or two extra on my Fantasy Team ledger. It was the first time Beibhinn Parsons had the ball in an inch of space, but she lost it in contact and Banet was away. Another sudden turnover scuppered Irish intentions.
Half-time: 8-38
The trend continued. Boujard scored her second, her fifth in two games. When Romane Ménager was sent on, the effect was similar to Poppy Cleall’s arrival last week. In no time she was haring away down the right wing, brushing off would-be tacklers to score.
Interestingly, even with the score at 8-48, Drouin was summoned to pot another penalty. The half-century was up inside the hour. Not to be outdone by her wing-partner, Banet now completed a second try.
It’s credit to the Irish that they were the last to score five minutes from closing time. Emma Hooban was on the end of another accurate drive from a line-out won by Nicola Fryday.
Stacey Flood looked impressive when she came on for Tyrrell. Like her she is left-footed and gained good ground by those means. If her 7s calls allow it, she might be a more permanent answer to the No 10 problem.
The game was a disturbing lesson for the hosts, but they now have the more manageable challenge of facing Italy. It’s unfortunate for them that they have to travel again.
Result: Ireland 15 France 56
Player of the Match: Marjorie Mayans
Teams
Ireland:
15. Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian/Munster, 16 caps)
14. Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby, 13)
13. Eve Higgins (Railway Union/Leinster, 1)
12. Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/ Leinster, 39)
11. Beibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe/Blackrock College/Connacht, 9)
10. Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster, 18)
9. Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster 11)
1. Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster, 32)
2. Cliodhna Moloney (Wasps/IQ Rugby, 24)
3. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster, 10)
4. Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster, 14)
5. Nichola Fryday (Blackrock College/Connacht, 16)
6. Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College/ Munster, 5)
7. Claire Molloy (Wasps/IQ Rugby, 71)
8. Ciara Griffin (Captain)(UL Bohemian/Munster, 34)
Bench:
16. Emma Hooban (Blackrock College/Leinster, 7)
17. Katie O’Dwyer (Railway Union/Leinster, 2)
18. Laura Feely (Blackrock College/Connacht, 17)
19. Brittany Hogan (DCU/Old Belvedere/Ulster, 2)
20. Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College/Leinster, 3)
21. Emily Lane (Blackrock College/Munster, 1)
22. Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster, 1)
23. Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union/Munster)*
* uncapped player
France:
15 Emilie Boulard
14 Caroline Boujard
13 Carla Neisen
12 Jade Ulutele
11 Cyrielle Banet
10 Caroline Drouin
9 Laure Sansus
1 Annaëlle Deshayes
2 Agathe Sochat
3 Rose Bernadou
4 Madoussou Fall
5 Safi N’Diaye
6 Marjorie Mayans
7 Gaëlle Hermet (captain)
8 Emeline Gros
Bench :
16 Laure Touyé
17 Dhia-Maïlys Traoré
18 Clara Joyeux
19 Coumba Diallo
20 Romane Ménager
21 Pauline Bourdon
22 Morgane Peyronnet
23 Gabrielle Vernier
Officials:
Referee: Sara Cox (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Assistant Referee 2: Katherine Ritchie (RFU)
T
MO: Claire Hodnett (RFU)
Tables:
Pool A P W L B Pts
England 2 2 0 2 10
Italy 2 1 1 0 5
Scotland 2 0 2 0 0
Pool B
France 2 2 0 2 10
Ireland 2 1 1 1 5
Wales 2 0 2 0 0
Next week is the Super Saturday Showdown aka Round Four
Italy v Ireland Stadio Lanfranchi Parma KO 12.00 noon
England v France Twickenham Stoop KO 2pm
Scotland v Wales Scotstoun Glasgow KO 5pm
All times BST
