Ireland women beaten 38-17 by a dominant French performance at Stade Marie-Marvingt in the 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations opener.
It took less than three minutes for French scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus to slide in under the posts, helping her side to an early seven-point lead and giving cause for concern to the Irish squad. Ireland’s early lack of discipline afforded their opponents an opportunity to unleash their dangerously powerful line-out – with the number 9’s x-ray vision at the back of a blue driving maul resulting in the early French breakthrough.
Ireland then put in a defensive display for the ages – with fly-half Nicole Fowley orchestrating their escape plan through some superb kicking. Ireland’s defensive display was heroic – forcing the French into uncharacteristic errors, causing trouble around the breakdown, and answered soon after with a penalty and three points of their own.
They were only undone by another piece of magic involving Bourdon Sansus, who released winger Marine Menager into acres of space to give France an 11-point lead. Another French penalty slotted by Lina Queyroi saw the women in blue head into the break 17-3 ahead.
France continued their territorial dominance in the second half and reaped the rewards with a try from Madoussou Fall, before earning their bonus-point with a fourth converted try scored on the hour mark by Agathe Sochat – having just five minutes earlier seen a score disallowed. But Ireland fought back with two converted tries of their own – First Aiofe Wafer, then Aiofe Dalton – in one of their best performances against a talented French side since their victory in 2017.
It wasn’t enough to stop the French running out 38-17 winners, thanks to a late score from replacement Elisa Riffoneau, and although they can be critical of some of their handling errors on the day – their pack put in a fine display. While Ireland will be disappointed to lose, they can take plenty of positives from their performance – including equalling their highest points tally against the French.
France travel to Scotland next week, while Ireland return home to take on Italy.
