Bad omen as Irish Ladies lose to French

France Women 32 Ireland Women 0

From the heights of Donnybrook to the lows of Toulouse - the Ireland Women suffered a five-try 32-0 trouncing at the hands of reigning 6 Nations champions France last night.

It was a complete reversal for the ‘Girls in Green’, who ran in five tries to account for Spain last Saturday.

Four of the classy French backs got in on the scoring act in Toulouse - centres Lucie Elodie and Sandrine Agricole, winger Marion Talayrach and full-back Celine Allaimnat.

Fly half Estelle Sartini kicked two conversions and a penalty, while flanker Aline Sagols touched down in the second half. Ireland were missing the attacking guile of scrum half Tania Rosser, who sat out the trip south due to personal reasons.

Ireland team manager Mark Andrews said: “It was a really disappointing performance. We just made too many errors and never got going.

“It was a big comedown from last weekend, but we'll rally ourselves in time for the Welsh back at Donnybrook on February 25.”

FRANCE: Celine Allaimnat; Catherine Devillers, Lucie Elodie, Sandrine Agricole, Marion Talayrach; Estelle Sartini, Julie Pujol; Rosa Marce, Anne Sophie Canizares, Daniele Irazu, Clotilde Flaugere, Maylis Bonnin, Aline Sagols, Delphine Plantet, Sandrine Jaureguiberry.

Replacements: Elodie Vivat, Adeline Mauran, Marie-Charlotte Hebel, Corinne Devroute, Jennifer Troncy, Christine Le Duff, Fanny Horta.

IRELAND: Joanne O'Sullivan; Nuala Ni Chadhain, Lynne Cantwell, Patrique Kelly, Suzanne Fleming; Sarah Jane Belton (capt), Louise Beamish; Fiona Coughlan, Jean Lonergan, Marie Barrett, Caroline Mahon, Germaine Healy, Orla Brennan, Rachel Boyd, Joy Neville.

Replacements: Yvonne Nolan, Laura Guest, Gillian McAlister, Sinead Ryan, Christine Robb, Grace Davitt, Amanda Greensmith.

Referee: Ian Clarke (Scotland).