Ireland left to curse luck and lack of killer instinct as French roar back to victory

It was a particularly frustrating night for Scott Bemand's crew as a handful of tries were called back and an early surge failed to last

Sat, 25 Apr, 2026 - 22:36

Caolán Scully

Women's 6N: France 26 Ireland 7

Ireland fell to yet another frustrating loss at the hands of France as Les Bleues came out 26-7 winners at the Stade Marcel Michelin in Clermont on Saturday night.

It was a dream start going uncapitalised which proved the difference with Ireland denied a try on four separate occasions either by TMO or resolute goalline defence, and the memories of Exeter last September will now linger for at least another 12 months, as will talk of revenge.

Ireland’s kicking game had been proficient across the tournament, and they made use of Dannah O’Brien’s boot from minute one. Pauline Barat’s early sin-binning was a direct result of the territorial pressure Ireland wished to apply using the Carlow woman’s skillset.

Brittany Hogan looked set to give Ireland a perfect start while up a player, but referee Clare Munarini adjudged it to have been held up over the line. The Ulster turned Sale Shark Hogan was on hand to burrow over moments later, before again the referee and TMO chalked off another potentially crucial score.

Winger Robyn O’Connor darted down the left flank to take Ireland within metres before Hogan was deemed to have taken two movements to try and score.

Thankfully, advantage was being played, and Ireland used it fruitfully. Hooker Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald was ready to pounce and dive over from the back of the ever-impressive Irish maul to cement a dream start.

France, as they have done in every meeting for nine years now, looked to counterpunch with change. Nancy McGillivray was dubiously denied a maul turnover before Dannah O’Brien denied Lea Murie in the corner.

However from the ensuing onslaught, Player of the Match French prop Ambre Mwayembe powered over for the home side's opening score. For all the visiting pressure, the world number four ranked team tied up proceedings before the end of the first quarter.

Momentum continued to skew Ireland's way, as they took the game by the collar to make sure French celebrations didn’t last long.

This time it was Fiona Tuite who thought she scored Ireland’s second try before being pulled back. Former Munster forward Dorothy Wall sliced open the French defence before releasing fellow starting lock Tuite to score.

But when the officials went upstairs to the TMO, Ireland were left feeling bereft again with another effort taken off the scoreboard.

It was a start to the game that would serve as a reminder to need to kill off a juggernaut, as Ireland learned in the 2025 Rugby World Cup quarter-final, and in previous Six Nations losses to the likes of Scotland.

In tune with the relentless energy of the opening half, Ireland's attacking pressure rarely wavered. Aoife Wafer dominated in contact throughout, as the playmaking axis managed to find wingers O’Connor and Parsons in space more often than not.

Galway woman Moloney-MacDonald looked to be the beneficiary for a second try for her, but it too was pulled back for an Emily Lane knock-on.

The opening 40 fizzled but not before a tremendous Erin King turnover on the stroke of half time, but that attack too came undone as Ireland’s sheer dominance went unrewarded with a deadlocked half time score.

The break did not interrupt Ireland’s flow, bursting out of the gates with gusto. But to their credit, France’s resolute defence stood up strong. The same could be said for Ireland when their defence was asked questions, with King, Wafer and Aoife Dalton doing their best to keep the home side at bay.

Ireland went to their bench, with five members of the “mBan Squad” unleashed at once, but it would come right before the detrimental French wave.

Mercurial fly-half Caria Arbez danced home from five yards for the killer score, which she duly converted.

Her opposite number O’Brien proved unsuccessful with her next attempt at goal as Ireland looked to claw back the first deficit of the game, which, coupled with their third-quarter try, galvanised the patient French.

Anais Grando looked destined to get the score to put Les Bleues out of sight, but the devilish bounce of the ball favoured the Irish team who, to that point, had pulled every trick in the book to try and stay in the game.

Super sub Charlotte Escudero would come up with the all-important break before winger Grando got her deserved score, a fourth in three games, and a gallant Irish effort looked destined to be in vain.

At 19-7 approaching the final ten minutes, it was now about salvaging pride and a bonus point for Scott Bemand’s squad.

Eve Higgins was a bright spark off the bench, but it proved to be a night of misfortune yet again, with another O’Brien error, this time with a booming touchline kick going dead; crossing the t’s on an evening where everything positive was French.

In the end it would be a four-try night for France with Lea Champon getting the final blow to cap off a revenge game which proved unsuccessful.

Scorers for France: Tries - A Mwayembe, L Champon, C Arbez, A Grando Cons - C Aerbez (3)

Scorers for Ireland: Tries - C Moloney-MacDonald Cons - D O’Brien

France: P Barrat (L Queyroi, 64); A Grando, A Rousset, T Feleu, L Murie; C Arbez, P Bourdon Sansus (A Chambon, 68); A Mwayembe (Y Brosseau, 65), M Lazarko (E Riffonneau, 59), A Khalfaoui (R Bernadou, 65); K Zago (C Escudero, 40), M Fall Raclot (C Correa, 68); A Berthoumieu (S Soqeta, 51), M Feleu (capt), L Champon.

Ireland: S Flood; B Parsons, A Dalton, N McGillivray (E Higgins, 48), R O'Connor (A McGann, 48); D O'Brien, E Lane (K Whelan, 78); E Perry (N O’Dowd, 48), C Moloney-MacDonald (N Jones, 48) L Djougang (E Cahill, 70); D Wall (R Campbell, 58), F Tuite; B Hogan (S Monaghan, 48), E King (capt), A Wafer.

Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy)