Ireland’s Six Nations campaign began with a hard-fought defeat as Scott Bemand’s side narrowly lost 38-26 to France at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. Despite the loss, Ireland showed significant progress, pushing their opponents to the brink in a match that could have gone either way.
France started strong, racing to a 14-0 lead with early tries from Gabrielle Vernier and Marine MĂ©nager. However, Ireland responded through Aoife Wafer, who powered over the line after a well-executed lineout move. The first half ended with Ireland trailing 14-5, but with clear momentum heading into the second period.
A major turning point came in the second half when Vernier received a 20-minute red card for a head-on-head tackle on Eve Higgins. Ireland capitalized immediately, driving a dominant maul over the line for Neve Jones to score. However, out-half Dannah O’Brien struggled with conversions, missing all three of her attempts, which ultimately proved costly.
With the French temporarily down to 14 players, Ireland controlled possession in the third quarter and struck again through another powerful maul, with Wafer grabbing her second try. O’Brien’s missed conversion left Ireland trailing by just two points, 17-15, with 15 minutes remaining.
Despite Ireland’s best efforts, France’s superior kicking made the difference. French full-back Morgane Bourgeois maintained a flawless record from the tee, landing crucial penalties and conversions to keep her side ahead. With time winding down, she added another penalty before orchestrating a decisive break that led to Emilie Boulard scoring France’s final try. The successful conversion ensured France’s victory.
While the defeat was disappointing, Ireland’s performance was a significant improvement from last year’s meeting between the two sides, where merely keeping the score respectable was seen as an achievement. This match demonstrated Ireland’s growing competitiveness, with strong contributions from Erin King, Dorothy Wall, and Stacey Flood.
Ireland will take encouragement from their resilience and attacking threat, but their inability to capitalize on key moments and missed kicks ultimately denied them a famous win. As the tournament progresses, Bemand’s squad will look to build on this promising start and turn narrow defeats into victories.
Next up, Ireland will aim to bounce back against Wales, hoping to convert their improved play into points on the board and keep their Six Nations hopes alive.
