Ireland Women vs French Women (RTE2, 8pm)

sullivlo

Despite an opening campaign win for the Irish women, they will feel like they left a lot of points on the pitch against Wales. Repeated pressure on the Welsh try line towards the end of the game last week didn't yield the points that were on offer, however it has given Tom Tierney something to work on in camp this week - clinical near the line.

One change to the starting line up with Cliona Maloney coming in to replace Zoe Grattage. No real surprise given how the lineout misfired many times last week. The scrum struggled, however it improved with time, so hopefully the forwards can pick up where they left off last week.

The battle of the backrows will be immense, with the settled trio of Fitzpatrick (complete with nose guard), Molloy and O'Brien providing a perfect balance. However the French back row will provide more muscle than the Welsh. Would still expect Ireland to come out on top though, particularly since O'Brien and Fitzpatrick now have inside info on the French

Ireland will want to attone for the loss last year in Ashbourne. Predict Ireland by a score.

Ireland women v France: Niamh Briggs; Elise O’Byrne-White, Aide Donnelly, Sene Naupu, Mairead Coyne; Nikke Caughy, Larissa Muldoon; Ruth O’Reilly, Cliodhna Moloney, Ailis Egan; Marie-Louise Reilly; Paul Fitzpatrick, Claire Molloy, Heather O’Brien.
Replacements: Zoe Grattage, Lindsay Peat, Fiona Reidy, Ciara Cooney, Ciara Griffin, Mary Healy, Nora Stapleton, Jackie Shiels.

pickarooney

Zoé Grattage is a fantastic nme for a rugby player. It means 'the art of winning turnovers'

sullivlo

pickarooney wrote: »

Zoé Grattage is a fantastic nme for a rugby player. It means 'the art of winning turnovers'

Well after last week it certainly doesn't mean "the art of throwing the ball straight in the lineout"

pickarooney

Do France have their sevens players for this?

sullivlo

pickarooney wrote: »

Do France have their sevens players for this?

Not that I'm aware of. England certainly don't anyway.

vienne86

16K stadium looks full. Excellent!

sullivlo

Huge crowd. Fantastic to see.

sullivlo

Loving the anthems!

sullivlo

Nervy start. A decent steal in contact by Fitzpatrick. France playing the offload game but Ireland defending well.

Unlucky knock on after a line out steal. Scrum be interesting.

vienne86

France have settled much quicker here. Fair enough when they're at home. 3-0.

sullivlo

Scrum mullered.

Penalty France in front of the posts. 3-0. 6 mins.

All France so far. Ref having a slight mare though - missing a few knock ons.

Stheno

Great maul!

vienne86

Lovely maul there. Pity they didn't make it to the line.

sullivlo

Stheno wrote: »

Great maul!

Unreal! It performed so well.

vienne86

Overthrow........should keep it simple.

Stheno

sullivlo wrote: »

Scrum mullered.

Penalty France in front of the posts. 3-0. 6 mins.

All France so far. Ref having a slight mare though - missing a few knock ons.

Ref apparently is from a sevens background and new enough to 15s

wp_rathead

brilliant maul- shame came to nothing though...

sullivlo

Stheno wrote: »

Ref apparently is from a sevens background and new enough to 15s

She reffed in the RWC a bit.

Scrum a bit better there. Except for the illegal parts. But we'll ignore that.

vienne86

Offside. Go for the 3 points.

vienne86

Great kick! G'wan Ireland.

sullivlo

vienne86 wrote: »

Offside. Go for the 3 points.

Decent kick. In off the post. Intentional I'm sure

vienne86

Some scrum by France.

vienne86

There was no stopping France for that try. Very strong.

Stheno

What's wrong with the two Irish players with the massive bandages on their faces?

secondrowgal

Come on now Ireland.

Briggs a much better kicker so need to get into their half.

pickarooney

Long evening ahead with that scrum and maul.

vienne86

Stheno wrote: »

What's wrong with the two Irish players with the massive bandages on their faces?

Glad you asked that.......I've only just spotted that there's two of them bandaged up.

secondrowgal

Come on now Ireland.

Briggs a much better kicker so need to get into their half.

vienne86

What a rip. Oh Lord, that was too easy.

sullivlo

Stheno wrote: »

What's wrong with the two Irish players with the massive bandages on their faces?

Both have broken noses.

Great breakaway try by France. Missing Miller for her defence there.

vienne86

France are getting turnovers too easily.

sullivlo

vienne86 wrote: »

France are getting turnovers too easily.

Yeah. Our back row seem to be a millisecond slow getting to the ruck.

Dial Hard

Briggs too involved at the gainline there?

vienne86

Dial Hard wrote: »

Briggs too involved at the gainline there?

She does that, but usually she is very good at protecting the ball.

sullivlo

Dial Hard wrote: »

Briggs too involved at the gainline there?

A bit. She just seemed a bit naive going in - left the ball exposed.

The forwards seem off pace. Spence, O'Reilly fairly quiet. Front row anonymous.

vienne86

Not clearing out rucks quickly enough.

sullivlo

Good maul again. Good movement in the back line too. A bit of possession & we should do well.

pickarooney

TV signal went for 5 mins. What's the core?

Dial Hard

pickarooney wrote:

TV signal went for 5 mins. What's the core?

15-6 France

vienne86

pickarooney wrote: »

TV signal went for 5 mins. What's the core?

15-6

vienne86

That's two good steals at the lineout by Ireland.

sullivlo

Molloy gone off. Big loss.

vienne86

Great turnover....I thought they were heading for the line there.

Dial Hard

Mark is the best rule ever.

Unless it's the opposition calling it.

sullivlo

vienne86 wrote: »

Great turnover....I thought they were heading for the line there.

Fitzer is good for the auld turnover. Very strong in contact.

vienne86

A bit high, that tackle, though I think the red only spotted it when the crowd reacted.

Dial Hard

vienne86 wrote:

A bit high, that tackle, though I think the red only spotted it when the crowd reacted.

Srupid tackle but I think Fiona was right, it was over-exuberance rather than malice.

vienne86

Brilliant try save there.

sullivlo

vienne86 wrote: »

Brilliant try save there.

Unreal defence.

vienne86

That was a great bit of mauling by the pack They're not going to lie down.

Dial Hard

Now that's a maul.