France win opening Six Nations match despite a defiant defensive half from Ireland in Le Mans
The opening round of the 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations kicked off with France emerging 38-17 winners over Ireland in Le Mans.
Last year’s runners-up scored five tries at Stade Marie-Marvingt to ignite their championship campaign with Pauline Bourdon Sansus, Marine Ménager, Madoussou Fall, Agathe Sochat, and Élisa Riffonneau all on the scoresheet.
Lina Queyroi was perfect from the tee for France, contributing 11 points to their scoreline before Morgane Bourgeois came on to add their final points of the match.
WXV 3 winners Ireland started their Six Nations with a positive defensive performance in the opening 40 minutes but were unable to cross the whitewash until the 70th minute when Aoife Wafer scored their first, followed minutes later by Aoife Dalton.
Bourdon Sansus scored France’s first try with two minutes played after she spotted a gap to dot down under the posts in the home side’s first visit to the Ireland 22.
A solid defensive effort from Ireland kept Les Bleues at bay in the minutes that followed; and the visitors then capitalised on French errors to get themselves on the board through a Nicole Fowley penalty in the 14th minute.
Scott Bemand’s side rallied again to deny France further fruitful opportunities with another impressive defensive display scattered with glimpses of positive attack, keeping the home side on seven points as inaccuracies additionally plagued their chances of a second score.
After almost 30 scoreless minutes for France, they added to their lead as Ménager, who made the most metres in the opening half (109), ran in their second try after linking up with Bourdon Sansus to finally break down the defiant Irish defence.
France went into the break with a 17-3 lead as a late penalty from Queyroi completed their first-half efforts.
Les Bleues returned from the changing rooms determined to get more points on the board, and they did so after seven minutes as Fall muscled over the line under the sticks to score her side’s third try.
Debutante Kelly Arbey emphatically crossed the line for what would have been the bonus point for France in the 55th minute, but an earlier forward pass in the build-up meant the score was chalked off.
While Arbey had been denied, France’s bonus point was not as they went on to score their fourth try just past the hour mark when Sochat dotted down from a powerful maul to bolster their convincing lead.
Ireland scored their first with ten minutes left on the clock when 20-year-old Wafer powered to the line, set up well by Linda Djougang to secure a well-earned reward for their efforts.
France had time to score one more before the final whistle as Trailfinders’ Riffonneau crossed from the maul to provide their fifth and final try.
While France took the victory, Ireland had the last word as Dalton applied excellent pressure to score their second try and reduce the gap between the two sides before 80 minutes was up, converted again by Dannah O’Brien as she had with their first.
The home side will next face Scotland in Edinburgh on the 30th March, while Ireland go on to face Italy the day after.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments