Morgane Bourgeois’ Women's Six Nations notebook: Chapter 4

The opening block concluded with what was arguably the most significant match of the initial stage of the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations: Ireland. It was a special fixture.

The last time we met was in the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final, which was decided by fine margins. You could imagine how determined the Irish were when they travelled.

We knew just how tough, intense and closely contested that match had been until the very end. There was undoubtedly a want for revenge on their side, but also a strong desire for us to test ourselves once again against a top-level team.

I experienced the match from afar. Free that weekend, I wasn’t part of the travelling squad. Consequently, I found it challenging to describe the atmosphere at the Stade Marcel-Michelin; the final moments in the dressing room, the pre-match talks and the half-time speech with precision.

That said, I still kept a foot in the group. I watched the match closely on TV and exchanged messages with Elsa Peyras in particular. I also stayed in touch with the girls on site, who shared the atmosphere, key moments and emotions from the touchline with me. This was a way of staying connected while also taking the opportunity to recharge a little.

A defining victory

Once again, it was a closely contested first half before we managed to turn the game in our favour after the break. This victory was important for what came next, boosting our confidence and continuity of work, and reinforcing what we had built since the start of the tournament.

This match brought a swift first block to a close. Our playing project was still taking shape. I saw people on social media say that the team seemed to be ‘enjoying themselves more’ on the pitch, which was indeed one of the directions we wanted to go in, so it was great to pass that on to the supporters.

A project in progress

Building a project takes time and requires structure and continuity, but we were already seeing some very positive phases.

Fixture

Womens Six Nations

France Women

26 - 7

Full-time

Ireland Women

All Stats and Data

This break came at the right time, at the halfway point of the tournament. We had already been working together for five weeks.

It gave our bodies and minds time to recover before the final two weeks, which promised to be intense – especially with the major fixture in Bordeaux at the Stade Atlantique that everyone is looking forward to, including supporters, the media and observers.

A strategic pause before the fever

Beyond the external anticipation, it was a real test for us. Looking back, this tournament was also marked by numerous injuries.

Not only on our side, with Gaby Vernier and Joanna Grisez in particular, but across other squads too: England have been affected, as have Scotland.

Was this the cumulative effect of an especially intense Women’s Rugby World Cup? Probably.

In any case, the injuries gave the Championship a unique flavour, forcing teams to adapt and dig deep into their resources, ultimately helping them to grow collectively.