Hello and welcome to The42’s live coverage of Ireland’s all-important Women’s Rugby World Cup Pool C decider, where France stand in their way of straightforward semi-final qualification.
We’re live from the Belfield Bowl, and we’ll be keeping you up to date with all of the action. Kick-off is at 7.45pm (live on RTÉ). #BringIt
So Ireland may have had a nervy win over Australia in their opener, and they well and truly got out of jail against Japan on Sunday. But they still have two wins under their belt, and tonight’s the big one. France are the in-form side and this is a ‘cup final,’ as head coach Tom Tierney has described. It’s simple – win and you’re through to the semi-final.
As we count the minutes down to kick-off, have a look at RTÉ’s super promo:
Here’s how the teams are set to line out this evening:
IRELAND: Hannah Tyrrell ; Eimear Considine, Jenny Murphy, Sene Naoupu, Alison Miller; Nora Stapleton, Nicole Cronin; Lindsay Peat, Leah Lyons, Ailis Egan, Sophie Spence, Marie Louise Reilly, Ciara Griffin, Claire Molloy, Paula Fitzpatrick.
Replacements: Cliodhna Moloney, Ruth O’Reilly, Ciara O’Connor, Ashleigh Baxter, Heather O’Brien, Larissa Muldoon, Katie Fitzhenry, Louise Galvin.
FRANCE: Montserrat Amédée; Chloé Pelle, Caroline Ladagnous, Elodie Poublan, Shannon Izar; Caroline Drouin, Yanna Rivoalen; Annaëlle Deshayes, Gaëlle Mignot, Julie Duval; Lénaig Corson, Audrey Forlani, Marjorie Mayans, Romane Ménager, Safi N’Diaye.
Replacements: Caroline Thomas, Lise Arricastre, Patricia Carricaburu, Céline Ferer, Julie Annery, Jade Le Pesq, Carla Neisen, Camille Grassineau.
Referee: Graham Cooper (Australia)
The Bowl is buzzing, most of the fans have filtered in and are starting to make their voices heard. The teams are about to take to the pitch. This is going to be big!
The anthems have been sung, we’re nearly ready to go. Rings of ‘Ireland, Ireland’ around the Bowl — it’s loud.
1 min – Ireland 0-0 France: We’re underway. Sniping run from skipper Molloy, but Stapleton’s kick is gathered by France.
3 mins – Ireland 0-0 France: The Irish defence have been put under pressure, but they’re working well. It’s physical, Ireland have started well. The crowd are loving it.
4mins – Ireland 0-0 France: The first scrum was dominated by France. Montserrat Amedee opts to kick the penalty, but it’s wide. Huge clearance kick by Stapleton.
6 mins – Ireland 0-5 France: TRY for France.
8 mins – Ireland 0-7 France: They won the ball from their lineout, moved it quickly and with ease before Romaine Menager crossed. Amedee adds the extras.
11 mins – Ireland 0-7 France: France are looking very threatening, the Irish defence is all over the place. Paula Fitzpatrick could have caught the ball there, but it’s gone out for a lineout. The French are charging towards the line now, and they win a scrum 7m short.
13 mins – Ireland 0-12 France: TRY for France!
15 mins - Ireland 0-14 France: From the scrum, France walked all over Ireland. Caroline Ladagnous with her fourth try of the tournament, right under the posts. Shannon Izar nails the conversion.
16 mins – Ireland 0-14 France: France are flying at Ireland from all angles, the pace is insane and Tierney’s charges are struggling to keep up. Jenny Murphy and Alison Miller are among those working hard all the same.
18 mins – Ireland 0-14 France: Nice maul by Ireland following a dominant lineout, they’re looking a bit more effective. Stapleton’s kick finds touch, and Maz Reilly gathers the lineout — France didn’t compete in the air.
20 mins – Ireland 0-14 France: Much better effort from Ireland in the scrum, but France are too strong. Huge challenge by Jenny Murphy, while another from Sene Naoupu lifts the crowd to their feet. Ireland are starting to put France under a bit more pressure.
22 mins – Ireland 0-14 France: The hosts are playing with more urgency now and it’s paying off. Murphy blasts towards the 22, scrum-half Nicole Cronin is having another great game — it’s just her second 15s outing for Ireland.
23 mins – Ireland 0-14 France: An Eimear Considine knock-on has Les Bleus in possession again, but it’s turned over soon after. Ireland are looking more aggressive now, much better rugby being played.
25 mins – Ireland 0-14 France: The crowd are really getting behind the home side, deafening rounds of ‘Ireland, Ireland’ being chanted. The Fields of Athenry is being sung now, as a super Stapleton kick lands in touch.
27 mins – Ireland 0-14 France: France hold possession from their lineout, the ball is turned over, but the referee penalises Ireland and the opposition are on the ball again. Murphy is throwing out some big hits.
28 mins – Ireland 0-19 France: TRY for France!
30 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: It’s Ladagnous again, as Ireland struggle with France’s speed on the attack. Amedee’s conversion sails over.
35 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: 21 unanswered France points, but the atmosphere isn’t dampened in the Bowl. Stapleton pulls off a nice kick to find touch, but from the resulting lineout France continue to dominate. They’re making this look easy.
36 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: Amedee breaks, and with some super footwork, dances past Naoupu. In the midst of it all, Murphy got a hit to the face so she’s receiving some treatment and there’s a break in play.
39 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: Super work from Lenaig Corson as she paces forward, there are calls for a knock but Ireland are awarded a penalty for another incident. Stapleton finds touch, and Ireland turn over possession after the lineout throw.
40 mins – Half-time - Ireland 0-21 France:
Some great carries by Ireland as half-time approached, they’re getting forward and gaining yards. But France are just too much. The referee’s whistle sounds as the sun sets on the Belfield Bowl.
The teams are back out on the field. The Ireland fans jump to their feet as Molloy leads her troops out. One thing’s for sure — we need a score on the board fast.
41 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: We’re underway. One change — Cliodhna Moloney is in for Lyons.
43 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: Much more positive from Ireland on the restart, they drive France back on the scrum. Tyrrell races inside the 22, and they’re charging towards France now — very close to the line.
43 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: Penalty awarded to Ireland. The referee has taken out a yellow card, Lenaig Corson has been sent to the bin. She’s one of their big ball carriers, so good news for Ireland.
45 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: A lot of momentum built for Ireland as they drive on from the scrum, but there’s some indecision and panic after and Nicole Cronin’s pass goes astray. Scrum to France very close to the line, and they drive through the Irish defence to put them back.
47 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: France have brought in fresh legs, Julie Annery is on the field. Julie Duval brings play into Ireland’s half and a beautiful offload has them on the front foot again. Remember it’s 14 v 15 here, but France are still in control.
50 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: Patricia Carricaburu has also been called to action as Samuel Cherouk starts to use his bench early. Possession has been turned over, Sophie Spence pulls off a huge rip in the process, and now it’s a scrum to Ireland.
52 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: Much better movement from the Ireland backs there, keeping the ball in hand. They’ve gained a position on the pitch, and manage to keep possession through a shaky lineout.
53 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: Lindsay Peat is stopped in her tracks, and it’s a penalty to Ireland which Cronin takes on the move. Ireland are within 10m of the French line, and looking promising.
55 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: Really good phases by Ireland there, but they lose control of it near the line and Amedee kicks for touch just outside the 22. The French sin bin is up and it’s 15 v 15 again.
57 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: Frustration on Peat’s behalf as she loses control of the ball and it’s France’s again. She redeems herself with a huge scrum though to massive cheers from the crowd, and Stapleton finds a good position with her penalty kick.
58 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: Heather O’Brien has been introduced to play. That scrum has really lifted Ireland, and they’re 6m from the line, moving across the pitch.
60 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: Super, super play from Ireland as there’s a huge scramble around the line. They nearly get there, a huge team effort to have them within inches of the line. The referee awards a 5m scrum.
61 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: Stapleton looked to be in trouble, as the medical team assess her. She’s replaced by Katie Fitzhenry, but runs off so that’s good news.
62 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: Nearly in yet again. Nice work between Cronin and Miller, but there’s a choke tackle and a scrum to France right under the posts.
64 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: France dominate, and they have it out of the danger zone. Louise Galvin has been brought onto the wing, as Murphy makes way.
67 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: Tierney’s side are trying their utmost to drive France back. Lise Arricastre — who’s just been introduced — announces her arrival straight away with a great carry. There’s a knock on though, and it’s a scrum to Ireland. Early engagement from France, and Cronin gets us going quickly again.
69 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: The crowd are getting louder and louder as Ireland run at the French. We’re inside the 22, but it’s fumbled. France are caught offside and it’s a penalty to Ireland.
70 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: Tyrrell makes no mistake in finding touch, 7m short and Fitzpatrick wins the lineout as the rain starts to fall heavier. Ireland are nearing the line, but France deal with the threat accordingly and have it out the field.
72 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: Ruth O’Reilly comes in for Ailis Egan. Ireland have been on top possession-wise in this half, Eimear Considine carries forward but it’s turned over and France are let off again.
73 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: Ireland are looking absolutely wrecked, but their fight is still evident. They want a score. France’s number 8 Safi N’Diaye is awarded Player of the Match and deservedly so, she’s been immense.
75 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: Ireland are driving towards the line, but Heather O’Brien takes her eye off the ball and knocks it forward. Scrum for France inside their own 22. Cronin is replaced by Larissa Muldoon, and Ashleigh Baxter comes into play too.
77 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: France are sitting back a bit more, but still, no matter what Ireland try they can’t seem to get over the whitewash. Defensively, it’s been a super display from Les Bleus as the rain gets heavier and heavier.
78 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: Another Ireland attack is turned over, and France are happy to keep the ball within their own 22. The kick to touch is gathered though, as Ireland storm forward as they go in search of a consolation try.
79 mins – Ireland 0-21 France: A pass goes astray and the ball goes to touch. It’s a lineout throw to France deep inside their own 22 as the seconds run down.
80 mins - Ireland 5-21 France: TRY for Ireland!
81 mins – Ireland 5-21 France: The crowd goes absolutely wild as Cliodhna Moloney crosses for a consolation try — it’s no more than Ireland deserve though. Tyrrell misses the conversion, but time’s up.
Full-time – Ireland 5-21 France
France top the group and march on to the semi-final. The race for the trophy is over for Ireland, but there’s still more rugby to be played in the play-offs. The crowd give both sides a massive standing ovation.
That’s all from me, but Sean Farrell will have a full match report on The42 in the coming minutes and we’ll have plenty of reaction and analysis to come. Thanks for tuning in, and good night.
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