Stacey Flood celebrates after her try. Dan Sheridan/INPHO

As it happened: Ireland bow out of Rugby World Cup after thrilling quarter-final defeat

Catch up on all the action as Ireland narrowly lost out to France.

Ireland v France in the World Cup Quarter-Final: Here we go!

The task awaiting Scott Bemand’s side today is considerable as they arrive in Sandy Park. France are the favourites, there’s no doubt about that. It’s eight years since Ireland last defeated today’s opposition and France have only lost three times to Ireland.

A first World Cup semi-final appearance since 2014 is the prize for Ireland today and we’ll be taking you through all the action as we prepare for the 1pm kick-off. We’ll have team news for you in the next few moments and as always, we want to hear from you, so do get in touch in the comments below.

Team line-ups coming up shortly.

IRELAND: 

  • 15. Stacey Flood
  • 14. Béibhinn Parsons
  • 13. Aoife Dalton
  • 12. Eve Higgins
  • 11. Amee-Leigh Costigan
  • 10. Dannah O’Brien
  • 9. Aoibheann Reilly
  • 1. Niamh O’Dowd
  • 2. Neve Jones
  • 3. Linda Djougang
  • 4. Ruth Campbell
  • 5. Sam Monaghan (captain)
  • 6. Fiona Tuite
  • 7. Aoife Wafer
  • 8. Brittany Hogan.

Replacements:

  • 16. Clíodhna Moloney MacDonald
  • 17. Ellena Perry
  • 18. Sadhbh McGrath
  • 19. Eimear Corri-Fallon
  • 20. Grace Moore
  • 21. Emily Lane
  • 22. Enya Breen
  • 23. Anna McGann.

FRANCE

  • 15. Morgane Bourgeois
  • 14. Joanna Grisez
  • 13. Marine Ménager (co-captain)
  • 12. Gabrielle Vernier
  • 11. Kelly Arbey
  • 10. Lina Queyroi
  • 9. Pauline Bourdon Sansus
  • 1. Yllana Brosseau
  • 2. Agathe Gérin
  • 3. Rose Bernadou
  • 4. Manae Feleu (co-captain)
  • 5. Madoussou Fall Raclot
  • 6. Axelle Berthoumieu
  • 7. Léa Champon
  • 8. Charlotte Escudero.

Replacements: 

  • 16. Manon Bigot
  • 17. Annaëlle Deshaye
  • 18. Assia Khalfaoui
  • 19. Hina Ikahehegi
  • 20. Séraphine Okemba
  • 21. Téani Feleu
  • 22. Alexandra Chambon
  • 23. Emilie Boulard.

And if you have time, have a listen to our Rugby Weekly podcast where Murray Kinsella and Emma Duffy preview today’s game here

The return of Aoife Wafer is a huge boost for Ireland today but will it be enough to get the better of France? How do you see this one going today?


Poll Results:

France win (138)
Ireland win (103)

Kick-Off! Ireland v France

1 min: Ireland 0-0 France

And France get us underway. It is a very wet Sandy Park so who will handle the conditions better?

1 min: Ireland 0-0 France

Ireland push France back and get a scrum on the five-metre line. Could they strike early here?

2 mins: Ireland 0-0 France

France get the scrum this time after turning over the ball. But Ireland win it back brilliantly and they are inches away.

TRY! Ireland 7-0 France (Sam Monaghan ’2)

3 mins: Ireland 7-0 France

Oh no, TMO could be coming in to ruin the party.

And it was such a brilliant move as Aoife Wafer lunged to pounce on a spilled ball Gabrielle Vernier but it looks like we could have a penalty coming for France for Wafer knocking the ball on.

Try Ruled Out! Ireland 0-0 France (Knock-On!)

5 mins: Ireland 0-0 France 

Ireland go back into the France corner for a lineout and they are certainly testing this French defence.

TRY! Ireland 5-0 France (Linda Djougang ’5)

7 mins: Ireland 5-0 France

That’s brilliant from Ireland as Linda Djougang powers over from a tap and go. Dannah O’Brien puts plenty behind the conversion but it’s awful weather in Sandy Park and she can’t manage to squeeze it inside the post.

10 mins: Ireland 5-0 France

Ireland really making the most of this brilliant start. O’Brien is kicking well and they’re getting into French territory.

France are struggling to adapt to the conditions as a poor pass goes into touch.

12 mins: Ireland 5-0 France

Aoibheann Reilly puts in for a lineout and Wafer carries brilliantly from the back. O’Brien then sends down a ball to test the French defence but they gather the ball well and send it back with interest. 

Ireland work through the phases once more and O’Brien finds touch again with a kick.

14 mins: Ireland 5-0 France

Aoife Dalton with a super carry. Ireland are really dominating this opening quarter with Niamh O’Dowd also working really well in the ruck.

O’Brien sends a kick into the back field but she fails to find the corner and France touch it down to end the attack.

But it’s still really threatening from Ireland.

18 mins: Ireland 5-0 France

Another well-executed lineout from Ireland. Eve Higgins then thunders into the France line as play is stopped after that collision. France prop Rose Bernadou is receiving treatment.

18 mins: Ireland 5-0 France

The referee is calling for the TMO to review that incident as Rose Bernadou was high when Higgins was coming through. 

She gets a yellow card and it also looks like she’s going for a HIA too. Time will tell whether that gets upgraded to a red..

19 mins: Ireland 5-0 France

France get a penalty for Ireland not releasing and it’s a good turnover from Marine Menager. They kick the ball into touch but they can only kick across the field with the wind so Ireland will look to punish again here.

21 mins: Ireland 5-0 France

Ireland win a scrum. Super work from Niamh O’Dowd and Neve Jones to stop France from releasing.

21 mins: Ireland 5-0 France

Ireland are in the corner and what can they do here?

23 mins: Ireland 5-0 France

The lineout throw flies overboard but France knock the ball on and it’s another scrum for Ireland. This is a super effort from Ireland.

TRY! Ireland 10-0 France (Stacey Flood ’24)

25 mins: Ireland 10-0 France 

Ireland are in again!

Another brilliant scrum. Another brilliant carry from Wafer and Ireland make use of their numerical advantage to pop the ball out to Flood who thunders over.

O’Brien can’t get the conversion inside the post but Ireland are in control.

29 mins: Ireland 10-0 France

France tried to break there but Amee-Leigh Costigan and Reilly combine to push the ball out of her hand and take the sting out that.

The France yellow card remains a yellow so they will be restored their full compliment.

30 mins: Ireland 10-0 France

France penalty and now they will have their first real chance of the game.

32 mins: Ireland 10-0 France

Ireland win the ball back and O’Brien clears the ball. Vernier attempts a kick and chase but O’Brien is alert to collect the ball in time.

Ireland pin France back again and they’ve survived that storm.

33 mins: Ireland 10-0 France

Oh no! Aoife Wafer is down. She looks to be in real distress as the medical team rush out to her.

33 mins: Ireland 10-0 France

France knock on!

They’re really struggling to keep the ball in hand.

33 mins: Ireland 10-0 France

Wafer is back up and she actually looks like she might be able to play on. She looks good as she jogs away. She went down after taking the ball into a heavy tackle but she seems to be ok now.

Huge relief for Ireland.

36 mins: Ireland 10-0 France

France scrum for a knock on while attempted to intercept. France are coming into the game a bit more but the conditions are still really restricting them.

37 mins: Ireland 10-0 France

Ireland win a penalty in the France scrum. Excellent work from Djougang to win that turnover.

It looks like O’Brien is calling for the tee to try and get the scoreboard rolling again.

37 mins: Ireland 13-0 France

And the kick is straight and true!

It looks like the ball just kissed the post on the way over but that’s putting further distance between Ireland and France.

38 mins: Ireland 13-0 France

Niamh O’Dowd, who has been superb so far, takes an awkward knock while trying to tackle. The medical team are treating her but it looks like she should be good to carry on.

39 mins: Ireland 13-0 France

Ireland dominate in their own scrum and have a penalty advantage. Ireland kick long but the referee calls the play back for the penalty.

Sam Monaghan getting a bit of medical attention now too.

40 mins: Ireland 13-0 France

Ireland set up for the maul from the lineout. The heave is on!

40 mins: Ireland 13-0 France

Brittany Hogan keeps the ball well with a good step. The ball is recycled out to Higgins but there’s a knock on.

And it also looks like there is another yellow card for France.

41 mins: Ireland 13-0 France

And it’s the co-captain Manae Feleu who gets sent to the bin. Another huge loss for France.

43 mins: Ireland 13-0 France

Ireland take the lineout and patiently go through the maul before recycling the ball. Costigan gets the ball out wide but can’t break through.

Play comes back for a free-kick to Ireland. Can they find the gap?

45 mins: Ireland 13-0 France

Ireland are inches away. They’re 16 phases in.

46 mins: Ireland 13-0 France

They work the ball out but the final pass out wide to Costigan is short and she has to use her feet to control possession.

But Ireland still have the ball. They’re up to 25 phases now.

47 mins: Ireland 13-0 France

Over 30 phases now. Still no gap materialising. A mental battle between the sides to see who blinks.

 

47 mins: Ireland 13-0 France

France turn the ball over and kick it out for half-time. And a small bit of pushing and shoving follows as the teams head off.

Half-Time! Ireland 13-0 France

Ireland 13-0 France

Such a pity they didn’t get something from that last wave. But the crucial thing is that Ireland have a 13-point lead at the break thanks to tries from Linda Djougang and Stacey Flood, and that Dannah O’Brien.

They will need to protect that lead when France get the wind advantage in the second half. But they will have an extra player as France have a yellow card for the start of the second half.

Can Ireland hold on?

Second Half! Ireland 13-0 France

41 mins: Ireland 13-0 France

O’Brien sends her first kick into the wind, and it’s not a bad effort but it’s comfortably gathered and France come at Ireland.

42 mins: Ireland 13-0 France

Wafer gets down on the ball and wins the penalty for Ireland. She is destroying France today.

43 mins: Ireland 13-0 France

It’s another scrum for Ireland and they protect the ball. They build up the passes to link up with Costigan on the wing. But the referee decides to bring the play back for another Ireland scrum.

The play is scrappy but that’s all down to the bad weather. 

France make a change as Yllana Brosseau is replaced by Annaelle Deshaye at loosehead. That’s all down to Ireland’s superb front-row who are so dominant today.

46 mins: Ireland 13-0 France

Aoibheann Reilly penalised for tackling off the ball and it’s a penalty to France. They’re going for the posts to get something on the board.

48 mins: Ireland 13-3 France

Morgane Bourgeois completes the kick and France are on the move. That’s a rough one for Ireland to take as that could have been avoided.

49 mins: Ireland 13-3 France

France win a penalty for obstruction. Another avoidable error. France come back into Ireland’s territory again and will look to punish from the set-piece. 

51 mins: Ireland 13-3 France

Great carry from Higgins. Ireland bring the ball out to Béibhinn Parsons but she gets wrapped up.

Ireland still in possession though and have the penalty advantage for a dangerous tackle.

52 mins: Ireland 13-3 France

Brittany Hogan is down receiving treatment. It looks like it could be her knee that they’re working on. Ireland have weathered the fir 10 minutes and France have not made much use of the conditions yet.

52 mins: Ireland 13-3 France

Ireland don’t get their lineout cleanly but Parsons is alert at the back to gather the loose ball. Ireland then get the penalty call and that is 13 penalties conceded by France.

They must be getting frustrated with Ireland’s gritty game today.

54 mins: Ireland 13-3 France

That’s a better lineout from Ireland and they set up for the maul. Reilly pops the ball out to Higgins. They get as far as the French ’22 but the referee penalises them for not releasing. 

Lina Queyroi doesn’t make much ground with her kick though so Ireland could steal possession again.

56 mins: Ireland 13-3 France

Linda Djougang makes a brilliant gain to bring Ireland further into French territory. It looked like O’Brien might be going for a drop goal but she doesn’t connect with the ball and France can build once more.

They put Ireland’s defence under pressure with a long ball but Parsons gets across to touch the ball down.

 

57 mins: Ireland 13-3 France

France attack and they have the advantage but their grubber kick is well read by O’Brien who boots the ball out.

Ireland changes: Brittany Hogan replaced by Grace Moore. Ellena Perry comes in for O’Dowd.

57 mins: Ireland 13-3 France

France are on the Ireland five metre line. Vernier is holding her head after carrying the ball into Grace Moore.

TMO is called in to assess if Moore is too high in that incident.

58 mins: Ireland 13-3 France

Yellow card for Grace Moore. She’s devastated as she rips her scrum cap off. Big blow for Ireland as France set up for the tap and go.

57 mins: Ireland 13-10 France (Charlotte Escudero ’59)

 

61 mins: Ireland 13-10 France 

That was inevitable you would feel. Escudero plows down the blindside from the tap and go. Morgane Bourgeois adds the extras.

Ireland really have to show their composure now and not concede again while they are down a player.

Big 20 coming up.

65 mins: Ireland 13-10 France 

First carry for Perry and she brings Ireland forward a few yards. O’Brien sends in another testing ball but again France deal with it.

But France commit another unforced knock on as Ireland get another little win.

Good news for Ireland as well as Moore’s yellow card stays a yellow and she will get back into the field in around three minutes.

65 mins: Ireland 13-10 France 

Ireland changes: Sam Monaghan and Neve Jones make way for Eimear Corri-Fallon and Clíodhna Moloney MacDonald.

65 mins: Ireland 13-10 France 

Ireland had made huge gains into the French half of the field but they’ve been turned over.

TRY! Ireland 13-15 France (Joanna Grisez ’67)

69 mins: Ireland 13-15 France

Disaster.

France just completely stretched Ireland across the field and worked the ball out to Grisez who just pressed on the accelerator to storm away from Costgian.

The conversion is missed though. This is far from over.

70 mins: Ireland 13-15 France

So, now Ireland have to chase the game for the first time. But they could be in for a score as they work their way down to the corner.

72 mins: Ireland 13-15 France

France penalty. Perry didn’t release. That could be a huge moment for France who lead for the first time.

74 mins: Ireland 13-15 France

Parsons tries to run at France but gets bundled down early. 

And France turn the ball over in the ruck. The momentum seems to be shifting their way as the final five minutes loom.

74 mins: Ireland 13-15 France

France win a penalty and Bourgeois is setting up for a kick at the posts to extend France’s lead.

74 mins: Ireland 13-18 France

And the kick is good. Ireland now need a try to keep their World Cup dreams alive.

76 mins: Ireland 13-18 France

O’Brien concedes a lineout as her attempt to control a France clearance bounces into touch.

Play is stopped for Lina Queyroi to receive medical attention following a nasty accidental collision.

France will take the lineout. Ireland need to strike now to give themselves a chance.

76 mins: Ireland 13-18 France

O’Brien concedes a lineout as her attempt to control a France clearance bounces into touch.

Play is stopped for Lina Queyroi to receive medical attention following a nasty accidental collision.

France will take the lineout. Ireland need to strike now to give themselves a chance.

78 mins: Ireland 13-18 France

Ruth Campbell in with a super tackle to get the ball back for Ireland. It’s lineout time and they have to create something now.

78 mins: Ireland 13-18 France

France penalised for deliberate knock on and that will be their third yellow card of the day as Alexandra Chambon is dismissed.

79 mins: Ireland 13-18 France

France win a penalty but TMO intervenes and Ireland have another chance for a dangerous tackle and the decision is reversed.

THIS 

IS 

IT.

79 mins: Ireland 13-18 France

O’Brien kicks to the corner. Here we go!

79 mins: Ireland 13-18 France

Super maul. And Ireland have the advantage.

80 mins: Ireland 13-18 France

Wafer is down clutching her shoulder. Huge hit from Brosseau.

80 mins: Ireland 13-18 France

Wafer walking a bit gingerly but staying on. And O’Brien sends Ireland to the corner again.

Full-Time! Ireland 13-18 France

Ireland 13-18 France

That is heartbreaking.

Ireland absolutely died with their boots on. They came so close to breaking through for that decisive try which could have ended in victory or send the game to extra-time.

France were firm favourites for this game and Ireland absolutely fronted up to that. They were in front for much of this game but the concession of two second-half tries, along with those two Bourgeois penalties were the fine margins. 

If you consider where Ireland were in recent years, when they were getting the wooden spoon in the Six Nations and unable to qualify for a World Cup. Today, they are a totally different team. 

Ireland 13-18 France

Well, that’s all from us, folks. Thank you for being with us during this World Cup tournament. We hope you enjoyed the coverage and look forward to having you with us again soon.

Until next time, good luck!

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