France vs Ireland LIVE: Women’s Six Nations result, final score and reaction as France secure bonus point win
Follow all the Women’s Six Nations latest updates and live action from France vs Ireland
Ireland are still searching for their first win of the TikTok Women’s Six Nations after being overwhelmed 40-5 by France in Toulouse.
Outside centre Eve Higgins crossed under the posts for the visitors in the 56th minute but it was a lone highlight on a difficult afternoon at the Stade Ernest-Wallon.
It was the second time Higgins had touched down but an earlier try was ruled out by the TMO.
Ireland were hampered by a high penalty count but having trailed 26-0 at half-time, leaking four tries in the process, they improved after the interval.
Livewire France scrum-half Laure Sansus ran in tries in each half to emerge as the most effective player for the hosts, who have now collected a maximum 10 match points after two rounds.
France 26-0 Ireland, 41 minutes
An early error from Ireland, and a France scrum. Two half-time changes for the visitors - Christy Haney makes her debut in the place of Katie O’Dwyer in the front row, with Linda Djougang appearing to have switched sides, and Beibhinn Parsons is on for Eimear Considine in the back three.
The second half is underway!
Nicole Cronin restarts proceedings.
France’s centres impress
I thought both Gabrielle Vernier and Maelle Filopon were both excellent in that first half. Filopon has been a real danger whenever she has had even a sliver of space - as she showed in sparking this rather lively movement. Six carries for 72 metres for the outside centre in the first 40 minutes, which are huge numbers for a non-back three player.
Could the disallowed try have changed things?
Ireland will have no complaints with Eve Higgins’ score being chalked off, but that felt a big moment in the game. The centre’s early canter up the middle through a gaping hole would have put Ireland ahead if not for a rather blatant pull-back to ensure France did not gather an errant lineout.
What will Greg McWilliams do at half-time? Kathryn Dane might stabilise things at scrum-half, while a couple of front-row changes might be worth a go to try and sort out those set-piece issues. There’s Beibhinn Parsons, too, of course - surely she’ll get plenty of time to make an impact?
The first French score - some lovely handling to capitalise on the dominance of that scrum
H/T: France 26-0 Ireland
It’s been, largely, one-way traffic in Toulouse, with France showing their might with a dominant first-half performance. Repeated scrum dismantlings have given the hosts plenty of ideal attacking ball and territory, and four tries means Annick Hayraud’s side already have a bonus point in hand 40 minutes in.
Ireland’s lineout and scrum have been really off-the-mark so far, which has undermined any chance they have had to really work with the limited ball they have had. Improvements needed in the second half.
France 26-0 Ireland, 43 minutes
Can Ireland get on the board before the interval? No! Another lineout miscue, and that’ll be that.
France 26-0 Ireland, 42 minutes
And there’s the opening! Sam Monaghan produces an absurdly good backdoor offload to put Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe into space, and a delicious step takes the wing onwards. France infringe - Ireland kick towards the edge of the French 22.
France 26-0 Ireland, 41 minutes
France make 20 metres with Madoussou Fall again carrying strongly, but a knock-on means Ireland will launch an attack.
How much ambition do they have? They are 35 metres from their own line but keen to find something before half-time, so on we will go.
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