Ireland aim to build 'green wave' over Six Nations

Ireland finished third in last season's Six Nations with wins over Wales and Scotland

Women's Six Nations: Ireland v France

Venue: Kingspan Stadium, Belfast Date: Saturday, 22 March Kick-off: 13:00 GMT

Coverage: Watch live on BBC Two Northern Ireland, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website & app

After taking significant steps forward over the past 12 months, Ireland scrum-half Emily Lane wants to see the side's "the green wave" gain more momentum through the Women's Six Nations and beyond.

Ireland took the championship's Wooden Spoon as recently as 2023, but enjoyed a pair of wins last season to seal an improved third-place finish and qualify for this year's World Cup in the process.

Scott Bemand's side then went on to make an even bigger splash at WXV1 when they beat world champions New Zealand in Vancouver.

Kicking off their 2025 campaign against France in Belfast on Saturday afternoon, Lane feels building on last year's strong showing will engage fans at the start of a significant year for the side.

"Performances will bring supporters along on our green wave," she said.

"That's what we're really focusing on, our performances on the pitch.

"We want as many people on board our green wave. It's gaining momentum, more and more people are talking about it, which is really exciting."

Ireland have lost 19 of their 22 Six Nations meetings with France, including defeats by more than 20 points in each of the six most recent encounters.

Lane, who represented Ireland Sevens at the Paris Olympics last year, believes the hosts are a now a different proposition and have adjusted their expectations accordingly.

"We have built a lot on the last couple of seasons," said the 26-year-old.

"We're not going out to just play the game, we're looking to perform and try to win.

"France are really tough, but I think Ireland are a tough side too. We really want to give them a good rattling."

Amee-Leigh Costigan [left] will captain Ireland with Edel McMahon starting on the bench

With lock Sam Monaghan missing the championship through injury and Edel McMahon starting on the bench for the opener, Ireland will have a new captain against France with Amee-Leigh Costigan leading the side out for the first time.

Like Lane, Costigan was an Olympian last year and does have previous captaincy experience in the sevens game.

"It's a huge honour, I'm so excited about it," the new skipper told BBC Sport.

"I've been guided really well by Tricky [McMahon] and Sam, the co-captains.

"They've given me really good advice over the last 48 hours."

The game will again be staged in Belfast, where Ireland have beaten both Scotland and Australia in the last 12 months.

Having finished runners-up to England in each of the past five seasons, however, France will be viewed as a step up in opposition.

Ireland have not beaten their visitors since 2017 and Costigan knows a result against a side they could potentially meet in a World Cup quarter-final later this year would be viewed as a significant marker.

"It would be a huge statement but we've to stick to our gameplan, do our very best out there, and give the fans something to cheer on," she added.

"We want this to be very competitive, to set teams up going into the World Cup in September."