Summary

  • Ireland 15-27 France (FT)

  • Gabrielle Vernier and Marine Menager scores early tries for France

  • Aoife Wafer responds for Ireland before Neve Jones scores second Irish try

  • Wafer scores second try to bring Ireland within two points, but France respond through Boulard

  • France won 38-17 when the sides met in the Women's Six Nations last year

  • France finished second in 2024 with Ireland third

  1. Postpublished at 14:10 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March

    Ireland 10-17 France

    Jonathan Bradley
    BBC Sport NI Journalist at Kingspan Stadium

    Two tries off the line-out represents a great day's work at the set-piece so far for Ireland.

    An area of their game that's really improved.

  2. try

    Try - Ireland 10-17 Francepublished at 14:08 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March

    Neve Jones

    Neve Jones scores a tryImage source, Getty Images

    From the penalty, Ireland go to touch and rumble the maul over the line! Ballymena-born hooker Neve Jones dots down at the back of the maul and Ireland take advantage immediately of the player advantage.

    Dannah O'Brien almost adds the difficult extras but Ireland are back within seven with 47 minutes played.

  3. Postpublished at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March

    Ireland 5-17 France

    Ciara Griffin
    Former Ireland captain on BBC iPlayer

    She just couldn't drop her height in time, there was no malice in it but it was head on head.

  4. Sin-binpublished at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March

    Ireland 5-17 France

    Hollie DavidsonImage source, Inpho

    Having marked her 50th cap with a try, Gabrielle Vernier will now spend at least ten minutes in the bin for head on head contact with Eve Higgins.

    It is going to the bunker as Higgins makes her way off for a HIA with Enya Breen on in her place.

  5. Postpublished at 44 mins

    Ireland 5-17 France

    More good defence from Aoife Dalton as she wins another turnover. An offload from Anna McGann doesn't go to hand but Ireland win the kick battle and are in possession in the France 22.

  6. Postpublished at 42 mins

    Ireland 5-17 France

    Ireland have come out of the gates with some aggressive defence, forcing France to put boot to ball.

    It is a good kick from Pauline Bourdon Sansus but Ireland have the ball now.

  7. Kick-offpublished at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March

    Ireland 5-17 France

    We are back underway at the Kingspan Stadium as Ireland look to haul themselves back into this one.

    They have gained more metres and made more line breaks than their visitors but French composure has been excellent while Ireland have not quite been efficient enough.

    It will be a thrilling 40 minutes to come!

  8. Postpublished at 13:58 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March

    HT: Ireland 5-17 France

    Claire Small
    Former Ireland international on BBC iPlayer

    It was a nervous start but they grew into the game. There was a lot of physicality and aggression, that has grown with this team playing the top nations and playing in the WXV has helped them work on that. The back row have been everywhere.

  9. Postpublished at 13:56 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March

    HT: Ireland 5-17 France

    Lindsay Peat
    Former Ireland forward on BBC iPlayer

    If I'm honest, I think they started a little bit tentatively, maybe the weight of expectation created a few nerves. They eased into the game, there is a clear game plan but sometimes the execution has let us down.

  10. Postpublished at 13:54 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March

    HT: Ireland 5-17 France

    Three tries in the first half.

    Two for France, one for Ireland.

    France score the opening try of the gameImage source, Getty Images
    France score their second tryImage source, Inpho
    Aoife WaferImage source, Getty Images
  11. Ireland making groundpublished at 13:51 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March

    HT: Ireland 5-17 France

    Despite France's two tries to one, Ireland have made more metres with 175 to 116.

    Ireland have looked dangerous in the open but their final touch as often let them down.

  12. Postpublished at 13:49 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March

    HT: Ireland 5-17 France

    Ciara Griffin
    Former Ireland captain on BBC iPlayer

    It's a really competitive match, the scoreline doesn't factor in the game. The big difference is France have taken their opportunities.

  13. Half-timepublished at 13:46 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March

    Ireland 5-17 France

    There is no big finish from Ireland as Neve Jones knocks on. However, Ireland have been good in spells but France have been more clinical so far.

    Still, plenty for Scott Bemand to be positive about at half time

    Ireland 5-17 FranceImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Ireland 5-17 France

  14. Postpublished at 39 mins

    Ireland 5-17 France

    A beautifully-weighted kick into the corner from Dannah O'Brien puts France into their own five metre line and Ireland steal the lineout!

  15. Postpublished at 37 mins

    Ireland 5-17 France

    So unfortunate for Stacey Flood as she almost takes Dannah O'Brien's up-and-under but spills forward on the French ten metre line.

    It came after a bit of helter skelter play as both teams threw the ball around.

  16. Postpublished at 13:39 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March

    Ireland 5-17 France

    Ciara Griffin
    Former Ireland captain on BBC iPlayer

    Three from three (from Bourgeois). You'll take that all day. Ireland have to switch their focus and get on the attack.

  17. Penalty - Ireland 5-17 Francepublished at 13:37 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March

    Morane Bourgeois

    The France full back splits the poles off the tee as Linda Djougang is penalised again at the scrum.

    The French pack is certainly piling on the pressure.

    We have six minutes to go until the interval.

  18. Postpublished at 13:35 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March

    Ireland 5-14 France

    A chaotic spell as, first, France wing Melissande Llorens breaks down the left wing off the lineout but her handling is loose and it is spilled.

    Ireland try to clear their lines from behind the try line but Stacey Flood's kick is charged down. Mercifully, it falls for Amee-Leigh Costigan to dot down.

  19. Postpublished at 29 mins

    Ireland 5-14 France

    That's an incredible turnover from Aoife Dalton! The outside centre rips the ball out of the hands of Carla Arbez as the France out half stretched for the line.

    Ireland live a little dangerously as they try to run the ball out but eventually clear their lines.

  20. Postpublished at 13:30 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March

    Ireland 5-14 France

    Jonathan Bradley
    BBC Sport NI Journalist at Kingspan Stadium

    Ireland have played some good stuff either side of those two tries from the visitors but the French power, both in the carry and maul, has been telling so far.

    That turnover near their own line, with Brittany Hogan and Neve Jones right in the middle of it, will be a huge boost to Scott Bemand's side as they try and match the French in the tight exchanges.