Ireland just failed to snatch a victory in this hard fought match at Ashbourne RFC on Friday night with the French holding on to win this bruising encounter 12 -14.
The French side came out strongly in the first half putting the hosts under immediate pressure. Ireland coped well in defence with some excellent counter rucking but struggled to make use of turnover ball often kicking away aimlessly. The French looked sharper on the ball with full back Caroline Ladagnous looking particularly dangerous but despite the visitors coming close on a couple of occasions Ireland managed to restrict them to two penalties, through Sandrine Agricole, during the opening quarter.
Ireland eventually got a break on the 21st minute when the ball from a turnover was cleared by Niamh Briggs. Ireland’s centre, Lynne Cantwell, showed great determination outstripping the defence to get a foot to the ball, knocking it clear for the onrushing Niamh Kavanagh to kick into the goal area and beat the despairing defender to the touch down out wide, taking Ireland within a point. Briggs missed the conversion and with the rest of the half remaining scoreless the teams turned round with the score reading Ireland 5 France 6.
France continued to dominate the start of the second half and came close with Ladagnous being forced into touch just short of the line.
Ireland defended strongly with their counter rucking particularly impressive but the home side were unable to clear the ball. The French had obviously done their homework closing down the dangerous Cantwell and Briggs quickly when in possession. Things got a bit tasty round the side of the rucks and with both sides fully committed, the atmosphere and pace of the game moved up a notch with tempers flaring and a couple of scuffles broke out off the ball.
France had the opportunity to go further ahead with a penalty in the middle of the park after a frank exchange of views from both sets of forwards but the kick from Agricole fell short and it looked as though Ireland had weathered the storm. However seventeen minutes from the end the visitors managed to breach the home defence when, after a series of pick and goes near the Ireland line, prop Christelle Chobet forced her way over the line for a try despite the ball appearing to be stripped by the impressive Claire Molloy. The conversion was missed leaving the score at 5 – 11.
Ireland swapped out Amy Davis for Larissa Muldoon at scrum half and the young Ulster girl made an immediate impact managing to get some pace on the ball, giving the backs some space, but France were next on the score sheet with a penalty from Aurelie Bailon giving the French a nine point lead at 5 – 14.
Ireland pressed hard with Muldoon putting the backs in space and were unlucky not to be awarded a try after second row Laura Guest and replacement Deirdre O’Brien appeared to have forced the ball over the line.
Crucially the referee was unsighted and their work went unrewarded but Ireland continued to apply pressure and after a series of driving runs the ball was worked to Briggs who forced her way over for a deserved score.
Briggs converted her own try deep in injury time making it a two point game but the Irish ran out of time and the French ran out the winners with the final score reading Ireland 12 France 14.
Scorers
Ireland: Niamh Briggs Try, Con (7); Niamh Kavanagh Try (5).
France: S Agricole 2 Pens (6); C Chobet Try (5); A Bailon Pen (3)
Squads
IRELAND: Niamh Briggs, Niamh Kavanagh, Lynne Cantwell, Geraldine Rea, Mairead Kelly, Nora Stapleton, Amy Davis; Fiona Coghlan, Gillian Bourke, Lauren Day, Marie Louise Reilly, Laura Guest, Carol Staunton, Carol Molloy, Joy Neville. Replacements: Larissa Muldoon for Davis (69); Heather O’Brien for Staunton (77); Jackie Shiels for Rea (77); Stacey Lea Kennedy, Emer McManamly, Deirdre O’Brien, Gill Nolan.
FRANCE: Caroline Ladagnous, Laurelin Fourcade, Elodie Poublan, Sandrine Agricole, Dioni Aguerre, Nadege Casenave, Marie Alice Yahe; Lise Arricastre, Laetitia Salles, Christelle Chobet, Sandra Rabier, Cyrielle Bouisset, Koumiba Djossouvi, Marie Charlotte Hebel, Aida Ba. Replacements: Helene Ezanno for Arricastre (52); Gaelle Mignot for Salles (52); Audrey Parra for Casenave (69); Aurelie Bailon for Fourcade (69); Celine Barthelemy for Chobet (74); Marine De Nadai for Rabier (74); Myriam Loyez for Djossouvi (74)
Match Gallery
Post Match Interview
After the game we caught up with Ulster’s latest Irish International, scrum half Larissa Muldoon who came on after 69 minutes.
Donegal’s Larissa Muldoon pictured with her parents after the game.
Larissa, you got a fair amount of game time at the end of the game how did it feel coming on in such an intense match?
I found it very hard. In any game scenario, going on when the game is already 60 odd minutes in, it’s very hard to adapt but I felt we played very much more in the French half which helped me settle in.
Briggsy scored a try whenever I came on and converted but it was just a little too late. Despite the final score I felt the squad did very well and we gelled well as a team.
You haven’t followed the normal path to International status tell us how you got here?
I was “discovered” playing for my University side over in Wales.
However it all started back in Donegal U18 Development Squad and I went on to play Under 18 for Ulster. I did pre-season with the Ulster Ladies but then I moved to university, I’m in my second year now, and I just started playing over in Cardiff, I played for Cardiff Blues.
Gill (Bourke) our hooker sent over some video analysis to the Ireland coaches and I was asked to come over for the Ireland training camp before Christmas and I was fortunate enough to make the cut.
Do you intend to come back and play for Ulster?
Well it’s been talked about. Definitely, it’s always an honour to play for your Province so of course I’ll come back and play for Ulster.
Corrections, comments or questions?