Now onto defeat No. 3 and probably the hardest one to take as Ireland Women went down 17 – 10 to England Women in a match that immediately followed the men’s game.

Ireland’s points came from a Larissa Muldoon try and a conversion and penalty from the boot of Niamh Briggs but it wasn’t enough in a game where Ireland struggled to cope with the physical English team.

Ireland didn’t get off to the best of starts and I feared the worse when the English No. 8 Sarah Hunter powered over after 8 minutes for a converted try.

Ireland just about held on as England upped the pressure and, after weathering the early storm, they began to turn the game when Briggs slotted over a 25th minute penalty. Things got decidedly better when Muldoon spotted a gap to dart over after a well worked maul took Ireland to the England line.

Briggs added the extras and Ireland looked well set to take a 7 – 10 lead into the break.

Unfortunately England had other ideas and an Emily Scarratt offload sent Kay Wilson over in the left hand corner to give the hosts a 12 – 10 lead at the break.

The abrasive first half had taken it’s toll on Ireland and the loss of key players Jenny Murphy and Briggs shortly after the restart swung the game England’s way.

England had more impact from the bench and second half replacement Marlie Packer made her mark scoring England’s third try shortly after her arrival on the pitch to take the score to 17 – 10.

Ireland got a glimmer of a chance when England lost Joanne McGilchrist to the sin bin shortly after but they were unable to break down the resolute English defence.

Any hope of a snatching a draw dissipated as first Lynne Cantwell and then Heather O’Brien were binned with minutes remaining.

Coach Philip Doyle emptied his bench as the clock ticked down but the game was gone and England held on comfortably for their win against a tiring 13 woman Ireland.

England Women: Emily Scarratt, Katherine Merchant, Amber Reed, Rachel Burford, Kay Wilson, Katy Mclean, Natasha Hunt, Rochelle Clark, Emma Croker, Sophie Hemming, Rebecca Essex, Joanne McGilchrist, Hannah Gallagher, Margaret Alphonsi, Sarah Hunter. Replacements: Victoria Fleetwood, Laura Keates, Sasha Acheson, Tamara Taylor, Marlie Packer, La Toya Mason, Ceri Large, Lydia Thompson

Ireland Women: Niamh Briggs, Ashleigh Baxter, Lynne Cantwell, Jenny Murphy, Alison Miller, Nora Stapleton, Larissa Muldoon, Fiona Coghlan, Gillian Bourke, Ailis Egan, Sophie Spence, Marie-Louise Reilly, Siobhan Fleming, Claire Molloy, Heather O’Brien. Replacements: Stacey Lea Kennedy, Fiona Hayes, Kerrie-Ann Craddock, Laura Guest, Amy Davis, Hannah Casey, Grace Davitt, Jackie Shiels.

As they stand:

TEAM	P	W	PD	TF	TA	PTS
FRANCE	3	3	68	11	0	6
IRELAND	3	2	60	13	3	4
ENGLAND	3	2	58	14	3	4
ITALY	3	2	12	8	7	4
WALES	3	0	(36)	1	7	0
SCOTLAND	3	0	(162)	1	28	0

Following their impressive 27 – 0 win in Wales, France are now the only unbeaten team in the championship and sit in pole position with Ireland to travel to PAU in the final weekend.