INTERNATIONAL WOMEN
Ireland v France Preview.
By John McMurtry
January 17, 2021
Where and when
1
- Energia Park, Donnybrook - Kick off 14:15 - Live on BBC Sport and RTE 2
2
Eimear Considine Lauren Delany Eve Higgins Sene Naoupu Beibhinn Parsons Hannah Tyrrell Kathryn Dane Lindsay Peat Cliodhna Moloney Linda Djougang Aoife McDermott Nichola Fryday Dorothy Wall Claire Molloy Ciara Griffin (C)
Emma Hooban Katie O’Dwyer Laura Feely Brittany Hogan Hannah O’Connor Emily Lane Stacey Flood Amee Leigh Murphy-Crowe
IRELAND
Replacements
3
Emilie Boulard Caroline Boujard Carla Neisen Jade Ulutule Cyrielle Banet Caroline Drouin Laure Sansus Annaelle Deshaye Agathe Sochat Rose Bernadou Madoussou Fall Safi N'Diaye Marjorie Mayans Gaelle Hermet Emeline Gros
Laure Touye Maylis Traore Clara Joyeux Coumba Tombe Diallo Romane Menager Pauline Bourdon Morgane Peyronnet Gabrielle Vernier
FRANCE
Replacements
Last five meetings
4
February 2016 FRANCE 18 - 5 IRELAND Perpignan
February 2017 IRELAND 13 - 10 FRANCE Donnybrook
August 2017 IRELAND 5 - 21 FRANCE Donnybrook
February 2018 FRANCE 24 - 0 IRELAND Toulouse
March 2019 IRELAND 17 - 47 FRANCE Donnybrook
Players to watch
5
The athletic Dorothy Wall provides balance to Ireland's hard working back row and looks to be their go to carrier for the hard yards.
DOROTHY WALL
Players to watch
6
If France's talismanic Safi N'Diaye decides to get involved, Wall may find herself concentrating more on defence, N'Diaye is capable of unleashing all the skills of a back row player from her second row stronghold.
SAFI N'DIAYE
From the bench
7
Hannah O'Connor had put together a great 18 month run of form pre lockdown. She should get at least 20 minutes against the big French pack.
HANNAH O'CONNOR
From the bench
8
Having Pauline Bourdon on the bench speaks volumes on France's strength in depth. The current FRU Favourite (non Irish) International this game changer could tip the game firmly France's way in the final 20.
PAULINE BOURDON
What the experts say
9
NIKKI CAUGHEY
IRELAND FRANCE
25 21
FIONA HAYES
IRELAND FRANCE
20 17
JOHN MCMURTRY
IRELAND FRANCE
13 27