Women’s Side Just Short Of Paris Win

Despite putting in one of their best ever performances in Paris, the Ireland Women’s team came up just short in a 26-17 to a strong French side at Saint Gratien on Sunday.

2008 WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS: Sunday, February 10

FRANCE WOMEN 26 IRELAND WOMEN 17, Saint Gratien

Scorers: France: Tries: Melanie Gauffinet, Delphine Plantet, Caroline Ladagnous, Celine Allainmat; Cons: Estelle Sartini 3
Ireland: Tries: Germaine Healy, Jess Limbert; Cons: Grace Davitt 2; Pen: Niamh Briggs

Just two points separated these two teams last year and it is a measure of how far Ireland have come in recent seasons that they now travel to France not just hopeful but expectant when they take on a French team who are consistently ranked among the world’s top four sides.

Just ten minutes in however and the hosts had rankled Ireland with a blistering start.

They scored with just seven minutes on the clock through lock Melanie Gauffinet whose try was converted by their experienced captain Estelle Sartini.

Ireland eventually began to get stuck in up front with a pack who have, on successive weekends, put in superb efforts.

It was second row Germaine Healy who notched a great try in reply when she crashed over the line following a hugely impressive Irish maul.

Grace Davitt converted and Ireland continued to put pressure on France up front with Healy making the hard yards after scoring her second try of the championship – she also touched down against Italy last week.

The ever-reliable and excellent French number 8 Delphine Plantet clawed back another try for France before the break when she burst her way over the line and Sartini’s kick meant the hosts turned around at the interval with a 14-7 lead.

Ireland were still well in the game and they took confidence from knowing that they had France rattled up front.

But crucially they gave up another try when home full-back Caroline Ladagnous skipped over for an try on 44 minutes to push the lead out to 19-7.

Replacement out-half Niamh Briggs, winning just her second cap, then kicked her first points for Ireland with a well-taken penalty.

Gaining further momentum, Ulster hooker Jess Limbert brought Ireland right back into the game when she crossed the line following another excellent and well-organised Irish maul.

Davitt’s conversion kick meant that Ireland just trailed by just two points with 20 minutes left on the clock.

Ireland defended tigerishly to keep themselves in the game with captain Sarahjane Belton making at least one superb last ditch tackle as France pressed hard in attack.

It was not to be Ireland’s day though and after a fumble in their own 22, the visitors conceded a try which killed the game off when winger Celine Allainmat capitalised to pounce for the score which pushed France beyond reach.

Ireland though will take many positives from this outing, not least knowing they are reaching a level which had eluded them in the past and they are now hugely competitive against some of the world’s best teams.

With two upcoming home games that confidence will be hugely welcome and coach John O’Sullivan said the squad are still extremely upbeat ahead of the visits of Wales and Scotland.

“We are disappointed with this result because we really were well in the game. We scored two good tries through our hard working pack but what was out undoing was our conceding of tries at crucial times,” O’Sullivan said.

“We gave away a couple of soft tries, one right after we’d scored ourselves, and it’s something we will look at. I was happy with the work ethic of the team and our bench made a big impact against a very good French side.

“France are athletic and highly skilled but we know they were there for us today and not to get a first win here is definitely disappointing.”

In the weekend’s other Women’s Six Nations games, England smashed Italy 76-6 while Wales accounted for Scotland on a 23-6 scoreline.

FRANCE: Caroline Ladagnous; Celine Allainmat, Sandrine Agricole, Jennifer Collombat, Marie Bourret; Estelle Sartini (capt), Jennifer Troncy; Gabrille Mahuas, Laetitia Salles, Celine Barthelemy, Melanie Gauffinet, Marie Hebel, Celia Rigout, Jeanne Laurence, Delphine Plantet.

Replacements: Nadege Labbey, Mayalen Aghigar, Cyrielle Bouisset, Isabel Camatta, Anais Lagougine, Aurelie Bailon, Lucille Godiveau.

IRELAND: Sarahjane Belton (capt); Lynne Cantwell, Patrique Kelly, Shannon Houston, Grace Davitt; Joanne O’Sullivan, Tania Rosser; Fiona Coghlan, Jess Limbert, Marie Barrett, Caroline Mahon, Germaine Healy, Eimear O’Sullivan, Sinead Ryan, Orla Brennan.

Replacements used: Gillian Bourke for Barrett, Louise Austin for E O’Sullivan, Niamh Briggs for Kelly (all half-time), Yvonne Nolan for Limbert (62 mins), Louise Beamish for Rosser (65). Not used: Kate O’Loughlin, Amy Davis.

Referee: Alessandro Cason (Italy)