Confident Ireland chase historic win in France

Emily Lane during Ireland's captain's run in Clermont

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption,

Scrum-half Emily Lane notched three try assists in Ireland's first two games

ByMatt GaultBBC Sport NI senior journalist

Published40 minutes ago

Ireland have been unequivocal about their goals for 2026.

For them, it's time to shatter the England-France duopoly atop the Women's Six Nations and break into the top four in the world rankings.

They could take a huge step towards achieving both on Saturday night when they face the French inside Clermont's iconic Stade Marcel-Michelin.

It is a tantalising prospect for the self-styled 'Green Wave', but to topple France in their own backyard, Ireland must overcome the burden of history.

Ireland have never beaten Les Bleus in France and their last home win was nine years ago.

Since a 13-10 success in Dublin in 2017, Ireland have lost all seven Six Nations encounters (they didn't meet in the Covid-hit 2020 tournament). France's average winning margin across that period was 30 points.

And, of course, there was last year's agonising World Cup quarter-final loss in Exeter when France recovered from 13-0 down to win 18-13 and break Irish hearts.

France v Ireland

Women's Six Nations

Saturday 25 April, 20:10 BST

Stade Marcel-Michelin, Clermont

Watch on iPlayer

Live on BBC Two NI and BBC Sport website and app

France edged the knockout game at Sandy Park after a similarly tight Six Nations contest in Belfast last year, which they won 27-15 thanks to two late scores.

While both ended in French joy and deepened the green scar tissue in this rivalry, there was enough evidence to suggest the current Ireland crop are capable of breaking their duck.

And having dispatched Italy with a ruthless nine-try display in Galway last week, Ireland have thought better of painting themselves as underdogs for the France game.

"I'd be worried, if I was them," said full-back Stacey Flood when asked what France would have made of Ireland's 57-20 victory over the Italians.

Striking a similar tone, Aoife Wafer said: "I think this group has always had belief and it'll be no different in France. I think we owe them one."

Quizzed about the self-assured noises coming out of the Irish camp, head coach Scott Bemand said: "I'm delighted that people notice that about our group."

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

This video can not be played

Figure caption,

Nine-try Ireland thrash Italy in Galway

Irish confidence has largely been drawn from the middle 80 minutes of their tournament.

At Twickenham, they started sluggishly and allowed England to surge into a 21-0 half-time lead before matching the world champions' 12-point tally in the second half.

They atoned for that slow start in emphatic fashion with seven tries in the first half to overwhelm Italy, including a hat-trick from Beibhinn Parsons.

Maintaining that ferocious appetite for tries proved too much and Ireland took their foot off the gas enough for Italy to secure a try bonus point.

To make history in France, Bemand has stressed the need for his players to adopt Bath head coach Johann Van Graan's 'never too high, never too low' mantra and fight until the final whistle.

"We've got to take the best bits of both games and continue to go after our own 85-minute performance and be specific around it going longer than the 80," said Bemand.

"I think if it goes right to the death, we've got to stay confident in what we're doing and understand that there's some challenges that we've got to come through.

"I think the group is stable, and understanding they're not getting too far ahead of themselves. In the same way, if on the pitch something doesn't happen, the wheels aren't going to fall off."

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption,

Aoife Wafer's ball-carrying ability could be key for Ireland

While France started slowly in wins over Italy and Wales, they are a formidable unit - and the statistics lay bare the scale of the task facing the visitors.

Francois Ratier's team made the most dominant tackles (19) and boasted the best tackle success rate (92%) across the first two rounds. They are also the only team to make over 300 carries (334) and have matched England's 26 line-breaks.

But some of Ireland's big hitters have found form at an opportune time before confronting a stingy French defence that has only coughed up 14 points.

Quiet against England, Wafer was superb in the win over Italy, gaining 88 metres from 13 carries in an all-action, try-scoring display.

Parsons - who has beaten a tournament-high 11 defenders this year - produced three electric finishes in Galway while 22-year-old fly-half Dannah O'Brien showcased her ever-improving kicking game to help Ireland maintain control.

A heart-stopping 29-27 WXV1 win over New Zealand in Vancouver in September 2024 proved seismic scalps are not beyond Bemand's Ireland.

Delivering a first win on French soil would be a significant addition to their body of work under the Englishman. They have talked up the belief in the group. Now it's about meeting the moment.

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

This video can not be played

Figure caption,

France score five second-half tries to ease to win over Wales

Line-ups

France: Barrat; Grando, Rousset, T Feleu, Murie; Arbez, Bourdon Sansus; Mwayembe, Lazarko, Khalfaoui, Zago, Fall Raclot, Berthoumieu, M Feleu (capt), Champon.

Replacements: Riffonneau, Brosseau, Bernadou, Correa, Soqeta, Escudero, Chambon, Queyroi.

Ireland: Flood; Parsons, Dalton, McGillivray, O'Connor; O'Brien, Lane; Perry, Moloney-MacDonald, Djougang, Wall, Tuite, Hogan, King (capt), Wafer.

Replacements: Jones, O'Dowd, Cahill, Campbell, Monaghan, Whelan, Higgins, McGann.