Confident Ireland chase historic win in France

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 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."

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.