Confident Ireland chase historic win in France

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."

Aoife Wafer's ball-carrying ability could be key for Ireland [Getty Images]

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.

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.

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