France beat Ireland as wait for revenge goes on

France (7) 26

Tries: Mwayembe, Arbez, Grando, Champon Cons: Arbez 3

Ireland (7) 7

Tires: Maloney-MacDonald Cons: O'Brien

France remain on track for a Grand Slam showdown with England after they battled past Ireland 26-7 in a breathless Women's Six Nations game in Clermont.

Ireland were targeting a first win on French soil, and a first win over their opponents since 2017.

Their last meeting ended in a 18-13 win for France in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals in October, and Ireland's players had been open about using that game as motivation.

The visitors had three tries ruled out by the Television Match Official in a pulsating first half as the sides went in level 7-7 at the break.

Cliodhna Maloney-MacDonald, who also had two tries chalked off, put Ireland ahead but Ambre Mwayembe hit back for France.

But France's hold over Ireland stretched to nine matches when Carla Arbez converted her own try to put the hosts ahead for the first time, and scores from Anais Grando and Lea Champon put the hosts out of reach.

After an off-week in the Six Nations, Ireland will look to bounce back at home to Wales in Belfast while France visit Scotland, before a final-day showdown with the all-conquering Red Roses.

Ireland chances unrewarded

Ireland's players had talked a big game in build-up, with Aoife Wafer saying they "owed" France one and Stacey Flood went as far to say that the hosts should be "worried, if I was them".

It was Wafer who set the tone for a breathless opening 40 minutes with a thundering carry straight from kick-off, and Ireland kicked on from there.

As Ireland sent the ball wide in the third minute, Pauline Barrat's stray hand knocked the ball forward and the French wing was sent to the bin.

Maloney-MacDonald thought she had crossed for the opening score but referee Clara Munarini ruled the ball had been held up, and Brittany Hogan had a try ruled out for a double movement.

It was a third time lucky for Scott Bemand's side as Maloney-MacDonald got the try her first-half performance deserved when she rounded off a rolling maul, and Dannah O'Brien added the conversion.

But France are title contenders for a reason and they hit back when Mwayembe scored her first international try. There was some controversy as Wafer felt she had held the ball up but the grounding was not looked at again by match officials.

Arbez converted, and the French fly-half produced a crucial tackle to stop a near-certain score as Fiona Tuite charged towards the line, and Grando raced across from her wing to get her body under the ball before the Irish second row could ground it.