Summary

  • Second-half tries from Carla Arbez, Anais Grando and Lea Champon ensure France bonus-point victory after they had trailed early on

  • Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald gave Ireland advantage, before Ambre Mwayembe try brought France level

  • Ireland had two first-half tries ruled out on review - Brittany Hogan for double movement, and Moloney-MacDonald for a knock-on by Emily Lane

  • Ireland remain in search of first away win over France - and first Women's Six Nations victory against Les Bleues since 13-10 win in Donnybrook in 2017

Have your say on the Women's Six Nations

  1. France centre Vernier ruled out of Six Nationspublished at 19:53 BST 25 April

    France v Ireland (20:10 BST)

    Gabrielle VernierImage source, Getty Images

    France centre Gabrielle Vernier has been ruled out of the remainder of the Women's Six Nations with a shoulder injury.

    Vernier was forced off in the 48th minute of France's 38-7 victory against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday as she won her 60th cap.

    The 28-year-old will miss Saturday's game with Ireland, a trip to Scotland and a potential Grand Slam decider against England on 17 May.

    France head coach Francois Ratier has called up 18-year-old Aelig Tregouet to replace Vernier in the squad.

    Toulouse's Tregouet has played sevens for France but has not been capped at senior level in the 15-a-side game by her country.

    Vernier's injury is a blow to France, who have already lost key centre Joanna Grisez to a knee ligament injury.

  2. 'I'd be worried, if I was them'published at 19:51 BST 25 April

    France v Ireland (20:10 GMT)

    Stacey FloodImage source, Getty Images

    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."

  3. 'We're ready for this one' - Bemand on Francepublished at 19:48 BST 25 April

    France v Ireland (20:10 GMT)

    Scott BemandImage source, Getty Images

    Head coach Scott Bemand says Ireland are "ready" for the pressure of facing France in Clermont after learning from a string of big-game experiences.

    Ireland began their Women's Six Nations campaign with a 33-12 loss to England in front of a record 77,120 at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium.

    Bemand's side also faced New Zealand and France in front of near-capacity crowds at the World Cup last year - and the coach feels those days will stand to his squad as they bid for a first win on French soil.

    "We've got the benefit now with our group having come through the World Cup piece where we had full stadiums, a lot of noise and a lot of expectation, internal expectation," said Bemand.

    "Going away to France is a class experience. We were away in England two weeks ago so we've had a recent opportunity of stepping into that sort of arena.

    "I saw a completely different group to two years ago walking into that space, so as we continue to evolve, continue to get more confident in ourselves and our performances, I think we're ready for this one."

    Bemand, who has made one change from last week's nine-try win over Italy, added the team feel "excitement and anticipation rather than nerves".

    "We're ready for this, we've trained well this week," he added.

    "We're now recovering, we'll travel, we're going to enjoy it. The weather looks good over there and we'll be absolutely gunning to

  4. 'Dream come true' for Parsons as Ireland turn on stylepublished at 19:45 BST 25 April

    France v Ireland (20:10 BST)

    Beibhinn ParsonsImage source, Getty Images

    Beibhinn Parsons is no stranger to the spotlight. She made her Ireland debut aged 16 and has often been expected to deliver as one of her country's stars.

    Parsons has scored tries in the Six Nations and World Cup and represented the Ireland Sevens at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

    But Saturday will have meant a little bit more to the 24-year-old.

    Born and raised in Ballinasloe just east of Galway city, Parsons had a homecoming to remember as Ireland put Italy to the sword in an emphatic Six Nations win at the newly redeveloped Dexcom Stadium.

    With the 9,206-strong crowd - a record for an Ireland women's home game - screaming her name, Parsons led a vibrant Irish attack with her first-half hat-trick setting Scott Bemand's side on course for a 57-20 win.

    "The crowd here is absolutely fantastic and they have been screaming form minute one to minute 80," said a smiling Parsons, who was named player of the match in Ireland's first Women's Six Nations fixture in Galway.

    "We really felt that on the pitch and it is a dream come true to be able to play in Galway in front of such an amazing crowd. To put in a performance like that was just fantastic."

  5. Parsons hat-trick as Ireland thrash Italy in Galwaypublished at 19:43 BST 25 April

    France v Ireland (20:10 BST)

    Media caption,

    Nine-try Ireland thrash Italy in Galway

    Beibhinn Parsons scored a hat-trick as nine-try Ireland turned on the style to thrash Italy in Galway and register their first Women's Six Nations win of the year.

    Having opened the tournament with a 33-12 loss to England at Allianz Stadium last week, rampant Ireland scored seven tries to build a commanding half-time lead.

    In the first Women's Six Nations game at Connacht's newly redeveloped Dexcom Stadium, Galway-born winger Parsons delighted the 9,206-strong crowd - a record for an Ireland women's home game - with a trio of fine finishes.

    Emily Lane opened Ireland's account, while Aoife Wafer, debutant Robyn O'Connor and Ellena Perry also crossed in a hugely impressive opening 40 minutes.

    Vittoria Vecchini's try and a stunning breakaway effort from full-back Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi kept alive Italy's hopes of securing a try bonus point.

    Ireland added two more tries in the second half through Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald and Brittany Hogan, but Veronica Madia and Alyssa D'Inca scores secured a bonus point for Italy.

    Ireland move up to third in the table while Italy remain bottom.

  6. What else has happened today?published at 19:40 BST 25 April

    France v Ireland (20:10 BST)

    This is the final game of round three with champions England handing Wales a heavy defeat in Bristol.

    The Red Roses won 62-24 while Scotland were on the wrong end of a hammering in Parma with Italy coming out on top 41-14.

  7. Team News - Two changes for Francepublished at 19:36 BST 25 April

    France v Ireland (20:10 BST)

    France

    France, who have secured bonus-point wins over Italy and Wales, have made two changes.

    Loose-head prop Ambre Mwayembe comes in for Yllana Brosseau, while the injured Gabrielle Vernier is replaced by Teani Feleu.

    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.

  8. Team News - One change for Irelandpublished at 19:34 BST 25 April

    France v Ireland (20:10 BST)

    Ireland Rugby

    Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has made one change to his starting XV for Saturday's Women's Six Nations trip to France.

    Dorothy Wall replaces Ruth Campbell in the second row in the only alteration from the line-up that started last week's resounding 57-20 win over Italy in Galway.

    On the bench, Eilis Cahill is named as the back-up tight-head prop as Sadhbh McGrath drops out of the squad.

    Ireland are aiming for a first away win over France and a first Women's Six Nations victory against Les Bleues since a 13-10 win in Donnybrook in 2017.

    France recovered from a 13-0 deficit to win last year's World Cup quarter-final 18-13, but Bemand insists Saturday's game is "not about revenge".

    "It's the next game and where we are in our cycle," said Bemand.

    "This is our next opportunity to get a performance out there. We've got a great squad that are starting to ask better questions of selection. We've left some really talented players out of the 23.

    "Where we are, how we're going, we're tracking in the right direction."

    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.

  9. Welcome!published at 19:31 BST 25 April

    France v Ireland (20:10 BST)

    Hello and welcome to the Stade Marcel-Michelin. We are at the home of Clermont Auvergne but tonight, it is where Ireland's Women's Six Nations campaign rolls into round three.

    These two met 223 days ago in their World Cup quarter-final in Exeter with Les Bleus coming out on top 18-13 despite Ireland leading 0-13 at the break. France also won in last year's tournament in Belfast and are two from two so far this year.

    Ireland bounced back from a 33-12 defeat to England in round one by hammering Italy 57-20 in front of a bumper crowd in Galway last week. Can Scott Bemand's side follow that up with a huge upset in Clermont-Ferrand?

    Stick with us to find out!