Toughest mission yet for Ireland women’s rugby team

Ireland must win tonight by at least 20 points – anything less and they would need five tries while conceding none – to retain the Six Nations championship.

Not impossible but highly unlikely against a French side who kept Italy, Wales and Scotland to nil.

It's not as if Pau hasn't provided the back drop for an incredible Irish sporting feat back in 1989. That was when Martin Earley won a Tour de France stage, from Labastide-d'Armagnac to Pau.

American referee Leah Berard takes control for the second game running. There was no obvious problem for the Irish with her at the Aviva last Saturday, although she gives players no prior warning before penalising them.

"She's a good ref, it's black or white, really," said Ireland coach Philip Doyle, who met with her yesterday.

That was an important meeting as Berard's interpretation of France's 12-woman maul could prove crucial. It can be interpreted as illegal blocking of the lineout lifters, which in effect makes it impenetrable. That was essentially how the beat England; two five-metre lineout drives yielding their tries.

Through the night
Ireland lost 8-7 here in 2012, having travelled through the night by train after missing their connecting flight in Paris the previous day, a performance so brave it became a watershed moment for women's rugby in Ireland.

This time Fiona Coghlan and her team-mates were nicely ensconced on the under-20s chartered flight to the south of France.

The lesson to be taken from the 17-10 defeat at Twickenham was the sight of Irish players going far too high on bigger opponents. As Gordon D’Arcy says, everyone is the same height around the ankles.

Number eight Safi N'Diaye and French captain and hooker Gaelle Mignot are quality players, as is outhalf Sandrine Agricole, while Coumba Diallo will seek to match Claire Molloy in a battle royal at the breakdown.

Interpretation
A genuine contest is promised but Ireland need so much to go their way. For starters the referee needs to agree with their interpretation of the French maul. A flawless kicking display by Niamh Briggs would help, while Donegal half back paring Larissa Muldoon and Nora Stapleton must be efficiency personified with the precious possession that comes their way.

Ireland's most penetrative carriers, Sophie Spence and Jenny Murphy, have to find a way through the blue line to free up space for Lynne Cantwell, Alison Miller and Briggs to land a few tries.

So 23 heroic performances and a dollop of luck t should be enough. Glorious, suffocating defeat seems the more likely result.