Women's international/ France 26 Ireland 17: Despite one of their best performances in Paris, Ireland came up short against a strong French team in St Gratien yesterday.
Just two points separated these two teams last year and it is a measure of how far Ireland have come in recent seasons that they now travel to France not just hopeful but expectant when they take on a French team who are consistently ranked among the world's top four sides.
Still, the hosts rattled Ireland with a blistering start and scored with just seven minutes on the clock through lock Melanie Gauffine, whose try was converted by their experienced skipper Estelle Sartini.
Ireland began to get stuck in up front with a pack who have on successive weekends put in superb efforts, and it was secondrow Geri Healy who equalised when she crashed over the line following a hugely impressive maul. Grace Davitt converted.
The excellent French number eight Delphine Plantet scored another try before the break when she forced her way over. Sartini's kick meant the hosts turned around 14-7 ahead.
Ireland crucially gave up another try when fullback Caroline Ladaguous skipped over on 44 minutes to push the lead out to 19-7.
Replacement outhalf Niamh Briggs, winning just her second cap, kicked her first points shortly after with a well-taken penalty, and then Ulster hooker Jess Limbert brought Ireland right back into the game when she crossed the line following another organised maul.
Davitt's kick meant Ireland trailed by two, 19-17, with 20 minutes left.
Captain Sarahjane Belton made an eye-catching, last-ditch tackle as France pressed hard in attack.
It wasn't to be Ireland's day though, and after a fumble in their 22 the visitors conceded a try when winger Celine Allainmet pounced for the score which pushed France beyond reach.
Coach John O'Sullivan said they are still extremely upbeat ahead of the visits of Wales and Scotland.
"We are disappointed with this result because we really were well in the game. We scored two good tries through our hard-working pack, but what was out undoing was our conceding of tries at crucial times. We gave away a couple of soft tries, one right after we'd scored ourselves, and it's something we will look at.
"I was happy with the work ethic of the team and our bench made a big impact against a very good French side."
In other games England beat Italy 76-6 while Wales beat Scotland 23-6.
IRELAND: Sarahjane Belton (capt); Lynne Cantwell, Patrique Kelly, Shannon Houston, Grace Davitt; Joanne O'Sullivan, Tania Rosser; Fiona Coghlan, Jess Limbert, Marie Barrett, Caroline Mahon, Germaine Healy, Eimear O'Sullivan, Sinead Ryan, Orla Brennan. Replacements: Gillian Bourke (for M Barrett), Louise Austin (for E O'Sullivan), Niamh Briggs (for P Kelly, all 40), Yvonne Nolan (for J Limbert 62), Louise Beamish (for T Rosser 65).
FRANCE: Caroline Ladagnous; Celine Allainmat, Sandrine Agricole, Jennifer Collombat, Marie Bourret; Estelle Sartini (capt), Jennifer Troncy; Delphine Plantet, Jeanne Laurence, Celia Rigout, Marie Hebel, Melanie Gauffinet, Celine Barthelemy, Laetitia Salles, Gabrille Mahuas.
