IRELAND LOST OUT 18-6 to France in the RBS Women’s Six Nations in Perpignan last night.
A maul try from French captain Gaelle Mignot and a superb solo effort from winger Caroline Boujard gave the hosts a 15-6 half-time lead, with Niamh Briggs booting two penalties for Ireland.
Costly individual errors and poor execution let Tom Tierney’s side down, and Laura Delas’ 70th-minute penalty sealed Ireland’s fate in front of a partisan 11,170-strong crowd at the Stade Aime Giral.
Larissa Muldoon (pictured above) from Cappry Ballybofey started at scrum-half for Ireland, while Nora Stapleton was a 66th minute replacement at out-half.
Ireland opened their campaign with a 21-3 win over Wales in Donnybrook last weekend and are back in action at Twickenham against England on Saturday, February 27.
Ireland: Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt); Elise O’Byrne White (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Aine Donnelly (Cill Dara/Leinster), Sene Naoupu (Galwegians/Connacht), Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht); Nikki Caughey (Railway Union/Ulster), Larissa Muldoon (Skewen); Ruth O’Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht), Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Paula Fitzpatrick (Toulouse), Claire Molloy (Bristol), Heather O’Brien (Toulouse).
Replacements used: Ciara Griffin (Tralee/Munster) for Molloy (36 mins-half-time, blood sub), Griffin for O’Brien, Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster) for O’Reilly (both 48), Ciara Griffin (Tralee/Munster) for Molloy (56), Mary Healy (Galwegians/Connacht) for Muldoon, Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster) for Caughey, Jackie Shiels (Richmond) for Donnelly (all 66), Zoe Grattage (Tralee/Munster) for Moloney (70), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster) for Egan (74).
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