Ireland women determined to overturn odds in Six Nations against France

“You saw the size of them,” said former Irish coach Philip Doyle after France eventually quelled the Irish revolt to secure third place at last August’s world cup. “It’s a physics thing. A lot of weight goes forward.”

Ireland may have been stripped of some great leaders but Elodie Portaries, all 107kg, will be on the bench. Assa Koita, the 100kg lock, is out altogether.

So are outhalf Sandrine Agricole and centre Majorie Mayans; two brilliant players sucked from the French Six Nations plans by their further-down-the-tracks commitment to Sevens rugby and an inevitable journey to the Rio Olympics next year.

Elodie Guiglion, the two-try winger from that eternally brave 25-18 defeat at Stade Jean Bouin, is also absent.

Problem is Jessy Tremouliere’s attacking presence from fullback and the gargantuan number eight Safi N’Diaye are back in harness. Apologies for the crude description but it’s no exaggeration. With the French women, it really is a physics thing. Matter, energy, motion, force. In one direction.

And still, knowledge is power. Two years ago, granted they were blessed by some refereeing decisions, Ireland resisted a predicted steamrolling to hone in on the Grand Slam. And in Pau last March, they so nearly stole victory at the death.

“We just needed another five minutes that night,” Mags Reilly remembers.

Foot soldiers

For all the loss and change since the World Cup, last weekend’s competent, forward orientated 30-5 victory in Florence showed that several Irish foot soldiers have graduated to officer status.

Reilly runs the lineout now, Heather O’Brien is pack leader, outhalf Nora Stapleton is chief of the attack, while Niamh Briggs looks unruffled by the weight of captaincy.

More revealing was the sight of Larissa Muldoon’s vastly improved service from scrumhalf and the increased industry of Sophie Spence with ball in hand. And there was the enormous boon of six players being exposed to test match rugby. “I said it to them in the team meeting: they will no longer be known as the new players, you are part of the squad same as everyone else,” Reilly continued.

France beat Scotland 42-0 last week. It won’t be so easy tonight. They are not overly fond of the Ashbourne experience but do appear to have enough depth to educate an Irish group still finding their feet.

“We had a very close match in the World Cup, there is always only two or three scores between us, but they offer everything that is good about rugby; domineering pack, the flair out in the backs so it should be an unbelievable game.

“The support is always welcome because it will be that tough a task.”

Ireland: N Briggs (UL Bohemian, capt); A Doyle (Shannon/Munster), J Murphy (Old Belvedere), K Fitzhenry (Blackrock), A Miller (Portlaoise); N Stapleton (Old Belvedere), L Muldoon (Skewen RFC); R O'Reilly (Galwegians), G Bourke (Olympico de Pozuelo RFC), A Egan (Old Belvedere); S Spence (Old Belvedere), ML Reilly (Old Belvedere); P Fitzpatrick (St Marys), C Molloy (Bristol), H O'Brien (Highfield).

Replacements: S Mimnagh (Wasps), F Hayes (UL Bohemian), F O'Brien (Old Belvedere), O Fitzsimons (St Marys), K Norris (Blackrock), T Rosser (Blackrock), J Shiels (Richmond), S Naoupu (Galwegians).

France: France: J Tremouliere (Romagnat), C Boujard (USAP), E Poublan (Montpellier), C Heguy (Bayonne), J Billes (USAP); C Cabalou (Bayonne), Y Rivoalen (Lille-Villeneuve d'Ascq); L Arriscastre (Lons), G Mignot (Montpellier), J Duval (Ovalie Caennaise); M Andre (Blagnac - Saint Orens), M de Nadai (Montpellier); CT Diallo (Stade Bordelais), L Grand (Lons), S N'Diaye (Montpellier). Replacements: W Divoux (USAP), E Portaries (Montpellier), C Ferer (Bayonne), P Rayssac (Monpellier), C Saubusse (Bordeaux), C Neisen (Blagnac - Saint Orens), L Delas (Tarbes), C Chobet (USAP).

Referee: Claire Hodnet (RFU)