Why Ireland must target 'finer margins' after France defeat

ByAndy Gray

BBC Sport NI Journalist

Ireland headed to Clermont with hopes of a historic first win on French soil, and with one eye on revenge.

France had eight straight wins over Ireland, who were closing the gap even if their last meeting led to a narrow World Cup quarter-final exit.

The Irish players had spoken beforehand about owing France one for that defeat, and the belief that is so often kept within a group was on full display.

However, at the end of it all, they left France empty-handed, beaten 26-7 as they were made to pay for not taking their chances.

"I'm really proud of the girls. We showed what we are capable of and what we are trying to do. It's just fine margins out there," Ireland captain Erin King said.

"We fired shots and we are so capable. We put pressure on France and we could see it in that first half especially.

"We've showed that we can compete with the top four in the world, so it's about getting it over that line."

After the big talk in the build-up, Ireland blew France away in the opening 40 minutes but, largely, were left unrewarded for their efforts.

Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald crossed for Ireland but had two efforts chalked off, while Brittany Hogan and Fiona Tuite were also denied first-half scores.

France, who are tipped to meet England in a Grand Slam decider on the final day of the Six Nations, showed a clinical edge and moved clear after the restart through Carla Arbez, Anais Grando and Lea Champon, while Ireland could not back up their first-half performance and fell short.

Under head coach Scott Bemand, Ireland have moved up to fifth in the world and stunned New Zealand and Australia in 2024, but the elusive Six Nations scalp goes on.

England had too much on the opening day, when a slow start was punished, and defeat by France shows there is still work to be done.

"In these kinds of Test matches the margins become finer, so we're after finer margins than we were," Bemand said.

"Nail your kick to touch and nail your exit - they are the type of things that don't let France in.

"We will keep going after the finer margins and keep trying to get better. I've got a group who is up for that."

Ireland back row Edel McMahon, sidelined though injury, said on the Ireland Rugby Social that there would be frustrations the team came up short.

"The England game was a missed opportunity, they will feel, because that was probably a poor England performance but they were too late starting into the game," McMahon said.

"They made a fast start against France, but we didn't get the tries on the board or the scores.

"It didn't go Ireland's way and that was extremely frustrating when we were there confrontationally."

Former Ireland prop Lindsay Peat felt the introduction of five players off the bench in the 47th minute was a "momentum killer" when "we still felt in control".

Peat singled out the withdrawal of hooker Moloney-MacDonald and said the number of changes so early in the game can "unsettle a team".

"I just felt like everyone fed off her energy," Peat said.

"That was a statement performance and I think she had another 10 minutes in her."

Peat and McMahon also pointed out small moments, such as the missed penalty and missed touch from the otherwise impressive Dannah O'Brien when Ireland were chasing the game, and the lack of a review on the opening French try from Ambre Mwayembe, which looked to be held up by Aoife Wafer but went unchallenged.

After all the hype and build-up about taking the game to France, Ireland will now have to wait another year to have another go at toppling Les Bleues.

For McMahon, she says the "frustrations will turn to focus" before the final two games of the Six Nations.

After a week off, Ireland will host Wales in Belfast and Scotland in Dublin to round out their tournament, and the aim will now be to consolidate third position.

"They are a steady group and they will turn that type of emotion into focus and a want to be better," McMahon said.

"You don't need to worry about the battle of, 'oh, do we need to hype the girls up?'.

"They will use the frustrations in the right channels to make sure they are better."