Ireland Women are just one win away from a maiden RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam after Ailis Egan’s second-half try earned them a narrow 15-10 victory over France – with Donegal’s Nora Stapleton and Larissa Muldoon playing their part in the historic win.
Trailing 10-5 at half-time, Ireland roared back with Egan burrowing over to add to Niamh Briggs’ first-half score – the full-back slotting the conversion and adding a late penalty.
In following up victories over Wales, England and then Scotland, Ireland clinched just a second ever win over France – the first coming in 2009 – meaning only Italy stand between them and the Grand Slam.
France, who had designs on leapfrogging Ireland in the table at Ashbourne, having won their last two fixtures, began the brighter and took the lead when fly-half Sandrine Agricole knocked over a penalty in the first ten minutes but Briggs wasted little time in putting her side ahead.
A fine move saw No.8 Joy Neville find Briggs, who sped through the gap and dotted down on the right-hand side, before dragging her conversion just wide.
The lead did not last long however and France hooker Gaëlle Mignot grabbed her side’s only try of the night soon after, Agricole again on target with a fine kick from the right, handing les Bleues a 10-5 lead.
Ireland did their best to respond and had Ashleigh Baxter’s inside pass not gone forward, centre Lynn Cantwell would surely have raced clear.
France led by five at the break but Ireland came roaring out of the blocks in the second period and after some fine rucking at close quarters, Egan forced her way over – Briggs adding the extras to put Ireland ahead again.
That prompted wave after wave of attacks from the hosts but some resolute defending and handling errors from Ireland kept the French within two points.
When the visitors finally started to enjoy some territory, a fluffed drop goal attempt was the best they could muster and when Briggs was on target with a late penalty, just after one had hit the post, Ireland led by five and successfully ran down the clock.
They will now head to Milan looking to clinch the Grand Slam on St Patrick’s Day and they will be crowned champions on Sunday if Italy fail to beat England.
Should Italy down the seven-time defending champions, both sides would be in with a chance of lifting the crown next Sunday.
15 Niamh Briggs
14 Ashleigh Baxter
13 Lynne Cantwell
12 Jenny Murphy
11 Alison Miller
10 Nora Stapleton
9 Larissa Muldoon
1 Fiona Coghlan
2 Gillian Bourke
3 Ailis Egan
4 Sophie Spence
5 Marie Louise Reilly
6 Siobhan Fleming
7 Claire Molloy
8 Joy Neville
Replacements:
16 Stacey-Lea Kennedy
17 Fiona Hayes
18 Lauren Day
19 Leigh Dargan
20 Laura Guest
21 Amy Davis
22 Grace Davitt
23 Niamh Kavanagh