Key events
16 min: No. France’s defence holds inside their 22. The Irish runners don’t quite have the punch around the fringe. When they try to go down the line the rush defence gets up and forces the knock-on. France have the scrum inside their 22. This has been a fascinating tactical battle. Ireland are owning the territory but don’t quite have the killer edge.
14 min: And repeat. France, conscious that they won’t get upfield through their kicks, try to run it up. Ireland swarm and hold up the ball carrier, forcing a maul and then a turnover. O’Brien, after some irish carries, drills another kick to the corner. It bounces for a 22 drop-out, but Ireland have the ball back and this time they make ground. They’re into the 22. 10 out. Can they do anything with this opportunity?
12 min: The plan is clear from Ireland. O’Brien is kicking the leather off the ball, pinning France back. Another raking kick finds touch between the 22 and halfway.
11 min: France just can’t get out of their own half at the minute. They win the ball out the back if the scrum and run it down the line, but Vernier is smoked in contact and spills the ball. Scrum to Ireland on halfway.
10 min: Ireland are back on the ball inside France’s patch. O’Brien looks up and spots some space in the left corner. She puts in a kick over the shoulder of Queyroi, but the wind sees it go too long and it bounces out of play beyond the dead ball line. So France have the scrum feed from where the kick came from, about 10 metres inside their own half.
8 min: Ireland are playing with the wind at their backs. In a game like this it makes all the difference as they’re bossing the kicking game. O’Brien is hammering France’s back field. One drifts too long and is marked by Queyroi, but the return only goes about 15 metres upfield. Ireland can’t turn make good on that territorial win as they cough up the ball at the line-out.
TRY! France 0-5 Ireland (Djougang, 6)
No doubt about it this time! Ireland won’t be stopped. Rather than line-out again the tap and go from close range, setting up a charge from their rampaging prop. Djougang can’t be repelled from that distance at that pace. The conversion from O’Brien catches the wind and drifts to the left of the poles from the left tram.
5 min: Ireland go to the corner and Campbell wins the line-out at the front. They set the maul and France give away a penalty as they try to stop it.
NO TRY! France 0-0 Ireland
4 min: Oh no! They’re having a look at the try. Apparently there was a knock-on by an Irish player. Yes, Wafer spilled it as she stole the loose ball close to the line! Ireland were playing with a penalty advantage so they’ll have another crack within touching distance.
TRY! France 0-7 Ireland (Monaghan, 3)
Ireland are on the board! Well then, what a start for the Irish. A mighty scrum makes life tricky for Bourdon Sansus at the back of the pack. France can’t clear and Ireland turn them. Djougang cam close with a short carry. Ireland kept their composure and soon the skipper was on the ball, sliding over from two metres out. The conversion is good.
2 min: Ireland go down the blind side to the left but the French rally and force a knock-on. They’ll have the scrum now five out from their own line in the right corner.
1 min: O’Brien hoofs a mighty kick that takes a touch off Escudero’s hand. it bobbles into France’s goal area and the Frenc No. 8 dots it down. Did she not realise she’d touched it? Ireland get a scrum five out.
And we’re off with a shrill blast of Aimee Barrett-Theron’s whistle! My word, conditions are slick and greasy. Should make for a tactical battle. Who will box smartest? Ireland in emerald green or France in royal blue?
It’s still raining as the players make their way out of the tunnel for the anthems. Stiff winds as well. This could get messy.
Some fighting words from Ireland’s flanker, Fiona Tuite:
The girls went through war last weekend (against New Zealand), and we took so many positives from that once we pushed the emotions aside from the loss. We played against one of the best teams in the world, we’re now going to play against one of the other best teams in the world, so it’s teed us up nicely from a physicality, speed and tactical point of view. Mentally we need to stay switched on, we stay in the fight, and this is all out war.
Ireland head coach, Scott Bemand, had this to say about his star player:
We’ve all wanted to see [Aoife Wafer] back on the pitch, she’s been desperate to get out there and give herself to the cause. She’s worked incredibly hard behind the scenes and there’s been huge support for her in getting back to this point. We’re fully confident she’s fit and ready. She’s exactly where she wants to be, and we believe this gives her the best opportunity to get her best game out there at a quarter-final
It’s going to be greasy and wet in Exeter today.
If Ireland can box clever, if they can hoist high kicks and stifle that French continuity with ball in hand, then, well, you never know.
Ireland team
Ireland will need to win that contest in the midfield and their centre pair Eve Higgins and Aoife Dalton are more than capable of matching their opponents.
The reigning Six Nations Player of the Tournament, Aoife Wafter, has not featured in the World Cup so far as she’s been nursing her knee following surgery. But she’s back today and starts in the 7 jersey.
France’s co-coach Gaëlle Mignot has said the scrum will be a “key battle” so all eyes on Linda Djougang, the most-capped member of the squad with 51 appearances for her country. Unlike most props, she tends to stick around beyond the 70th minute, such is her importance to the cause.
Ireland: Flood; Parsons, Dalton, Higgins, Costigan’ O’Brien, Reilly, O’Dowd, Jones, Djougang, Campbell, Monoghan, Tuite, Wafer, Hogan.
Replacements: Maloney MacDonald, Perry, McGrath, Corri-Fallon, Moore, Lane, Breen, McGann.
France team
It’s a formidable looking midfield as Gabrielle Vernier partners Marine Ménager. Pauline Bourdan Sansus will no doubt look for runners against the grain with every opportunity.
Lock Madoussou Fall Raclot was a menace against South Africa. Her carrying ability, along with Charlotte Escudero’s all-court game at the base of the ruck, will be key to providing France go-forward ball.
Morgane Bourgeois’ reliability from the tee sees her win the fullback jersey.
France: Bourgeois; Grisez, Menager, Vernier, Arbey; Queyroi, Bourdon Sansus; Brosseau, Gerin, bernadou, Feleu, Raclot, Berthoumieu, Champon, Escudero.
Replacements: Deshaye, Hkalfaoui, Ikahehegi, Okemba, Feleu, Chambon, Boulard.
While I put together the team sheets, take a read of Andy Bull’s latest yarn:
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
Of the four quarterfinals, this one has the best chance of being a close affair.
New Zealand was always going to have too much for a spirited South Africa. Canada’s extra heft was always going to be too much for the plucky Aussies. England should sure have too much for a brave Scottish outfit.
And even though France will start as favourites, and should have too much for Ireland, we might just have a game on here.
France swept their group with the sensational Pauline Bourdon Sansus running the show at scrum-half (what is it with French scrummies?). But Ireland demonstrated more than pluck (though they did lose 40-0 to New Zealand).
The Irish are ranked fifth in the world, one place behind the French, Though admittedly a whopping 7.03 points separate them.
How many will separate them today?
We’ll find out together when things kick-off at 1pm BST.
Teams, updates and some reading to come.
