France survive Ireland onslaught to book semi-final spot

Ireland produced a dream first half but collapsed in the second as France came back from 13 points down to win 18-13 and book their place in the semi-finals in the ongoing Women's Rugby World Cup.

Ireland, with the wind at their backs, dominated the opening forty minutes. Their pack asserted itself early, and in just the sixth minute prop Linda Djougang smashed over the line from a close-range tap penalty. The conversion went astray, but Ireland were off to the start they wanted.

France’s discipline problems compounded their troubles when Rose Bernadou was sin-binned for a high tackle around the 18-minute mark. With numerical advantage, Ireland pressed again. In the 24th minute Stacey Flood found space to score Ireland’s second try, stretching the lead to 10-0.

France looked rattled and Ireland continued to apply pressure. Dannah O’Brien added a penalty in the 38th minute, making it 13-0. Just before the break, things got worse for France when captain Manae Feleu was shown a yellow card. Ireland went into half-time in total control, leading 13-0.

The second half, however, was a complete reversal. With rain falling and the wind advantage gone, Ireland struggled to play with the same fluency. France struck their first points in the 48th minute through a Morgane Bourgeois penalty, trimming the deficit to 13-3.

Moments later, Grace Moore was sent to the bin for Ireland after a high tackle, and France seized the momentum. Charlotte Escudero powered over for a try, which Bourgeois converted, bringing France within three points.

Sensing vulnerability, France pressed harder. In the 67th minute, Joanna Grisez pounced on a turnover, sprinting almost 60 metres to score a sensational solo try. Bourgeois’s boot kept the scoreboard ticking, adding a penalty around the 75th minute to extend France’s lead to 18-13.

Ireland mounted a desperate late push, camping inside the French 22. But a critical line-out error in the final moments, disrupted by the returning Manae Feleu, ended their hopes. France held firm under relentless pressure and completed a remarkable comeback, scoring 18 unanswered points in the second half.

The match encapsulated the French resilience: despite poor discipline in the first half, they regrouped, tightened their defence, and punished every Irish mistake after the break. For Ireland, it was heartbreak — a commanding position squandered, their campaign undone by missed conversions, fading accuracy, and ill-timed yellow cards.