August 16, 2017
France and Ireland Pool Winner to Advance to World Cup Semi-Finals
Photo: INPHO/Dan Sheridan (Ireland winger Alison Miller scores try against Japan at UCD Bowl in Dublin, Ireland, on 13 August)
Doug Coil
Ireland and France will meet to determine the Pool C winner at the UCD Bowl, Thursday 17th August, 7.45pm (2:45pm ET).
In the opening round, France beat Japan 72-14, while Ireland beat Australia 19-17. In the second round, France won 48-0 against Australia, while Ireland beat Japan 24-14. Both teams are 2-0 and have 10 points and 8 points, respectively.
The winner of the match on Thursday will advance to the Semi-Finals, as the Pool B first place team. Pool winners will be determined on Thursday as New Zealand plays Canada, with 10 and 9 points, and England plays the USA, both with 10 points.
Both France and Ireland will need to win to move to the semi-finals.
In countries outside of France and Ireland, the match will be streamed on http://www.rwcwomens.com. In France the match will broacast on France 2TV. The match will be broadcast on television in the Republic of Ireland by Eir Sport and RTE and in the UK by ITV 4. RTE 2fm will have live commentary on radio.
France
France has made two changes to their starters against Australia, as Annaëlle Deshayes and captain Gaëlle Mignot return at prop and hooker, respectively. In addition, Shannon Izar and Chloé Pelle switched wing positions.
The French forwards are a veteran team with a front row of Annaëlle Deshayes, captain Gaëlle Mignot and Julie Duval. Lenaïg Corson and Audrey Forlani are the locks with Marjorie Mayans and Romane Menager the flankers and Safi N’Diaye at No. 8.
The backs are dangerous in space with the halfback tandem of Yanna Rivoalen and Caroline Drouin, scoring threats Shannon Izar and Chloé Pelle the wings, Montserrat Amedee at fullback with Elodie Poublan and Caroline Ladagnous the centers.
Against Australia, France showed the flare of their passing attack with Shannon Izar scoring three tries, taking a 29-0 lead before winning 48-0. Audrey Forlani, Romane Menager, Gaëlle Mignot had tries with Chloé Pelle adding two. The forwards also played a key role with Romane Menager, the Player of the match.
Ireland
Head Coach Tom Tierney has made six changes and one positional change in the starting XV. While Lindsay Peat, loosehead prop, retains her position, the front row includes Leah Lyons at hooker and Ailis Egan at tighthead prop. Sophie Spence retains her position and Marie-Louise Reilly is reunited at lock. In the back row, both Ciara Griffin and Paula Fitzpatrick join the starters again at blindside flanker and No. 8, respectively with captain Claire Molloy switching from No. 8 to openside flanker.
In the backs, both Jenny Murphy and Eimear Considine reclaim their starting role at outside center and wing. The other backs include halfbacks Nicole Cronin and Nora Stapleton with Sene Naoupu at inside center. Alison Miller at wing and Hannah Tyrrell at fullback are the other backs.
As part of the rotational plan, only Leah Lyons at hooker and a positional change Jenny Murphy from inside to outside center, differs from their opening match against Australia.
Tierney said “We’ve had lots of tough games against France over the years and we know tomorrow evening is going to be no different. They have looked really good in their opening two games of the tournament and they’ll be coming into this game full of confidence.”
“It’s a cup final tomorrow night, with a place in the Semi-Finals up for grabs, so we want the players to go out there and give it everything. It won’t be easy, but with the crowd behind them, they have the ability to claim a place in the final four.”
Ireland survived the previous match against Japan, where they were down 14-0 at halftime. Japan had a penalty try and another by Mayu Shimizu, which she converted. Ireland rallied in the second half, scoring 24 points with tries by Alison Miller, two by Paula Fitzpatrick, and a penalty kcik and three conversions by Nora Stapleton.
France v Ireland: 1 Annaëlle Deshayes 2 Gaëlle Mignot (captain) 3 Julie Duval 4 Lenaïg Corson 5 Audrey Forlani 6 Marjorie Mayans 7 Romane Menager 8 Safi N’Diaye 9 Yanna Rivoalen 10 Caroline Drouin 11 Shannon Izar 12 Elodie Poublan 13 Caroline Ladagnous 14 Chloé Pelle 15 Montserrat Amedee 16 Caroline Thomas 17 Lise Arricastre 18 Patricia Carricaburu 19 Céline Ferer 20 Julie Annery 21 Jade Le Pesq 22 Carla Neisen 23 Camille Grassineau
Ireland v France: 1. Lindsay Peat 2. Leah Lyons 3. Ailis Egan 4. Sophie Spence 5. Marie-Louise Reilly 6. Ciara Griffin 7. Claire Molloy (C) 8. Paula Fitzpatrick 9. Nicole Cronin 10. Nora Stapleton 11. Alison Miller 12. Sene Naoupu 13. Jenny Murphy 14. Eimear Considine 15. Hannah Tyrrell 16. Cliodhna Moloney 17. Ruth O’Reilly 18. Ciara O’Connor 19. Ashleigh Baxter 20. Heather O’Brien 21. Larissa Muldoon 22. Katie Fitzhenry 23. Louise Galvin
