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Ireland fall short despite Aoife Wafer masterclass against France

Updated / Sunday, 14 Sep 2025 21:42

Ireland fell agonisingly short of a stunning Rugby World Cup upset as they lost 18-13 to France at Sandy Park in Exeter.

Scott Bemand's side came into the game as 20-point underdogs and, led by a generational comeback performance from Aoife Wafer, just couldn't find a late score that would have been nothing more than they deserved.

They will be heartbroken as Irish rugby suffered another quarter-final World Cup exit but so much about this performance deserved better.

Ireland scored all their points in the first half with Linda Djougang and Stacey Flood crossing for tries, while Dannah O'Brien scored a penalty.

France, who had three players sin-binned, rode their luck and took their chances.

Joanna Grisez scored the winning try with just 12 minutes left after a Charlotte Escudero try and a penalty from Morgane Bourgeois put them within range.

14 September 2025; Ireland players before the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 quarter-final match between France and Ireland at Sandy Park in Exeter, England. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Ireland simply dominated the entire opening half.

Sure, they were aided by a strong gale; the rain never stopped, occasionally falling diagonally instead of horizontally.

But Ireland had to play the conditions and they did that superbly in front of a crowd of 11,618 in southwest England.

An odd lineout throw went astray and kick too long but, for the most part, it was perfection.

The set-piece yielded clean possession and penalties, while France lost two players to yellow cards.

Wafer, returning from a five-month injury lay-off, was immediately back to her best, relentlessly carrying over the gainline.

The handling across the board, in slippery conditions, was exceptional.

That they only had two tries and a penalty after 46 minutes of some of the best rugby played under Bemand was the only pity.

They established a foothold right from the start with France number 8 Escudero touching the ball back over her tryline before dotting down.

Sam Monaghan bashed over following a few phases but a very late TMO intervention for a knock-on brought play back for a penalty.

Niamh O'Dowd tapped and was stopped short but the exceptional Djougang powered over the line and Ireland led after six minutes.

Ireland continued to play in the right areas and France were reduced to 14 when prop Rose Bernadou was sin-binned for a high tackle on Eve Higgins.

That led to another sustained period of pressure and despite losing a close-range lineout, they soon turned the ball over and earned a five-metre scrum.

Wafer made for the line but was stopped inches short before O'Brien floated a pass to Flood, who dived to score.

The out-half couldn't convert but neither could France get their hands on the ball to do any damage.

Pauline Bourdon Sansus was anonymous and even when she tapped a quick penalty, Wafer appeared out of nowhere to sweep around and turn the ball over.

It looked as if her day was done, however, when she screamed in pain after losing the ball in contact but was able to continue. A machine.

Ireland earned another penalty off a scrum with two minutes to go before the break and O'Brien slotted the kick.

The half finished after an amazing 36-phase move inside the France 22 with Irish carriers repelled inches short a number of times.

They didn't add to their tally but gained a numerical advantage once more when captain Mane Feleu was yellow-carded for cynical play.

Soon after the restart Wafer won another jackal penalty and the Irish scrum marched their French counterparts back numerous times.

But France began to grow into the game.

Bourgeois landed the first strike back, slotting over a penalty in the 48th minute.

Ireland were penalised for obstruction at a lineout on the French 22 and France took advantage.

Brittany Hogan was forced off with a knee injury and her replacement, Grace Moore, was only a minute on the pitch before being sin-binned for a high tackle.

Escudero crossed for France's first try moments later with Bourgeois angling over a fine conversion.

Les Bleues were on the front foot now but Flood came up with a breakdown penalty after Madoussou Fall Raclot and Marine Menager broke through the middle; moments later Neve Jones forced a knock on with a thunderous tackle.

Ireland pressed again and worked a number of phases inside the France 22 before disaster.

Replacement hooker Manon Bigot turned the ball over at a ruck and France countered.

Escudero fed Bourgeois and the full-back had Grisez on her shoulder and the wing raced in from halfway to put her side into the lead for the first time with 12 minutes to play.

Bemand's side had another spell of possession inside the French half but couldn't capitalise and Bourgeois extended the French lead after Assia Khalfaoui won a jackal penalty.

France held Ireland outside their 22 until the final moments when a high tackle handed the Green Wave one last chance with Alexandra Chambon sin-binned for the final plays.

But a French jumper got a hand to the lineout, knocking the ball forward, and there was no time for a scrum.

Ireland, unbowed, are out.

SCORERS

Ireland: Tries - Djougang, Flood

Pen: O'Brien

Yellow card: Moore

France: Tries - Escudero, Grisez

Con: Bourgeois

Pen: Bourgeois (2)

Yellow card: Bernadou, Feleu, Chambon

Ireland: Stacey Flood; Béibhinn Parsons, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Costigan; Dannah O'Brien, Aoibheann Reilly; Niamh O'Dowd, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang; Ruth Campbell, Sam Monaghan (capt); Fiona Tuite, Aoife Wafer, Brittany Hogan.

Replacements: Clíodhna Molony-MacDonald (Jones 66), Ellena Perry (O'Dowd58), Sadhbh McGrath, Eimear Corri-Fallon (Monaghan 66), Grace Moore (Hogan 58), Emily Lane, Enya Breen, Anna McGann.

France: Morgane Bourgeois; Joanna Grisez, Marine Menager, Gabrielle Vernier, Kelly Arbey; Lina Queyroi, Pauline Bourdon Sansus; Yllana Brosseau, Agathe Gerin, Rose Bernadou; Mane Feleu, Madoussou Fall Raclot; Axelle Berthoumieu, Lea Champon, Charlotte Escudero.

Replacements: Manon Bigot (Gerin 66), Annaelle Deshaye (Brosseau 46 (Deshaye HIA 79)), Assia Khalfaoui (Bernadou HIA 30), Hina Ikahehgi, Seraphine Okemba (Vernier HIA 62 (Escudero 75)), Teani Feleu (Berthoumieu 52), Alexandra Chambon (Bourdon Sansus 75), Emilie Boulard (Queyroi 78).

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)

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Michael Glennon RTÉ Sport Journalist

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Michael Glennon

RTÉ Sport Journalist