Ireland came oh so close to a place in the semi-finals of the Women's Rugby World Cup after being edged out by France at Sandy Park.
Having built up a 13-0 lead in dreadful conditions in Exeter, Ireland just couldn't hold on against the world number four side, who pulled their way back into the contest, holding Ireland out in the final minute.
Here's how we rated the Irish players...
Stacey Flood – 7.5
Probably her best performance of the World Cup. Shook off an injury to start, and got Ireland's second try of the game. Won a hugely important jackal penalty midway through the second half when France were breaking free. Almost landed a beautiful 50:22 moments later.
Beibhinn Parsons – 6
Given the conditions, didn’t get much of an opportunity to have an impact on the game, and the next stage of Ireland’s progress will be to try manufacture more involvements for her. Quick reactions down the right touchline almost led to a breakaway in the final 10 minutes, but the bounce went against her.
Aoife Dalton – 7
Couldn’t get much going with the ball in hand, but her relentlessness in defence is huge. She forced a knock-on in the final quarter chasing what looked like a lost cause, and had another turnover in the first half.
Eve Higgins – 7
Had 12 carries in total, and got on the ball a lot in the opening quarter, getting over the gainline more often than not. Lost the ball forward in that final passage of attack to end the opening half.
Amee Leigh Costigan – 6
Similar to Parsons, Ireland’s gameplan just didn't get her involved enough. Was beaten around the outside for the second French try, but it’s hard to pin that blame on her, given the shape Ireland were in and the numbers France had out wide.
Dannah O’Brien - 7
A lot of Ireland’s dominance in the first half was down to O’Brien’s kicking from hand, and she was regularly turning the French defence around and keeping Ireland playing in the right areas. Needed to be stronger in the tackle on Escudero for the first French try. Hard to hold the two missed conversions against her, given the angle and strength of the wind.
Aoibheann Reilly – 6
Played the full 80 minutes and threw herself about physically, but needed to offer a bit more variety during Ireland’s dominant first half to keep the French defence guessing.
Niamh O’Dowd - 8
Eleven carries and seven tackles during her 57 minutes on the pitch and it was her big carry that laid the groundwork for Linda Djougang’s try. Was part of an utterly dominant scrum, and has become a real force in defence where she won two turnovers from choke tackles during the first half.
Neve Jones – 7
Made 11 tackles, one of the highest for her 60 minutes on the pitch. Didn’t get much going forward with the ball in hand from her eight carries, but was part of an Irish front row that won penalty after penalty at the scrum, an area of her game that’s very underrated.
Linda Djougang – 9
Possibly the best performance in her 52 Irish caps. An 80-minute shift is rare for a tighthead, but Djougang was at the centre of everything Ireland did well. Dominated at the scrum and combined that with an all-action performance around the pitch; she scored a try among 24 carries, and topped the Irish tackle chart with 12, while also coming up with a turnover.
Ruth Campbell – 7
Always looked to get on the ball, logging 13 carries, and was one of the main lineout options for Ireland. Will be frustrated to give away a penalty for obstruction in the French 22 just after France got their first points of the game.
Sam Monaghan – 7
Her return has been valuable in this tournament with Dorothy Wall out, and the captain was incredibly busy, with a combined 26 carries and tackles in her 65 minutes. Looked to have taken her try very well, only for it to be ruled out for an earlier knock-on.
Fiona Tuite – 6.5
A mixed day for Tuite. Has become the key lineout forward for Ireland, and had double-digit numbers in both carries and tackles. Will be frustrated with a couple of those carries in the first half though, losing one in contact before getting caught isolated to concede a penalty.
Aoife Wafer – 8.5
Any doubts about whether or not she was fully fit were put to bed within a couple of minutes. Led the Irish carrying game with 26, and had the most metres with 44. Came up with a priceless jackal penalty to halt France’s only attack of the first half, and had another early in the second half. So good, it appears the French had to resort to biting to limit her impact. Loses half a point for that penalty for an off the ball hit, which saw an Irish penalty turned over and allowed France knock over their first three-pointer.
Brittany Hogan - 7
Switched to flanker at scrum time on Ireland’s put-in, but still contributed a combined 20 carries and tackles in her 57 minutes. May have stayed on longer, although it appeared she was injured coming off. A big game player in this team.
Replacements:
Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald – 6
Only played the final 15 minutes, and France scored within a couple of minutes. Under threw that final lineout, which France got a hand on.
Ellena Perry – 6
Got on the ball a lot while she was on the pitch, but got too eager at one stage and was caught in possession in the French 22, conceding a penalty.
Eimear Corri-Fallon – 6
Played the final quarter of an hour and took on five carries, but didn't protect the ball on one of those carries, leading to France’s breakaway try.
Grace Moore – 5
Sin-binned within a couple of minutes of coming on in the second half, and was lucky not to be penalised for a trip on Pauline Bourdon-Sansus later in the second half.
