Ireland kicked off their 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations with an impressive, but janky performance in Belfast but ultimately it was France who came out on top. In a fixture where the visitors were heavily favoured, Ireland dominated large passages of the game.
Here are our five big takeaways from a gutsy Irish performance that ended in vain.
Aoife Wafer - World Class
In what feels like an evergreen sentiment, viewers and attendees of this Belfast test match would all feel the same way. Aoife Wafer is a top quality player.
The red scrum cap catches the eye, but so too does her on field work. The Wexford woman made 17 carries and 11 tackles and, in true Aoie Wafer fashion, carried three French forwards with her over the line for her first of two tries. Undoubtedly Ireland’s best back rower in either code.
Aoife Wafer, like a freight train.pic.twitter.com/fk68RojzmG
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) March 22, 2025
Potent and Powerful Attack
If there’s one thing Scott Bemand has added to Ireland’s gameplay since his arrival, it’s a much improved attacking structure. With a robust set of carriers across the park, most notably Wall, Wafer, King and Dalton; Ireland caused problems for France from minute 1 to 80.
Ireland have threatened. They were incisive there but no joy just yet.
☘️ 0-7 🇫🇷#IREvFRA | #GuinnessW6N pic.twitter.com/gcacWw7qyS— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 22, 2025
Ireland dotted down for three tries in the game, as the speed and power of their attack kept France on their toes, with an added spark of counter attacking flair through McGann and Costigan.
Another Statement Performance from Ireland
Even though it was a heartbreaking defeat for Ireland, their rivals in the Six Nations will have taken notice. For over an hour of this game, Ireland were the dominant side; in a stark improvement from last year’s clash in Le Mans.
With France widely perceived as being a clear distance ahead of the rest as second best in the tournament, Ireland offered a sliver of hope that Les Blues are closer to the chasing pack. In a game where France were heavily favoured, Ireland were unlucky not to get at least two points on the table.
Defensive Effort of Guts & Guile
France stormed out of the blocks in Ravenhill, and easily could have been further in front at the break. However, Ireland’s defensive effort kept the bigger French pack at bay when needed. Ireland made 123 tackles, with over 70% of that in the first half alone.
Under the stewardship of Hugh Hogan, Ireland have only conceded less than 30 points in eleven of their last thirteen games, and look far less liable to opposing attacks than they used to. Niamh O’Dowd and the aforementioned Aoife Wafer topped the tackle count in a resilient showing.
3rd Place Within Reach
Although Ireland will be gutted to leave with no points, having had four or five in mind heading into the last quarter, they should be buoyed with confidence for the rest of the championship. The unfavourable draw means Ireland have to face Italy, Wales and Scotland away from home this year, but these are all winnable games.
Last year Ireland defeated their Celtic cousins and should have turned over the Azzurri. Despite the challenge of the road game, Ireland have shown over the last twelve months that they are a top five nation in the world, and the third best team in the tournament. More performances like this one, with the creases ironed out, should solidify that sense.
Ireland travel to Parma to face Italy next Sunday (3pm on Virgin Media One), knowing only a win will do as they bid for a first victory of the championship. Scott Bemand will be tempted to shake things up in selection, but it will be hard to find room to maneuver after today.
Predicted Ireland 23 for Italy:
15 Stacey Flood; 14 Anna McGann, 13 Aoife Dalton, 12 Eve Higgins, 11 Amee-Leigh Costigan; 10 Dannah O’Brien, 9 Aoibheann Reilly; 1 Niamh O’Dowd, 2 Neve Jones, 3 Linda Djougang; 4 Ruth Campbell, 5 Dorothy Wall; 6 Edel McMahon, 7 Erin King, 8 Aoife Wafer.
16 Cliodhna Moloney, 17 Siobhan McCarthy, 18 Christy Haney, 19 Grace Moore, 20 Fiona Tuite, 21 Brittany Hogan, 22 Emily Lane, 23 Enya Breen
