QF3: France v Ireland, Sunday, 1.00pm, BBC2

[Which Tyler]

Winner plays Eng/Sco

Ref: Aimee Barrett-Theron
TJs: Maggie Cogger-Orr, Natarsha Ganley
TMO: Ian Tempest

France:
1. Yllana Brosseau
2. Agathe Gerin
3. Rose Bernadou
4. Manae Feleu
5. Madoussou Fall-Raclot
6. Axelle Berthoumieu
7. Lea Champon
8. Charlotte Escudero

09. Pauline Bourdon-Sansus
10. Lina Queyroi
11. Kelly Arbey
12. Gaby Vernier
13. Marine Menager
14. Joanna Grisez
15. Morgane Bourgeois

16. Manon Bigot, 17. Annaelle Deshaye, 18. Assia Khalfaoui, 19. Hina Ikahehegi, 20. Seraphine Okemba, 21. Teani Feleu
22. Alexandra Chambon, 23. Emilie Boulard

Ireland:
1. Niamh O’Dowd
2. Neve Jones
3. Linda Djougang
4. Ruth Campbell
5. Sam Monaghan
6. Fiona Tuite
7. Aoife Wafer
8. Brittany Hogan

09. Aoibheann Reilly
10. Dannah O'Brien
11. Amee Leigh Costigan
12. Eve Higgins
13. Aoife Dalton
14. Beibhinn Parsons
15. Stacey Flood

16. Cliodhna Moloney Macdonald, 17. Ellena Perry, 18. Sadhbh McGrath, 19. Eimear Corri-Fallon, 20. Grace Moore
21. Emily Lane, 22. Enya Breen, 23. Anna McGann

[Which Tyler]

Sounds like the wind is very much one-way.
If that's so, then with the wind, dominance, and yellow card... Ireland would have been wanting significantly more than 10 points from 30 minutes

[Which Tyler]

Didn't know that law (can't go quick with a drop-out if there are players in front)

Hope wafer's okay

[Charlatan]

Hell of a defensive set from France there esp with 14 at the end of that first half. That will take something out of them for sure. Agree Which, think Ireland would want more than the 13 points at the turnaround off that much dominance tho.

[Which Tyler]

Sounds like the weather gods are favouring Ireland, and dropping the wind at HT

[Which Tyler]

I was about to comment on that scrum, and comparing it to France putting the nudge on South Africa, but I forgot they were still a woman down

[Charlatan]

Were Ire shaping for a drop goal then? (55mins)?

[Which Tyler]

Yes, this is by far the sternest opposition France have faced.

It's also cold, and wet, the wind was heavily against them for 40, and absent when it should be behind them, 2 yellow cards and a ref speaking only the opponent's language...

France are feeling the world is against them, and they really don't want to be there. Something France can always be susceptible to.

[Which Tyler]

Vernier (12) off for an HIA
Okemba (flanker) comes on...
Says quite a lot about the conditions

[Which Tyler]

Not sure that turnover was legal.

Also thought the final pass was given too early and she'd regret not committing Costingan - Shows what I know!

[Charlatan]

The France turnover for their last try? Agreed, I wasn’t 100% on that. France’s defensive effort has been the difference if they do win here, for me.

[Charlatan]

Wow. That was a proper nail biter. Ireland did so well there but just couldn’t quite get the win.

[paddy no 11]

One of the frenchies had a bit of chow on the Irish girls arm - definitely more nibble than bite...........will she be cited?

[loudnconfident]

One of the frenchies had a bit of chow on the Irish girls arm - definitely more nibble than bite...........will she be cited?

She was and suspended for 12 matches.

She 'fessed up too - which was decent IMO.

"Berthoumieu last night wrote on Instagram: “I lost my cool. I know it’s not acceptable.

“I wish to offer my sincere apologies to Aoife Wafer and the Ireland team, to my team-mates and our staff, to the FFR. Rugby is a sport of respect and this gesture has no place on a rugby field.”

[paddy no 11]

One of the frenchies had a bit of chow on the Irish girls arm - definitely more nibble than bite...........will she be cited?

She was and suspended for 12 matches.

She 'fessed up too - which was decent IMO.

"Berthoumieu last night wrote on Instagram: “I lost my cool. I know it’s not acceptable.

“I wish to offer my sincere apologies to Aoife Wafer and the Ireland team, to my team-mates and our staff, to the FFR. Rugby is a sport of respect and this gesture has no place on a rugby field.”

Yeah that's fair enough, 12 weeks maybe harsh

[Which Tyler]

At the time, I thought that Wafer was pushing her elbow/forearm into Berthoumieux's face - which was almost a "if you don't want your arm bitten (gently), don't put it in someone's mouth" - Post match, with a bit more time and different angles, that looks like there's a bit of that (but not badly), but not at the time of the bite.
For anyone who hasn't seen it, it's about 1/3 of the way down this article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... ye5eg844zo

Personally, I think 12 weeks is quite lenient for that - I would have to suspect it's 24 weeks, reduced by 50% for good behaviour - I do hate that reduction can be as much as 50%; I'd rather see something like 25% reduction for good behaviour, and 25% increase for bad behaviour.

[CunningPunter]

Can anyone explain this for me? I see the French second row Feleu, who was yellow-carded for a high tackle in their great defensive set at the end of the first half, was subsequently cited and has been given a two-match ban, despite protesting that the offence did not reach the red card threshold.

But it went to bunker review during the game and remained as a yellow. I thought that was the end of it. Does that mean that, despite the TMO team deciding it was a yellow, someone else can review it later and upgrade it to a red?

[Danno]

It's mad to me that she's managed to reduce the ban. She clearly and deliberately tries to get her teeth into Aoife's arm three times. It's assault and she's lucky she isn't having her collar felt. The beaks are spineless. There shouldn't be any mitigation for a blatantly obvious act of foul and dangerous play.

To be a tad hyperbolic, are they going to allow an appeal for gouging because the victim was wearing contact lenses next?