France Overcomes Ireland as Winger Fanny Horta Proves to be too Much

from Six Nations Website:

France winger Fanny Horta proved too hot to handle for Ireland women as Kevin West’s side failed to make it back-to-back RBS 6 Nations wins with a 19-9 defeat in Blois.

The Irish cruised to a comfortable 39-0 victory over Italy last weekend but they failed to back it up against a Horta-inspired France in snowy conditions in the Stade des Allees.

A Stephanie Loyer try and two conversions from Aurélie Bailon completed the scoring for the French while Ireland’s points came from three Niamh Briggs penalties.

The home side had the best of the early exchanges and Ireland needed some strong tackling from scrum half Tania Rosser and centre Shannon Houston to keep the French at bay.

But it was the French who got their noses ahead when Horta left Briggs for dead to score left of the posts and Bailon converted.

And Horta was at again shortly after when she picked up a Sandrine Agricole kick ahead to score in the corner but Bailon missed the conversion.

Briggs reduced the arrears with a penalty four minutes before half-time and another well-struck penalty on the interval made it 12-6.

But the French soon stamped their authority on the game again after the break, Bailon missing a penalty before powerful prop Stéphanie Loyer crashed over from close range.

Bailon added that conversion and despite Briggs kicking her third penalty in the 62nd minute the wait goes on for Ireland’s first win on the continent.

FRANCE WOMEN: Elodie Poublan; Caroline Ladagnous, Sandrine Agricole, Lucille Godiveau, Fanny Horta; Aurélie Bailon, Stéphanie Provost; Stéphanie Loyer, Cyndia Mansard, Céline Barthelemy, Hasna Rhamouni, Cyrielle Bouisset, Amandine Vaupre, Marie-Charlotte Hebel, Sandra Rabier (capt).

Replacements: Laetitia Salles, Nadège Labbey, Manon Andre, Lucie Canal, Marie-Alice Yahe, Christelle Leduff, Anaïs Lagougine.

IRELAND WOMEN: Niamh Briggs; Amy Davis, Grace Davitt, Shannon Houston, Alison Miller; Joanne O’Sullivan, Tania Rosser; Fiona Coghlan (capt), Gillian Bourke, Emer McManamly, Caroline Mahon, Marie Louise Reilly, Orla Brennan, Sinead Ryan, Joy Neville.

Replacements: Kate O’Loughlin for Mahon, Lauren Day for McManamly, Claire Molloy for Ryan (all 67 mins), Chris Fanning for Bourke (70), Helen Brosnan for Davitt (71). Not used: Louise Beamish, Nora Stapleton.

For a full schedule of all the 2010 Six Nations action, go here. For travel packages to England for the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup, go here.