France survive red to beat Ireland in Six Nations opener
France began the Women's Six Nations with a 27-15 win over Ireland in Belfast despite a 20-minute red for Gabrielle Vernier.The centre had opened the scoring with the game's first try but had her 45th minute yellow for a high tackle upgraded by the TMO bunker.Scott Bemand's side drew within two points in the closing stages but, in a game where both teams scored three tries, France grabbed the contest's final 10 points thanks to Emilie Boulard's late score and five points off the tee from Morgane Bourgeois.The French full-back kicked 12 points in total with those efforts proving to be the difference in a game where number eight Aoife Wafer crossed twice for Ireland.
Across an otherwise even opening half, the French power proved decisive as the visitors made more of their trips to opposition territory.Their work in contact was especially strong and it was a typically big carry from Madoussou Fall that opened up the gap for Vernier to charge through and mark her 50th cap with a try.Ireland responded well, with one break from Aoife Dalton bringing the home crowd to their feet, but there was a second French score seven minutes later.This time it was an offload from flanker Charlotte Escudero that engineered the space for Marine Menager to take Bourgeois' pass in stride and go over in the corner.A clever line-out to Erin King at the front quickly transferred to a charging Aoife Wafer got Ireland on the board and they will have been heartened by a pair of defensive stands on their own tryline even if Bourgeois added a penalty. While the hosts looked to close the gap before the turn, their attack lost some shape and the half ended with a knock-on from hooker Neve Jones.
Five minutes into the second half, Vernier was sent to the sidelines for a high tackle on Eve Higgins with the yellow card shown on the field then upgraded to a 20-minute red.Ireland took immediate advantage of their numerical advantage when, from the subsequent kick to the corner, an impressive rolling concluded with Jones over the whitewash.Dannah O'Brien missed the testing conversion from the touchline and Ireland could not bridge the gap any further before France were restored to 15.But, just as Axelle Berthoumieu came on to replace the dismissed Vernier, Ireland got over for their second maul try, and third off a line-out, with Wafer again credited with the score.O'Brien again could not add the extras and France remained in a two-point lead entering the final quarter of an hour.The reliable boot of Bourgeois stretched that lead to five with another penalty with eight minutes remaining. Bourgeois was centrally involved in the try that made the victory safe for France, her mazy run across the field preceding replacement Emilie Boulard adding their third try from close range.
Ireland: Flood; McGann, Dalton, Higgins, Costigan (capt); O'Brien, Lane; O'Dowd, Jones, Djougang, Campbell, Wall, Hogan, King, Wafer.Replacements: Moloney, McCarthy, Haney, Moore, Tuite, McMahon, Reilly, Breen.France: Bourgeois, Llorens Vigneres, Konde, Vernier, Menager (co-capt), Arbez, Bourdon-Sansus, Brosseau, Sochat, Bernadou, M. Feleu (co-capt), Fall-Raclot, Escudero, Okemba, T. Feleu.Replacements: Bigot, Mwayembe, Joyeux, Berthoumieu, Champon, Chambon, Queyroi, Boulard.Red card: VernierReferee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
21 minutes ago
- The Independent
Tennis superstar becomes co-owner of football club
Tennis icon Novak Djokovic has acquired a part-ownership stake in French Ligue 2 club Le Mans FC. He joins a group of high-profile investors, including former Formula 1 drivers Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen. The significant investment is led by the Brazilian consortium OutField, co-founded by Pedro Olivera, and also features Georgios Frangulis of OakBerry. Le Mans FC highlighted that Djokovic's mental strength and the F1 stars' experience will bring considerable added value and create a unique link between football and motorsport. The newly promoted club is set to commence their Ligue 2 season on 9 August.
Scottish Sun
21 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Chelsea taking advantage of Strasbourg swap shop yet again with NINE moves in six months
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Chelsea and Strasbourg swap shop is very much open for business again. The revolving doors between Stamford Bridge and Strasbourg have sent EIGHT players and one coach spinning between the sister clubs in the last six months alone. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 11 Mike Penders has gone to gain experience at Strasbourg Credit: AFP 11 Kendry Paez has also joined the club on loan this summer Credit: Getty 11 Even coach Filipe Coelho has swapped Chelsea for the Ligue 1 outfit Credit: Getty Play Dream Team now! Play The Sun Dream Team ahead of the 2025/26 season Free to play Over £100,000 in total prize money Play in Mini Leagues against your mates Submit a team for Gameweek 1 to enter £5,000 prize draw Play via Dream Team's app or website today! Some Strasbourg fans are more angry than ever about the relationship, despite the Ligue 1 club enjoying an impressive 2024/5. But the bosses at BlueCo, the company which owns both teams, are using multi-club ownership to move people and money around effectively and, so far at least, with successful results. In recent days, Chelsea have confirmed FIVE deals to take personnel across the Channel to north-east France. Goalkeeper Mike Penders, 20, and attacking midfielder Kendry Paez, 18, went on loan to Strasbourg, with young left back Ishe Samuels-Smith joining the French club in a permanent £6.5m deal. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL LEIP OF FAITH Chelsea stumbling block in Simons chase as Leipzig not interested in stars Blues Under-21 head coach Filipe Coelho has also left Chelsea to become Liam Rosenior's assistant at the Ligue 1 club. And today Chelsea confirmed that 19-year-old defender Mamadou Sarr - just signed from Strasbourg - has been sent on loan there too. At the end of last season Djordje Petrovic and midfielder Andrey Santos returned to the Blues from loan spells at Strasbourg. Both were key members of the side that finished seventh in the French top flight and qualified for the Conference League. Left back Caleb Wiley had half a season at Strasbourg but returned in January after getting injured and then went on loan to Waford. SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN Petrovic did well enough to catch the attention of Bournemouth who, after taking Kepa on loan from Stamford Bridge last season, paid £25m to sign the Serb permanently. Santos' performances in France have convinced Chelsea that he can be part of Enzo Maresca's first-team squad for the coming season. To replace Santos at Strasbourg, France Under-20 midfielder Mathis Amougou has arrived from Chelsea on a permanent deal. Drake hints Cole Palmer is inspiration behind his new album name as he shares brilliant video of Chelsea star That is the same Mathis Amougou who joined the Blues from St Etienne for £12.5m on an eight-year contract only in February. Amougou made his Premier League debut against Southampton, but was sold to Strasbourg barely five months after arriving in London. Although Chelsea have a buy-back clause on Amougou, the swift flipping of the player and the sale of Samuels-Smith, who never played a first-team game for the Blues, have raised eyebrows. The fees that Strasbourg have paid will certainly help balance the Stamford Bridge books after another summer of heavy spending. Players can seem like pawns in a game which is as much about compliance with financial rules as on-field performance. 11 Mathis Amougou joined Chelsea in February Credit: Splash 11 Ishe Samuels-Smith moved to Strasbourg without a senior appearance at Chelsea Credit: Getty 11 Mamadou Sarr could be returning to Strasbourg on loan Credit: Getty 11 But it is Strasbourg's sale of Sarr and his potential return on loan that have really annoyed a section of the French club's fans. As well as losing one of their key players after just one season at the club, supporters feel the £12m fee paid by Chelsea was suspiciously low. When you look at the cost of the Amougou deals, you can see their point. Overall, the sense is that as soon as a player does well at Strasbourg, he will be moved to Chelsea to play in the first team or to be sold if he doesn't make the grade. Reports emerged last week that the Blues were close to agreeing personal terms with Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha, ahead of a proposed transfer to Stamford Bridge next summer. You wonder whether any other clubs will be allowed to challenge Chelsea in the bidding for Emegha, who was the Ligue 1 club's top scorer last season. The Blues and Aston Villa have already been warned by Uefa that transfers between the two clubs will be closely monitored for fair value, after the shenanigans of summer 2024. Uefa and the Premier League will take similar interest in deals between Chelsea and Strasbourg. The Blues and Aston Villa have already been warned by Uefa that transfers between the two clubs will be closely monitored for fair value, after the shenanigans of summer 2024. 11 Emanuel Emegha could be one of the next players to sign for the Blues Credit: AFP 11 Djordje Petrovic was loaned to Strasbourg and then sold to Bourenmouth Credit: Getty 11 Todd Boehly and Mark Walter arrived at the Ligue 1 club in 2023 Credit: Getty And Uefa and the Premier League will take similar interest in deals between Chelsea and Strasbourg. Alexandre Hummel, spokesperson for the Strasbourg Supporters' Club, said: 'With the Sarr move, we are not being allowed to sell in a free market to the highest-bidding team. 'WIth that situation, with Penders and Petrovic, even with the coach who is coming, this is the way that a feeder team is run in US sport. 'Everything is done for the benefit of Chelsea.' BlueCo - the consortium of US-based trio Clearlake Capital, Todd Boehly and Mark Walter, plus Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss - bought a controlling stake in Strasbourg in June 2023, a year after completing their takeover of Chelsea. The French club was always going to be the junior partner in the set-up, just as happens in other multi-club ownership structures like the City Football Group which controls Manchester City and a portfolio of other clubs. But Strasbourg have finished higher in the league in each season of BlueCo ownership and in 2025/6 will enjoy their first proper campaign of European football for 20 years. So it's tempting to ask: what's the problem? Everyone's a winner. And the majority of Strasbourg fans seem to feel that way, for now at least. The multi-club ownership system is not part of the tradition of European football. Alexandre Hummel Hummel, 43, and a Strasbourg fan for 35 years, said: 'I would say that 60 or 70% of people are either non-sensitive to the question or just happy to have good results on the pitch. 'But the organised supporters' groups do not agree with the fact that Strasbourg is being used basically as a reserve team or an U23 team for Chelsea. 'It means our club is no longer independent and no matter what the sporting results on the field are, we feel very bad about that because we value independence. 'The multi-club ownership system is not part of the tradition of European football. 'We have a rich history between the local regional identity and the football club. 'That doesn't fit with having your club being used as some kind of subsidiary to a big empire which is owned by private equity firms in the US. 'There's a lot of arrogance in that. If it was us Europeans telling them how to run the NBA or the NFL, they would laugh at us. 'The French league could become a feeder league and French football would die because of that.' Chelsea 2025/26 Home Kit: Available Now! *If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue. Step into the future with the brand-new Chelsea 2025/26 home kit, inspired by London's vibrant energy and culture. Available in a range of sizes for adults and children, ensuring fans of all ages can show their support in style. Standard Stadium Version: £84.99 Kids' Sizes: £64.99 Authentic Match Home Shirt: £124.99 Celebrate the Blues and wear your pride for the city – grab yours today! Strasbourg fans have held peaceful protests against BlueCo and the ultras refuse to sing for the first 15 minutes of every game. On top of all the comings and goings between Stamford Bridge and the Stade de la Meinau, Strasbourg have also sold homegrown star midfielder to Sunderland for £30m this summer. Some of those happy with the current situation could change their tune if results deteriorate after the core of last season's successful team has been moved on. But as Hummel admits, people from Strasbourg and the wider Alsace region are renowned for being calm and sensible. The BlueCo bosses would have a much harder time if they tried to pull the same trick in Marseille or Naples. And when the trick seems to be working so well, especially for Chelsea, they will keep on wheeling and dealing with Strasbourg. 11 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW
The Sun
22 minutes ago
- The Sun
Chelsea taking advantage of Strasbourg swap shop yet again with NINE moves in six months
THE Chelsea and Strasbourg swap shop is very much open for business again. The revolving doors between Stamford Bridge and Strasbourg have sent EIGHT players and one coach spinning between the sister clubs in the last six months alone. 11 11 Some Strasbourg fans are more angry than ever about the relationship, despite the Ligue 1 club enjoying an impressive 2024/5. But the bosses at BlueCo, the company which owns both teams, are using multi-club ownership to move people and money around effectively and, so far at least, with successful results. In recent days, Chelsea have confirmed FIVE deals to take personnel across the Channel to north-east France. Goalkeeper Mike Penders, 20, and attacking midfielder Kendry Paez, 18, went on loan to Strasbourg, with young left back Ishe Samuels-Smith joining the French club in a permanent £6.5m deal. Blues Under-21 head coach Filipe Coelho has also left Chelsea to become Liam Rosenior's assistant at the Ligue 1 club. And today Chelsea confirmed that 19-year-old defender Mamadou Sarr - just signed from Strasbourg - has been sent on loan there too. At the end of last season Djordje Petrovic and midfielder Andrey Santos returned to the Blues from loan spells at Strasbourg. Both were key members of the side that finished seventh in the French top flight and qualified for the Conference League. Left back Caleb Wiley had half a season at Strasbourg but returned in January after getting injured and then went on loan to Waford. Petrovic did well enough to catch the attention of Bournemouth who, after taking Kepa on loan from Stamford Bridge last season, paid £25m to sign the Serb permanently. Santos' performances in France have convinced Chelsea that he can be part of Enzo Maresca's first-team squad for the coming season. To replace Santos at Strasbourg, France Under-20 midfielder Mathis Amougou has arrived from Chelsea on a permanent deal. Drake hints Cole Palmer is inspiration behind his new album name as he shares brilliant video of Chelsea star That is the same Mathis Amougou who joined the Blues from St Etienne for £12.5m on an eight-year contract only in February. Amougou made his Premier League debut against Southampton, but was sold to Strasbourg barely five months after arriving in London. Although Chelsea have a buy-back clause on Amougou, the swift flipping of the player and the sale of Samuels-Smith, who never played a first-team game for the Blues, have raised eyebrows. The fees that Strasbourg have paid will certainly help balance the Stamford Bridge books after another summer of heavy spending. Players can seem like pawns in a game which is as much about compliance with financial rules as on-field performance. 11 11 11 11 But it is Strasbourg's sale of Sarr and his potential return on loan that have really annoyed a section of the French club's fans. As well as losing one of their key players after just one season at the club, supporters feel the £12m fee paid by Chelsea was suspiciously low. When you look at the cost of the Amougou deals, you can see their point. Overall, the sense is that as soon as a player does well at Strasbourg, he will be moved to Chelsea to play in the first team or to be sold if he doesn't make the grade. Reports emerged last week that the Blues were close to agreeing personal terms with Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha, ahead of a proposed transfer to Stamford Bridge next summer. You wonder whether any other clubs will be allowed to challenge Chelsea in the bidding for Emegha, who was the Ligue 1 club's top scorer last season. The Blues and Aston Villa have already been warned by Uefa that transfers between the two clubs will be closely monitored for fair value, after the shenanigans of summer 2024. Uefa and the Premier League will take similar interest in deals between Chelsea and Strasbourg. The Blues and Aston Villa have already been warned by Uefa that transfers between the two clubs will be closely monitored for fair value, after the shenanigans of summer 2024. 11 11 And Uefa and the Premier League will take similar interest in deals between Chelsea and Strasbourg. Alexandre Hummel, spokesperson for the Strasbourg Supporters' Club, said: 'With the Sarr move, we are not being allowed to sell in a free market to the highest-bidding team. 'WIth that situation, with Penders and Petrovic, even with the coach who is coming, this is the way that a feeder team is run in US sport. 'Everything is done for the benefit of Chelsea.' BlueCo - the consortium of US-based trio Clearlake Capital, Todd Boehly and Mark Walter, plus Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss - bought a controlling stake in Strasbourg in June 2023, a year after completing their takeover of Chelsea. The French club was always going to be the junior partner in the set-up, just as happens in other multi-club ownership structures like the City Football Group which controls Manchester City and a portfolio of other clubs. But Strasbourg have finished higher in the league in each season of BlueCo ownership and in 2025/6 will enjoy their first proper campaign of European football for 20 years. So it's tempting to ask: what's the problem? Everyone's a winner. And the majority of Strasbourg fans seem to feel that way, for now at least. The multi-club ownership system is not part of the tradition of European football. Alexandre HummelStrasbourg Supporters' Club Hummel, 43, and a Strasbourg fan for 35 years, said: 'I would say that 60 or 70% of people are either non-sensitive to the question or just happy to have good results on the pitch. 'But the organised supporters' groups do not agree with the fact that Strasbourg is being used basically as a reserve team or an U23 team for Chelsea. 'It means our club is no longer independent and no matter what the sporting results on the field are, we feel very bad about that because we value independence. 'The multi-club ownership system is not part of the tradition of European football. 'We have a rich history between the local regional identity and the football club. 'That doesn't fit with having your club being used as some kind of subsidiary to a big empire which is owned by private equity firms in the US. 'There's a lot of arrogance in that. If it was us Europeans telling them how to run the NBA or the NFL, they would laugh at us. 'The French league could become a feeder league and French football would die because of that.' Strasbourg fans have held peaceful protests against BlueCo and the ultras refuse to sing for the first 15 minutes of every game. On top of all the comings and goings between Stamford Bridge and the Stade de la Meinau, Strasbourg have also sold homegrown star midfielder to Sunderland for £30m this summer. Some of those happy with the current situation could change their tune if results deteriorate after the core of last season's successful team has been moved on. But as Hummel admits, people from Strasbourg and the wider Alsace region are renowned for being calm and sensible. The BlueCo bosses would have a much harder time if they tried to pull the same trick in Marseille or Naples. And when the trick seems to be working so well, especially for Chelsea, they will keep on wheeling and dealing with Strasbourg.
