Preview: Women's Six Nations Round One – Ireland Vs France
01 Feb 2018
France v Ireland
Saturday, kick-off 8pm (GMT)
Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse
France kick off their Six Nations campaign at home to Ireland on Saturday and will be hoping to carry a fairly solid season last year into the 2018 Championship.
Finishing third in 2017 Six Nations and losing out to England in the World Cup semi-finals, new captain Gaëlle Hermet is eager to make that step up to the next level and push for the title. Hermet said: "It was a boost to do well at the World Cup because it gave us confidence. "But it was also a frustration as we really wanted to win it - we really want to win the Six Nations this year."
Les Bleues trounced Spain 97-0 before beating Women's Six Nations rivals Italy 41-21 in the autumn internationals which will also give them a boost. Ireland finished close runners-up at last year's Championship but come off the back of a poor summer where they finished eighth in their own World Cup.
Nine uncapped players and a new part-time coach Adam Griggs, gives the squad a fresh look at the commencement of the new Six Nations. Griggs has included one new cap in the starting XV with Megan Williams set for her debut following a strong performance in the 27-19 warm-up victory against Wales. Griggs said: "The opening game of this tournament is always going to be a challenge and France in front of their home crowd is immense. "The squad have had good preparation over the last two weeks and are excited and focused on the challenge at hand to start our campaign off with a positive performance."
