The Albany Gazette - France resist Ireland rally to win Women's Six Nations opener as Scotland edge Wales

Both teams scored three tries apiece but while France's Morgane Bourgeois was perfect from the kicking tee, with three conversions and two penalties, Ireland missed all of their conversions.

Last season France were runners-up to England -- who begin their quest to win an unprecedented eighth successive title and fourth consecutive Grand Slam at home to Italy on Sunday, with the Red Roses bidding for more Six Nations glory ahead of this year's Women's Rugby World Cup on home soil.

But Ireland, third in 2024, came into this tournament with high hopes following a stunning victory over world champions New Zealand in September.

Yet it was France who led 17-5 at half-time after tries from Gabrielle Vernier and Marine Menager.

But a 45th-minute red card for Vernier gave Ireland a way back into the game at Ravenhill.

Ireland made their advantage count as Neve Jones and Aoife Wafer -- with her second try of the match -- reduced the deficit to 17-15.

But that was as close as Ireland got, with Emilie Boulard's late try for France putting the game beyond the reach of the hosts.

"We're disappointed and we feel we let a result get away from us," Ireland coach Scott Bemand told the BBC.

He added: "France are a very good team and we gave them too many soft entries early in the game."

- Scotland see off Wales -

Saturday's other match saw Scotland hold on to beat Wales 24-21 in Edinburgh.

Carys Phillips's try gave Wales an early lead against a Scotland team they will meet again in the pool phase of the World Cup.

Scotland hit back but turned round just 10-7 in front following Sarah Bonar's converted try and a penalty from experienced fly-half Helen Nelson, with the television match official denying the hosts a couple of scores.

But at an increasingly rainswept Hive Stadium, Emma Orr and Leah Bartlett added further tries as Wales missed several tackles.

Abbie Fleming, however, kept Wales in touch before Gwenllian Pyrs set up a tense finish by scoring the sixth try of the game.

Both No 8s were dismissed, with Wales' Georgia Evans collecting two yellow cards, while Evie Gallagher's offence was upgraded to a red following a bunker review.

"We knew they (Wales) would bring a huge amount of energy which they did," said Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm. "We said at half-time we needed to up it and our game management at the end there was crucial."

This result meant Sean Lynn, the former coach of English Premiership Women's Rugby champions Gloucester-Hartpury, lost his first game as Wales boss.

"The proudest part for me there was we still had that belief, we were still in the game when they (Scotland) went 12 points up and Georgia went into the bin," said Lynn. "I've only been with the group for one week, there's some real real big steps forward we can take with them."

(W.Williams--TAG)