Scotland vs France LIVE: Women’s Six Nations rugby result and reaction as Les Bleues win

Italy’s head coach has been brutally honest about his team’s performance so far with their last outing seeing a 74-0 drubbing by England.

They were aiming to match or beat their best ever finish of second in the tournament this year but that is likely to be out of reach now. So they join the fight for third and a win over Ireland would kick that off perfectly.

Andrea Di Giandomenico said ahead of the 5pm kick-off: “We urgently need to return to offering an adequate performance at the required level.

“Ireland are also looking for their first success in the tournament. It will certainly be a close match. We will have to work effectively in defence.”

Ireland have had a difficult tournament, especially as they hve had a review into their women’s programme recently after failing to secure World Cup qualification. The poor performances have spilled into the Women’s Six Nations and new head coach Greg McWilliams is keen to get the team back on track.

If they can bag wins in the last three matches of the competition they could bag third spot, no team is likely to secure second or first apart from France and England.

The boss said: “We have challenged the players to take their opportunities and we’re trying to increase competition across the board, which is a really healthy thing to have within your squad.

“The players coming into the team this week have worked hard and earned their chance, so we’re looking forward to seeing how they react and perform.”

For hosts Ireland, they have made four changes as well as a positional switch as Lucy Mulhall goes from winger to full-back.

Beibhinn Parsons gets her first start of the 2022 tournament on the wing with Kathryn Dane also coming in at scrum-half. In the forwards, prop Christy Haney and No 8 Hannah O’Connor start with back-rower Aoife Wafer potentially winning her first cap from the bench.

Ireland: Lucy Mulhall; Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Eve Higgins, Stacey Flood, Beibhinn Parsons; Nicole Cronin, Kathryn Dane; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Christy Haney, Nichola Fryday (captain), Sam Monaghan, Dorothy Wall, Edel McMahon, Hannah O’Connor.

Replacements: Emma Hooban, Chloe Pearse, Katie O’Dwyer, Brittany Hogan, Aoife Wafer, Aoibheann Reilly, Enya Breen, Aoife Doyle.

And Italy make three changes with Manuela Furlan, Sara Barratin and Beatrice Veronese coming into the side.

Italy: Manuela Furla (captain); Aura Muzzo, Michela Sillari, Beatrice Rigoni, Maria Magatti; Veronica Madia, Sara Barattin; Gaia Maris, Melissa Bettoni, Lucia Gai, Sara Tounesi, Giordana Duca, Beatrice Veronese, Isabella Locatelli, Elisa Giordano.

Replacements: Vittoria Vecchini, Michela Merlo, Sara Seye, Valeria Fedrighi, Alessandra Frangipani, Sofia Stefan, Alyssa D’Inca, Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi.

I have just about got my breath back after that thrilling contest between Scotland and France. The French managed to hold onto their bonus-point win despite a strong Scotland second 40, meaning France and England are once again on equal points.

Our attention turns now to Ireland vs Italy. Both teams are searching for their first wins in the tournament and so someone’s losing run will come to an end. But who’s?

History dictates Ireland should beat Italy but in this competition you never know! Kick-off is coming up in an hour’s time and the team news has been revealed...

That was one of the most competitive matches of the Women’s Six Nations, Scotland love a match against France don’t they!

The second half was amazing with Scotland demonstrating what they can do. But it should worry the likes of England just how ferorcious France’s defence is. They just kept working and didn’t seem to tire over the 80 minutes, no matter how hard Scotland fought.

That kept them in the match and their brilliance in the first half means they are once again tied on points with the Red Roses. England are ahead int he table on points difference but all is still to play for.

Thank you for joining me for this thriller and come back for Ireland vs Italy with the build-up starting in just an hour’s time.

Scotland head coach Bryan Easson spoke of his frustration to the BBC: “We didn’t fire a shot in the first half. It was quite disappointing.

“We talked at half-tme aboutnilling them which was nice. But we can’t keep syaing that.

“We had some attacking sets but we didn’t fire a shot. You have to take it and when you’re losing ball early in the phase count you won’t.

“Chloe [Rollie] did well. I think that was a team score. If you get the phase count up they will get narrower.”

Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm told the BBC: “To an extent we will dwell on it. It’s not good enough to keep losing.

“I said at half-time no matter what happens let’s win this second half. Credit to France, some brilliant moments from them especially from Sansus saw them win.”

The match was definitely a tale of two halves with the French point conversion in the first 40 the difference.

Two Sansus scores and tries from Tremouliere and Hermet wracked up 28 points but Scotland managed to not let France score at all in the second 40.

It was a heroic effort and if it was seen throughout the match would have seen Scotland win this.

But it is France who continue their perfect start with a bonus-point victory, however, Scotland can be proud of that outing.

France get the ball after Scotland spill and they manage to get just inches away but the hosts concede a penalty.

They go quickly and it looks like a run in but Boulard is held up! This is so exciting, I can’t get enough.

The Player of the Match has been named as Tremouliere. She had great game management and scored a try.