Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
QUARANTINE MAY AFFECT BLEUS TIE
Wales 0 Ireland 45
CHRIS BEECH IRELAND’S Six Nations clash against France this weekend is in doubt after a change in Covid rules.
The IRFU is seeking clarification from the Irish government about Saturday’s game in Dublin, with France about to be added to the mandatory hotel quarantine list.
The rule comes into effect for French visitors on Thursday, throwing preparations for the Donnybrook game into doubt.
“The IRFU have been in contact with the Department of Sport seeking clarification,” a spokesman told BBC Sport NI.
A Six Nations spokesperson said they were exploring “all possible options to play the match”.
One of these could be moving the game to the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.
The Irish women opened their campaign in this season’s condensed Six Nations with a thumping win over Wales on Saturday.
And if the clash with Les Bleus does go ahead, the winners will contest a decider against England on April 24.
Full-back Eimear Considine and wing Beibhinn Parsons scored two tries each to help secure a bonus point inside the opening 20 minutes, with Sene Naoupu running in a fifth before the interval.
Wales, outclassed 53-0 away to France in their opening Pool B fixture, at least managed to stem the flow during the second half.
It was not until the 72nd minute that Dorothy Wall added a sixth try for Ireland, with Hannah Tyrrell scoring late on to wrap up a comprehensive victory.
Ireland captain Ciara Griffin was bursting with pride at full-time.
“It was a good team performance there. We came out wanting to win and score tries, so it is a positive for us,” she said.
“You want to play Test rugby and play in the Ireland jersey, so we relish it every chance we get.
“Beibhinn is brilliant. She is an old head on young shoulders and she works hard, you can see that. We now go into the France game with confidence.”