Paris 2024: Ireland women to face Great Britain after French loss

France 19-7 Ireland

Ireland will take on Great Britain in the 7th/8th place play-off after a 19-7 defeat to hosts France in the women's rugby sevens competition.

After a chastening 40-7 quarter-final reversal at the hands of Australia last night, it seemed a tall order for Allan Temple-Jones’ side to quickly regroup and take on a host side smarting from their own last-eight exit at the hands of Canada.

However it was Ireland that held a 7-0 interval lead in the 5-8 placing match. Eve Higgins picked off the only score of the half, gathering a loose ball in midfield before racing to the line.

While at that point there were genuine hopes of victory and a crack at China, the hosts came out all guns blazing in the second half at the Stade de France, Carla Neisen, Caroline Drouin and Seraphine Okemba all crossing the try line with Ireland under serious pressure throughout.

The result means Ireland will be back out at 5.30pm against Great Britain, with the winner taking seventh place overall in the competition, the loser eighth.

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Ireland's try scorer Higgins said: "It's always tough when you're in the space of winning it with a minute to go.

"We tried to do everything to get that ball back in the last minute and sometimes it just doesn't go your way.

"I think it showed just the fight we had that we didn't give up. It's definitely not the way we wanted the game to go at all.

"I think it's the hottest day since we've arrived but obviously like we're used to that in the sevens.