Ireland’s Women’s Rugby World Cup ended in heartbreak as they let a 13-0 half-time lead slip in a tense quarter-final defeat to France at Sandy Park. With wind and rain on their side in the first half, Ireland were excellent. They even held France scoreless for 35 phases just before the break, despite another French yellow for captain Manae Feleu. The French pushed further ahead with another Bourgeois penalty in the 76th minute, making it 18-13. For Ireland, it was a crushing finish after a strong first half, their dream of a first-ever World Cup semi-final slipping away in the final minutes.