The French had put Ireland under severe pressure up front in the early stages but it was Ireland who went ahead with 13 minutes gone.

Lynne Cantwell broke the line with Jeannette Feighery then coming off her shoulder before racing clear into the right hand corner.

Ireland wing Grace Davitt missed a straight forward penalty attempt on the half hour with France's Christelle Le Duff then landing an injury time penalty to leave it 5-3 at the interval.

A string of substitutions after the break saw the the French re-energise their efforts and on 66 minutes replacement second row Melanie Gauffinet scored off the maul.

Ireland responded with a great try from prop forward Fiona Coghlan, but Le Duff then evaded the challenge of Orla Brennan to make the left hand corner for the winning score.