Tierney "heartbroken" but proud of Ireland team

Ireland head coach Tom Tierney has admitted that his side's exit from the Women's Rugby World Cup has left him "heartbroken".

The hosts needed to beat France to qualify for the semi-finals but they were blown away by Les Bleus, trailing 21-0 at half-time.

Although they enjoyed plenty of possession and territory in the second period, Ireland couldn't get on the scoreboard until Cliodhna Moloney crossed the whitewash at the death.

Ireland now play Australia - who they narrowly beat in the group stages - for the fifth to eighth place play-offs and Tierney is left devastated but proud by their defeat.

"We're heartbroken," he said. "The girls gave it everything. It wasn't meant to be for whatever reason.

"We've got another tournament to get ready for up in Belfast. It's a tournament we didn't want to be in but that's the way things are.

"We have to accept that now; we have to move on. We have to take it on the chin and then we have to look forward. It's not going to be easy the next couple of days.

"We've got an opportunity again to play for Ireland in Belfast in a unique occasion. We'll go again.

"We've got another game now against the Australians and we'll try and improve, look at the areas we have to improve on and go again.

"That's the beauty of a tournament like this, the three-day turnarounds.

"We knew they [France] were going to come at us in the first 20 minutes. We tried our best. Unfortunately in that first half we just didn't have the ball and France were very, very clinical.

"They showed what a good team they are. The way that first 20 minutes went defined the game.

"It's very frustrating. We don't plan these things. We don't plan to go out and make mistakes or make knock-ons or have poor discipline at the breakdown. Unfortunately sometimes that's the way it goes.

"By and large I'm very proud of the girls. I couldn't be more proud of them.

"They've sacrificed absolutely everything since I've been in the job to play for Ireland and it's hugely disappointing for us all. That's sport, that's life. Sometimes you don't get what you think you deserve."

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