Facing the world’s leading nation in women’s rugby, the step was too high for the XV of France. In the running to win the grand slam on Saturday April 30 against England, the Bleues were unable to compete against a better team, which made its power speak to win the Six Nations Tournament for the fourth consecutive time.
However, the French were keen to imitate their elders, winners of the tournament in 2002 and present at the Jean-Dauger stadium in Bayonne. Annick Hayraud’s players started the game ideally, following a scrum, their big highlight since the start of the tournament, with a try from Romane Ménager between the posts in the third minute.
But, stung, the English returned to their match in diesel mode and gradually suffocated the Blues. With a large possession in their favor and a territorial advantage, the Red Roses managed to flatten three times in the French in-goal, making their power speak. On similar actions, Sarah Bern, twice, and Abbie Ward scored tries on balls carried after penalties conceded by the XV of France.
A XV of France too rough in conquest
Abused and powerless, Les Bleues tried to react by attacking the English camp again, but their numerous handling errors and loss of balls in touch cost them dearly. Too clumsy in conquest, they failed to worry the English in numerical inferiority for ten minutes after returning from the locker room, after the yellow card addressed to Zoe Harrison. We finally had to wait for the 66and minute to see them reduce the gap to the score, thanks to a try from Anaëlle Deshayes, when they were playing at fourteen due to another card addressed to Maëlle Filopon. To return to the score, the French used the English method, flattening following a carried ball. Too late to turn the tide of the game.
With only three points conceded after returning from the locker room, on a penalty from the inevitable Emily Scarratt (4/4), they will be able to regret their slump after Ménager’s try, and their inability to take advantage of the three penalties granted by the referee in the first period, five meters from the opposing line. “We expected better from us, we had the opportunities but we didn’t know how to make them happen, and that still offers us areas of work”admitted Agathe Sochat at the end of the part at the microphone of France Télévisions.
The women’s XV de la Rose thus offers itself its eighteenth Six Nations Tournament, the fourth in a row, and confirms its domination of world rugby. As in 2020 and 2021, the Bleues therefore finish second in the standings, just behind the English, but make an appointment for the World Cup in October 2022. “We have a few months left to erase our mistakes. Because in the game they are not above, but we make too many mistakes, we offer them “regretted Laure Sansus at the microphone of France 2. The French will find the Red Roses in the group stage of the World Cup, in New Zealand, with the firm intention of ending a series of ten defeats against the English selection.