There is a French team with and one without Laure Sansus. Whether she starts on the bench as against Italy or puts on the titular tunic as against Ireland, the scrum half of Stade Toulousain imposes her paw both on the game of the Blues and on the final result.
Before the third day of the Six Nations Tournament against Scotland, Sunday April 10, the XV of France, which aims for the final victory and a potential Grand Slam, presents a record of two consecutive victories, something it had not more done since 2018.
A flawless performance to which the 27-year-old international, whose influence continues to grow, is no stranger. If she did not fail to salute the work of her forwards after the victory against Ireland, underlining “that they had done everything” and that the “Things are simpler with such a dominating pack” the figures for this start of the Tournament place her among the most decisive players.
Thanks to her double against Ireland, the Toulousaine is the co-best try scorer for Les Bleues with the versatile back Emilie Boulard. Only Caroline Drouin, in charge of the goal, is ahead of them. She is also the one who breaks the most tackles and travels the most distance ball in hand (118.7 meters against 84.5 meters for Emilie Boulard, second in the exercise) of the tricolor group. “At the moment, she is an essential player so that the French team can install her speed game”exposes Marie Sempéré, former international at XV and consultant for France Télévisions.
When it is necessary to take the initiative ball in hand, to go to put the head in a ruck, to engage in defense, it is there. And his kicking game is precise and relevant.
Marie Sempéré, former international at XV and 7 and consultant for France Télévisionsat franceinfo: sports
For Marie Sempéré, Laure is above all one of those players who “smell the rugby” and who see the “things before others”. It must be said that the number 9 to the 25 selections is by his own admission “Born with a ball in her hands.” The pitchoune, who started rugby at the age of 4, supported her vision of the game very early on by scrutinizing the matches of her older brother.
If she made her first steps in the France team in February 2016 at the age of 22, she however took time to establish herself among the taulières of this team. “She started to explode with Toulouse when the team went from elite 2-1, and they started to settle into the landscape of women’s rugbyrecalls Marie Sempéré. At that time, Laure rather privileged her work, she was not yet focused on the France team. And we know that to evolve at this level requires sacrifices.
The difficulties in leading his professional and rugby careers at the same time are such that L’Occitane even retired from sport a year later, before putting on his cleats again in 2018 and winning one of the brand new federal contracts put in place by the Federation for support the development of the XV of France. “Since then, Laure has not stopped progressing, she pulls Toulouse and the French team upwards”supports Marie Sempéré.
This is all the more true during this Tournament where she is an indisputable starter in the scrum, in the absence of Pauline Bourdon (injured), with whom she usually shares the position in the France team and at the Toulouse Stadium. “I would not like to be in the shoes of the coaches to make the choices, they are very complementary. Bourdon has a more subtle side and finesse and this ability to cover the position of 10.” A profusion which welcomed the staff of Les Bleues, in the person of Annick Hayraud after the success in Toulouse against Italy. “It’s true that we are spoiled in this position. We are not at all surprised by Laure’s performance. She is not far from being the best 9 in the world”also greeted the manager of the Blue.
While waiting for the probable return of Pauline Bourdon by the end of the Tournament, it is indeed Laure Sansus who sheds light on the tricolor game, in a style that reminds many of a player who is also a resident of Stade Toulousain and scrum half: Antoine Dupont .
I compare her a bit to Antoine Dupont, she instinctively has this game of will-o’-the-wisp and she creates breaches in us. She’s a little less muscular, except maybe her calves (laughs), but she’s a pillar of the team capable of putting us forward.
Gaëlle Hermet, third line and captain of the XV of Franceat franceinfo: sports
“It’s not the first time I’ve been compared to him, people talk to me about it all the timesmiles Laure Sansus. He’s the best player in the world, so I take the compliment with pleasure. Afterwards, I don’t model myself on him, I don’t try to look like him, I’ve always been like that.
The trajectory, the revenge, the coming of age, call it what you want, of this player for a time stuck in a role of double for Yanna Rivoalen and Pauline Bourdon comes at the right time for the ambitious Bleues. To continue to dream of a Grand Slam, it will take that.