The composition of the women’s XV of France for its opening match of the World Cup against South Africa, Saturday October 8 in Auckland (New Zealand), was unveiled on Wednesday October 5. “We want to have a very competitive team to tackle this first match”explained Thomas Darracq, the coach, during the announcement press conference.
The second line Céline Ferer was thus appointed captain, in the absence of Gaëlle Hermet, spared. Céline Ferer (54 selections), associated in the second row with Madoussou Fall (18 selections), has “an important place in the group, an aura”, underlined coach-selection Thomas Darracq on Wednesday by announcing his composition by videoconference from Auckland.
for South Africa
Our starting XV for the World Cup opener #RWC2021 in New Zealand
Go Blues! #XVdeFrance #Don’tDoXV pic.twitter.com/l7te5kct9g
– France Rugby (@FranceRugby) October 5, 2022
Hermet (45 selections), usual captain of the Bleues, although again “operational” after being injured in a knee, does not appear in the group, as well as another third line, Julie Annery (26 caps), hampered by a “little muscle alert” these days. The hooker Agathe Sochat (37 selections), traditional understudy in the captaincy of Hermet, was placed on the bench for this first match.
The septist, Joanna Grisez, who was the surprise of the list of 32 summoned by Thomas Darracq after her bronze medal obtained at the beginning of September at the Sevens Rugby World Cup in Cape Town, will be established on the wing for her first selection with the XV of France. “She settled in very well, quickly”underlined the coach about the winger.
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The first line is made up of pillars Annaëlle Deshaye (35 sels) and Clara Joyeux (32 sels) and hooker Laure Touyé (22 sels). In the third row are Charlotte Escudéro (1 cap) and the experienced Romane Ménager (50 caps) and Marjorie Mayans (48 caps), whose last match with Les Bleues dates back more than a year.
The hinge is made up of scrum half Laure Sansus (30 caps), best player of the last Six Nations Tournament, and Caroline Drouin (25 caps), at the opening.
Finally, centers Maëlle Filopon (16 caps) and Gabrielle Vernier (27 caps) will be framed on the wing by Grisez and Emilie Boulard (13 caps), while the place at the back has been entrusted to Chloé Jacquet ( 10 sel.).