compete in conquest, keep the offensive momentum, rely on the public… The keys to the France-England match

The Blues approach the “final” of the Six Nations Tournament as outsiders, Saturday against the English, but will be able to count in particular on the support of French supporters to overthrow the favorites.

How many points does a “soul supplement” ? This is how David Ortiz, co-selector of the French XV, defined the contribution of the 27,000 supporters expected at the Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux (new record for a women’s rugby match in France), Saturday April 27 against England (at 5:45 p.m. live on France 2 and france.tv). They will be valuable support in overthrowing the five-time reigning winners of the Six Nations Tournament, with four victories in as many matches like the Blues, who dominated them in a packed Twickenham Stadium last year (38-33). But the players of the France team have many other qualities to showcase.

Stand up to conquest

Some Tricolores will play more at home than others. Starting with the first unbreakable and one hundred percent Bordeaux line, Deshaye-Sochat-Khalfaoui, which showed all its punching qualities against Italy (38-15). The French forwards can compete in physical confrontation, like an invincible scrum in Wales (9 scrums contested and won), but they are still looking for other areas of conquest. Against the Welsh as against the Scottish, the Blue lost four rounds in touch. A sector defined as “priority” by the staff before facing the English, who can count on one of the best jumpers in touch, Zoe Aldcroft, who is also poison in the rucks.

“We didn’t always make the right decisions, it took us a while to adjust, we had a lot of slightly lobbed throws, these are mistakes that accumulate”, explained prop Assia Khalfaoui about the sideline, in the mixed zone after the match against Scotland. We will also have to find the recipe to thwart the destructive mauls of the Red Roses, the main weapon of a team which has not lost against a nation in the northern hemisphere since 2018, the date of the Bleues’ last coronation in the Tournament and their last victory over the English (18-17).

Combining creativity and efficiency

Against Italy (38-15), the Tricolores shone with their passing game but failed in making it happen, before showing themselves ruthless on every action in Wales (40-0) without having as much control of the ball. It will take the best of two matches on Saturday against England. Since the start of the Tournament, the hinge made up of Pauline Bourdon-Sansus and Lina Queyroi has distributed the game wonderfully. The first, experienced, dictates the tempo while the second, who is experiencing her first Tournament as a starter, has advantageously replaced the retired Jessy Trémoulière thanks to her qualities of animation of the game and acceleration, coupled with a reliable footwork.

“The goal will be to impose your rugby, to respect the game planannounced winger Joanna Grisez at a press conference. From the moment we get there, we can be dangerous anywhere. We have this ability to play standing up, both forwards and three-quarters. We have a lot of options with this game.”

Containing the English fury

The Rose is back in fashion. Under the aegis of John Mitchell and Lou Meadows, new selector and new attack coach, the Red Roses have diversified their game, varying their carried balls and their characteristic forward play with passing sequences openly influenced by the selection Irish male by Andy Farrell. “If we continue to carry the ball with the forwards, we become predictable and easy to defendexplained Lou Meadows to Telegraph on April 11. When we clear the outside lanes or pass to one of the forwards at height or after contact, this offensive continuity is really difficult to defend.”

The English have already scored 38 tries in the competition, twice as many as the French, and have won their four matches with an average difference of 52 points. Renowned for their defensive rigor, the players of Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz have the physical qualities and temperament to stand up to the English attack. In particular, it will be necessary to contain full-back Ellie Kildunne, who is flying through the Tournament with nine tries scored and 630 meters gained, more than double the second in this ranking (Abby Dow, another Englishwoman).

Stay disciplined and finish strong

This is almost the only black point of the first four matches, both on the French and English sides: discipline. The Blues collected three yellow cards last week, and the Red Roses already have two red cards and four yellows in the Tournament. The French are overall penalized less often than their opponents today, and will have to push them to make mistakes to obtain valuable penalties, in a match which could be decided on these kinds of details.

Among the details that matter, the contribution of the substitutes could change the match. Three members of the French rugby sevens team came to lend a hand to the XV for the end of the Six Nations Tournament. All starters against Wales last week, they especially excelled offensively, like Joanna Grisez’s double. The winger is also the only one to be returned to the starting XV. “We wanted to maintain continuity, but also to maintain a balance for the entire meeting at come, explained co-coach David Ortiz. Anne-Cécile Ciofani and Chloé Jacquet will have their role as finishers.” To bring their “fighting spirit”as described by Gaëlle Mignot, in the last minutes of the final.