Four years that the Blue chained the Crunch without managing to escape the thorns of the Red Roses. The XV of France remains on nine consecutive losses against the English which it will however have to beat, Saturday April 30, if it wants to win a coronation in the Six Nations Tournament and a Grand Slam which has eluded it since 2018.
The deadline is all the more important as this expected shock opposes two contenders for the world title which will be held next October. “The French team must win titles. Saturday we have the opportunity to play one. With a view, in addition, to preparing as well as possible for a World Cup”confirmed the sports manager of the Bleues Thomas Darracq, at a press conference on Thursday.
For France as for England, the confrontation which will take place in the setting of Jean-Dauger in Bayonne, is undoubtedly a unique opportunity to come up against such adversity before the meeting in the fall. “We don’t yet know the program for the friendly matches, but it’s probably the last time they will be able to compete against a team that is aiming for the title”agrees the former international and consultant for France Télévisions, Marie Sempéré.
A victory against the English neighbor, the first nation in the world, a few months after bringing down the New Zealanders, the second nation in the world, would allow the Blues to validate the progress of recent months. Thomas Darracq also underlined that the Tournament, as a whole, was thought of as a “last big rehearsal before the World Cup.” “When you enter a competition, you want to win it”chained the manager of the Blue, Annick Hayraud.
“Winning against the English is something that inspires us. Beyond that, we know that we will find them at the World Cup. Winning also means making an impression, valuing the work and the commitment that girls make every day, sometimes in not easy conditions.”
Annick Hayraud, manager of Les Bleuesat the pre-match press conference on Thursday
The large rotation engaged in the matches by the two teams testifies to this desire to use this Tournament to refine the contours of the group which will fly to New Zealand. “We don’t invent much. We know that we have a competitive group where each girl, when she is on the field, is able to maintain the level of performanceadded Thomas Darracq. It is important in view of winning the World Cup. To go all the way, you have to play six games and have 30 competitive girls.”
And what better way to prepare for the intensity and pressure of a World Cup than a Crunch with a Grand Slam at stake? Not much. The scenario is all the better put together as Caroline Drouin’s teammates will be able to rely on the French public to end a series of nine consecutive defeats against the English, undefeated for 22 games.
If after years of losing out in matches where victory sometimes went to one and sometimes to the other, the balance of power ended up tipping in favor of the English, Marie Sempéré believes that anything is possible on Saturday: “With the turnover that there has been, it is difficult to detect what could happen. Especially since there is always a part of irrationality in the matches against England. You are necessarily more focused, more solid, more aggressive.”
“Beating the Blacks Ferns was probably the most difficult mental barrier to overcome. They are the best players in the world, there is also the haka to manage, you could quickly be overwhelmed. With the English, it’s different .Even if you haven’t beaten them in four years, you come close every time and you know you can win them.”
Marie Sempéré former international and consultant for France Télévisionsat franceinfo: sport
Les Bleues have every interest in drawing inspiration from this match in March 2018 where, in a boiling Stade des Alpes, the XV of France beat (18-17) England for the last time and offered themselves the Grand Slam in the stride. Nine players present that day are on Saturday’s score sheet. If their experience can count, Annick Hayraud also underlined the role “girls who didn’t experience those defeats against England.” “It’s a plus, they have gained in maturity, playing time. They will bring a lot of freshness and enthusiasm.”
Any element is good to take for Blue doomed to win if they want to win the Grail. Indeed, in the event of a tie, the Red Roses would win the trophy thanks to a clearly favorable point difference (+248 against +116). “It doesn’t matter which team wins, it will in any case be a strong signal sent to the others before the World Cup”, concludes Marie Sempéré. And the Blues intend to burn politeness to their opponents of the day.