Despite their defeat at Twickenham (33-38) on Saturday, the French women had a promising second period.
We couldn’t imagine them failing so close to the goal. Starting with a clean sheet after the last World Cup in New Zealand, Les Bleues completed an almost perfect Six Nations Tournament, concluded with a frustrating defeat in England (33-38) on Saturday 29 April. Such an outcome was difficult to predict, given the many changes made since. This Tournament was the first of the new tandem Gaëlle Mignot-David Ortiz and a string of young novices, including Carla Arbez and Morgane Bourgeois.
After a first outing which did not dispel the vagueness in Italy (22-12), the French played against the Irish (53-3), Scottish (55-0) and Welsh (39-14), without real lessons can be learned from these walks, given the difference in level. The final bouquet of this Tournament, in a Twickenham gala (58,450 spectators, record for a women’s rugby match) was thus the judge of the peace of the progress of these Bleues. Paralyzed by the challenge and overwhelmed in all sectors in the first period (0-33 at the break), they fought back afterwards, until they believed in an unlikely turnaround.
Eyes on the World Cup
“We were frustrated in the first half, we were keen to show our true colors, we did it and we didn’t get far”, relieved the second line and captain Audrey Forlani. The 33 points scored on the first 40 are, in this sense, a promise for the future. Despite the setback, the Blues have made the English much more doubtful – victorious of the Grand Slam for the 5th time in a row – than last year (12-24). The French had failed physically, even though they were able to finish the game with a bang on Saturday (three tries in the last quarter of an hour).
We missed him five, ten minutes […]; but it’s been a long time since we’ve had so much fun
Gabrielle Vernier, center of the France team
The handover, which began during this Tournament, should continue. Opener Jessy Tremoulière (78 caps) bowed out at Twickenham, but the next generation embodied by Arbez showed a certain maturity. “Emulation” wanted by a staff who did not hesitate to rotate regularly despite the sequence of successes is proof of a dense breeding ground. “We have a group strength that is being created, we galvanize ourselves for the next deadlines”confirmed the third row Gaëlle Hermet on Saturday.
With 55 selections, she is one of the executives who ensure continuity in this new cycle. He should lead Les Bleues until the next World Cup, in 2025. This will take place in England, an opponent against whom the French have been constantly stumbling for five years. Getting rid of this series of twelve defeats against the Red Roses next year would be one more step to validate progress.