“It’s a composition that adapts to the opponent”. Thomas Darracq, the coach of the France team, knows that his group faces a major challenge in the semi-finals of the World Cup. Facing the Blues, Saturday (7:30 a.m.), the New Zealanders, at home, who are defending their world crown and who are the most successful team (five times world champion in eight editions). When unveiling the composition of his collective, Wednesday, November 2, the tricolor technician therefore explained his choices to renew a group practically unchanged from the one who defeated Italy (39-3) in the quarter-finals.
Only the 3rd center line Romane Ménager finds his place, at the expense of Marjorie Mayans, relegated to the bench. This return to n°8 forced Charlotte Escudero to return to the 3rd wing line, in relation to the victory against the Transalpines. “Roman [Ménager] had been out despite strong performances, following the concussion she had suffered against England. We took a lot of precautions with her.justified Thomas Darracq at a press conference, also speaking of his desire to “densify” his pack to meet the challenge “80 minutes, like what we experienced against England. We will have to be very strong in front.” For the rest, no change in the starting XV.
The for the!
Our 23 Bleues who will play Saturday morning at Eden Park in Auckland against the @BlackFerns for a place in the World Cup final #RWC2021
To be continued on @TF1 #XVdeFrance #Don’tDoXV #NZLFRA pic.twitter.com/2QJgaK0R30
– France Rugby (@FranceRugby) November 2, 2022
On the bench, only Célia Domain is integrated into the rotation compared to the last match, at the expense of Laure Touyé, at the post of pillar. Emeline Gros leaves the group, to leave her place to Marjorie Mayans.
“We are playing a World Cup semi-final, in New Zealand, at Eden Park, we suspect that the New Zealanders will be at a very high level. We will have to maintain, like against Italy , this defensive intensity for 80 minutes to respond to this speed of play, this ability to win duels”, summarized the coach. An entire program.