the Bleues still beaten by the English, who offer themselves a sixth consecutive coronation

The players of the XV of France were dominated by the Red Roses on the lawn of the Stade Chaban-Delmas, in the final of this Six Nations Tournament, Saturday afternoon.

The black streak continues. The Blues were largely dominated by the English (42-21) in the decisive match of the last day of the Six Nations Tournament, Saturday April 27, on the lawn of the Chaban-Delmas stadium in Bordeaux. Fallen against stronger than them, the Bleues were overwhelmed (six tries conceded) and were never really able to make the weight in this shock which looked like a final, despite the support of a record audience (28,023) and ebullient . As for six years, the French women have given in to their best enemies, and queens of the Tournament.

The players of Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz notably suffered a very difficult start to the match. Contrary to their habits since the start of the competition, they quickly gave in and let the Red Roses take the lead. From the fifth minute of play, English pillar Maud Muir came to break through the French defense and flatten after a long offensive sequence. The English quickly doubled the lead (12th), thanks to their third row Alex Matthews, back from suspension.

Too powerful adversaries

The Blues were also in difficulty against the power of the English, dominating in the set play phases (93% success in touch, 100% in scrum). Faithful to their fundamentals, the Red Roses relied on numerous carried balls to get closer to the French goal. Just as they had started to breathe, the French took a blow to the head and conceded two tries on carried balls (33rd, 40th) shortly before half-time.

Guilty of small errors, such as a poor reading of the game which led to the third English try on an interception in the French camp (25th), the Blue also sinned by indiscipline, with 12 penalties conceded, their record in this Tournament. As in Cardiff, French pillar Assia Khalfaoui was penalized with a yellow card, this time transformed into red by the bunker, for a dangerous contact to the head which forced her team to play the last half hour outnumbered.

The Blues fought

And yet, the Blues showed heart, especially during a supercharged first period. Driven by the chants and loud encouragement from the public, they responded to the opposing advance, with a great breakthrough from Gabrielle Vernier (17th), and a personal exploit from Marine Ménager, unstoppable along her line (27th). While they were in the tough, an English kick blocked by captain Manae Feleu reignited hope in the hearts of the supporters, but Pauline Bourdon Sansus, who was on trial, was finally sanctioned with a position offside.

At 14 against 15, they then electrified the entire stadium by offering themselves some interesting offensive sequences in the English camp (58th, 64th), before Marine Ménager scored her double ten minutes from the siren. Not enough to get the score back, but enough to get the audience singing again.

With this victory, the Red Roses sign a fifth victory in this Tournament and win the Grand Slam, their sixth in a row. After an almost perfect campaign, the Blues, warmly greeted by their supporters, with whom they offered one last clapping, finished in second place, nine points behind their opponents of the day.