the French error on the 2nd New Zealand try, the fact of play which launched a tense and disjointed second period

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It was an avoidable try that revived the Black Ferns and tipped the match into another dimension. The second achievement cap of the New Zealanders in the semi-final won against France, Saturday, November 5, not only allowed them to return to the game, but also launched 40 minutes of madness and tension.

On returning from the locker room, when they were leading by seven points, the Blues let go of an action that was not yet dangerous, at the entrance to their 22 meters. Without a solution by his side, the Kiwi striker Renee Holmes hit a low kick in the direction of the French in-goal. Emilie Boulard seemed on the ball, but, jostled, she let Ruby Tui pass her and flatten just before the baseline.

An astonishing action which immediately increased the tension on the lawn. The French had so far managed to manage it, sweeping the return of the Black Ferns in the first period by immediately scoring their second try. But three minutes after the return from the locker room, the gap was reduced on the scoreboard (17-15), the agitation took hold of the two collectives and the match opened.

Relaunched, the five-time world champions nevertheless missed the opportunity to lead to the score in the minutes that followed. Renee Holmes, who had already missed the transformation of the second try, again failed against the poles on one of the many penalties conceded by the Blues (14 in total).

Wayne Smith’s players ended up taking the lead by flattening a third time in the French in-goal, in the 58th minute, a small eternity for the second nation in the world. A try came after a new disjointed action, since the Blues thought they had recovered a good scraping, but the decision was reversed by the referee after a tackle without a ball from Céline Ferer (55th).

Finally in the lead, the Black Ferns continued to rely on the messy game they love, to destabilize the French. But the mess was taken a little too far and often turned into a mess on the pitch, with balls played too fast, players like Portia Woodman not knowing what to do with the ball (65th), all at a rhythm from hell. And despite the many tricolor errors, they did not manage to take more than eight lengths ahead.

Because at the heart of this whirlwind, the French have tried to keep what makes them strong, their solid defensive base. With eleven players with more than 10 tackles, and the 9 best tacklers of the game, they tried to contain the attacks. Rising in power and released as the competition progressed, they played hard on Saturday to get a third try (65th) and believe in their chances. Despite the fatigue and cramps that appeared from the 50th minute, even in numerical inferiority, Thomas Darracq’s players clung on, to a small point, in a crazy end to the match.

Last minutes that the New Zealanders almost paid dearly. After an incomprehensibly lost ball in a moment yet without pressure, they in turn received a yellow card for a dangerous tackle, which offered a final decisive penalty and ultimate cold sweats. After 79 minutes of play on the lawn of Eden Park, and a stunning second act, Caroline Drouin missed the poles. A three-color scratch attempt on the throw-in, until the end, then the Black Ferns were able to kick into touch, and enjoy. Losing out of this messy fight, the Blues, disappointed, are now projecting themselves into third place, to remobilise.


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