Author of five tries, the XV of France got the better of the XV du Trèfle (38-17), Saturday, at Le Mans, at the opening of the Tournament.
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A success and five points to start. The French XV got off to a good start to their 2024 Six Nations Tournament by securing an improved victory in the opening match against Ireland (38-17), Saturday March 23, in the cool of the Marie-Marvingt stadium in Le Mans, nevertheless conceding two attempts.
Day 1: the XV of France opens the scoring with Pauline Bourdon Sansus
Starting from a touchline action, Pauline Bourdon Sansus was able to find a gap in the Irish defense and scored the first try of the match. Lina Queyroi transforms it in front of the Irish posts. France leads 7-0.
This success took a little time to emerge. Facing the 10th nation in the world, Wooden Spoon of the last Tournament, to whom they had passed more than 50 points last year while playing the majority of the match outnumbered, the Blues initially fought before flying away.
A little over 30 minutes to find the right rhythm
Yet technically superior to their opponents, it took them almost a half to find their tempo, and put the Irish within more than one converted try. The deliverance came shortly after half an hour of play, thanks to some nice work from Marine Ménager. Well served by Pauline Bourdon Sansus (32nd), the Montpellier went alone to get a try celebrated by a Marseillaise from the 15,559 spectators at the Marie-Marvingt stadium.
Liberated, driven by a desire to gain speed and keep the ball alive, the French went for three additional tries after returning from the locker room, over a variety of phases of play, after a succession of pick and gos concluded by Madoussou Fall (47th), and after dominating pushes from the pack to the goal (62nd, 76th). Their toll could even have been even heavier if they had not seen the attempt of the young Kelly Arbey (18 years old) – who thought she was celebrating her first cape with a first achievement -, refused after consulting the video. But also and above all, if they had been able to concretize their domination a little more often (57% possession, 67% territorial domination).
Desire while waiting for effectiveness
Because the Blues also stumbled a lot against the Irish defensive iron curtain, which put up heroic resistance to the 15 French entries in the opposing 22 meters. While they had found the goal in the third minute of play for the first try, giving a glimpse of a rapid offensive festival, they had to be patient, put down their game, and multiply the attacks to get their five achievements of the day and this improved victory.
Thanks to this good start, the players of Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz temporarily take the lead in the general classification, while waiting for the two other matches of the day, Wales-Scotland at 5:45 p.m., and Italy-England on Sunday afternoon (16 hours), broadcast on france.tv. They are now expected in Edinburgh on Saturday March 30 for their second day match against the Scots.