France fails to snatch the Grand Slam from an intractable England – Liberation

Les Bleues wanted to live the same story. The one experienced a few weeks earlier by their male counterparts, victorious from the XV de la Rose at the end of the final meeting of the Six Nations Tournament, then synonymous with Grand Slam. The scenario was practically identical, after a course without false notes – four bonus victories – and a last “Crunch” in a full Jean-Dauger stadium, which the band of Gaëlle Hermet had to win. But the challenge awaiting the Blues was otherwise immense: in the last ten confrontations between the two nations in women’s competitions, England had won nine times.

Too fair and approximate in key moments, the France team could never worry the “Red Roses” (12-24) in this “final” of the Six Nations Tournament. Impressive throughout the tournament (more than ten tries per match on average!), the English flattened three times (compared to two for the Blues), enough to win a 13th title since the Tournament changed to six teams in 2002 , their 11th Grand Slam.

Les Bleues miss the opportunity to lift the trophy for the seventh time in the competition since the transition to six teams, the last dating back to 2018. This shock against the English was more than expected: it was a life-size rehearsal before the 2022 World Cup in New Zealand (October 8-November 12), where the “Red Roses”, big favorites will meet the French from the group stages. See you this fall, then.