England too strong for combative Blues – Liberation

An encouraging defeat. The women’s XV of France resisted the English thanks to an iron defense, winning the defensive bonus point, even if the team lost (13-7) Saturday in Whangarei (New Zealand), during the second day (Pool C) of the World Cup.

After their victory in the first match against South Africa (40-5), the Blues were carried by their third row Marjorie Mayans (24 tackles in total, including 17 in the first period), impeccable for his 50th selection, against to the “Red Roses” who nevertheless managed to chain their 27th victory in a row, a record. They owe a lot to their center Emily Scarratt who scored all the points for her team (a try, a conversion, two penalties), while the French signed a try by Gaëlle Hermet, then converted by Caroline Drouin.

By delivering a huge fight, physically and defensively, exemplary in their state of mind, the Blue, led 10 to 0 at halftime, suffered but without flinching against the big favorites of the competition and first in the world rankings. This defeat, the eleventh in a row for France against England, bodes well for the rest of the World Cup, which will see Les Bleues face the Fijians in the last match of the group stage, next Saturday. A meeting, on paper, much more affordable: Fiji lost to England last week 84 to 19.