“If we only look at the score, we say to ourselves that everything was easy. But it was actually more complicated than that. “From the TF1 studios where she followed the meeting for the World Cup broadcaster, Coumba Diallo was not overwhelmed by the quarter-final of Les Bleues. Because if the XV of France stuck a gap of 36 points (39-3) to Italy to spin in the semi-finals of the World Cup early Saturday morning in New Zealand, the copy is still not clean before to switch to the last square, planetary glass ceiling never broken by the tricolors.
In Whangarei, Thomas Darracq’s players nevertheless attacked very quickly, very hard, with a first try scored by their winger Joanna Grisez from the 3rd minute of play. But as against South Africa in the opening match, the XV of France then struggled to confirm, chaining risky choices, penalties against him and lost balloons. Result: 10-3 at the break. “We had the ascendancy, the possession, we were often at home, dominant. But for all that, we did not materialize, ”describes the opener Caroline Drouin. “There were still a lot of chances that we didn’t manage to materialize”, regrets the coach, Thomas Darracq.
“Against a small team, it eventually passes”
“We felt a lack of control in attack. We went to their house, we chained the playing times, but we did not score. There were still changes in the starting XV, the girls sometimes had trouble finding each other for lack of automatisms, estimates Coumba Diallo, 50 selections for the France team on the clock. Against a small team, it eventually passes. But if we do the same again against bigger, it won’t pass because we won’t have as many opportunities. »
Facing the Transalpines, who had beaten them in preparation (26-19) at the beginning of September, the Blues ended up accelerating on the hour mark, before scoring four tries in the last twenty minutes of a meeting that had become one-sided. “I think that mentally we manage to switch little by little, slips Joanna Grisez, finally author of a hat-trick Time does things, step by step, like this competition. This is how we progress. »
New Zealand in full swing in front of its public
But to really judge if this team, beaten in pool (7-13) by the English favorites, has what it takes, a real test is coming its way on Saturday. New Zealand, host country and defending champion, beat Wales (55-3) on Saturday, brilliantly securing their ticket to a semi-final against the French at Eden Park in Auckland in a week. And the Black Ferns, who changed their staff in April, have nothing to do with the formation which had been beaten by the Blues twice (38-13, 29-7) in France a year ago.
“When I saw them play their first match of the competition, I said to myself that it was no longer the same team, notes Coumba Diallo. They put big gaps on everyone, have varied their game and are in a super dynamic. France is well in place in defense, but there, it will sting in the clashes. »
