When it does not want … The XV of France women still fails, always, an eighth time, at the gates of the final of the World Cup. Cruel. Beaten by the New Zealanders, at home, in the legendary Eden Park in Auckland, the Blues can harbor regrets. In front at half-time, Gaëlle Hermet’s teammates gave in in the second period, not without having fought a total fight until the last minute. Until this failure at the foot of Caroline Drouin, 35 meters in front of the poles, which leaves the Bleues beaten by one point (25-24).
Between the “Black Ferns”, the tournament’s best attack at kick-off (209 points scored) and the Bleues, the best defense (21 points conceded), fierce opposition, a fierce fight, and French women who first took the above. Depriving the New Zealanders of the ball at the cost of a once again intractable defence, Thomas Darracq’s players were the first to find the fault with a hard try from Romane Ménager. And keep a lead of 7 points at the break (10-17), the three-quarter center Gabrielle Vernier responding just before halftime to the black test of her vis-à-vis Fluhler.
The double of Romane Ménager
In front of the stands of Eden Park, which were not completely full for the occasion, the New Zealanders then picked up with a slightly capped try scored by Tui following a clumsiness by Emilie Boulard in the French in-goal. Everything has to be redone for Les Bleues who still retain a two-point lead (15-17, 44th). The commitment is total, but the fatigue is starting to be felt: it smells of a knockout, on both sides.
And with this little game, the match switches for the first time in favor of the Black Ferns, who set fire to the field and the Blues to torture. Fitzpatrick pierces the blue curtain and puts the defending champions in front for the first time, before Demant creates a small break on penalty (25-17, 63rd).
It was without counting on the reaction of pride of the Blue. With the energy of despair, the French, in the wake of the emblematic Safi N’Diaye for his 90th selection, return to the match with a new try in force from the third center line Romane Ménager (25-24, 65th) . Unfortunately insufficient.
DOTS
New Zealand – France 25-24
(Half time 10-17)
New Zealand: 3 tries (Flulhler 35th, Tui 44th, Fitzpatrick 58th). 2 transformation (Holmes 36th, Demant 58th). 2 penalties (Holmes 28th, Demant 63rd).
France: 3 attempts (R. Ménager 23rd, 65th, Vernier 40th). 3 conversions (Drouin 23rd, 40th, 65th). 1 penalty (Drouin 6th).
