Lift a trophy, finally. Dominated for six years by the English, the French are dreaming of a first coronation since 2018 in the Six Nations Tournament. The victory of the Bleues on the field of the New Zealand champions in the fall (17-18), offers reasons for hope before facing their “best enemies” at the close of the Tournament on April 27.
This meeting promises to once again be the final of the competition, as the two teams seem above their rivals, Italy, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, first opponent of the French XV this Saturday at Le Mans (3:15 p.m., live on France 2). A match against the XV du Trèfle a priori within the reach of the Bleues. Hooker Agathe Sochat sums up her team’s first objective: “Gain confidence during the first four matches to arrive liberated against the English”. The “Red Roses” remain in five consecutive Grand Slams.
Integration of young people
The Blues, who finished the 2023 Tournament in second place, then had an erratic run during the “WXV”, a new competition created by World Rugby last fall and won by… the English. After beating the “Black Ferns” (17-18) at the last minute on their home soil on October 21, the Blues, third in the world rankings, fell into the trap of Australia (29-20) before giving in to the Canadians (29-20).
Despite the doubts that could arise from these two defeats, France will have the advantage this year of hosting three times, including England in Bordeaux. “We also grow thanks to these defeats, it allowed us to learn lessons (…) We try to create automatisms between us as much as possible and that is what can make us strong in this Tournament,” explained the half of melee Pauline Bourdon Sansus.
For their second Tournament at the head of Les Bleues, co-selectors Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz defined a “project characterized by the integration of young players”, with the idea of “strengthening the team with an increase in collective skill “. A strong sign before starting the Tournament: the duo confirmed as captain the second row Manae Feleu, who was part of the group that won the bronze medal at the last World Cup, in 2022, in New Zealand.
The French women’s XV against Ireland
Boulard – Arbey, Kondé, Vernier, M. Ménager – (o) Queyroi, (m) Bourdon Sansus – Hermet, R. Ménager, Escudero – Fall, Feleu (cap.) – Khalfaoui, Sochat, Deshaye.
Substitutes: Riffonneau, Mwayembe, Joyeux, Zago, Gros, Chambon, Tuy, Bourgeois.
