The XV de France féminin will step onto the pitch at FMG Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday, October 17, for the opening fixture of their three-match New Zealand tour, featuring a heavily rotated matchday squad led by head coach François Ratier.
Kickoff is set for 04:10 French time. The touring French side enters the series against the Black Ferns missing several key personnel, including M. Feleu, Fall Raclot, Bourdon Sansus, and Escudero.
Morgane Bourgeois Returns to the XV de France Starting Lineup
Fullback Morgane Bourgeois returns to the starting XV for the first time since the 2025 World Cup. The kicker, who started during France’s fourth-place World Cup campaign, remained in the broader squad under Ratier but had not featured in a matchday 23 until now.
“She didn’t play because players were performing better at that moment,” Ratier said, explaining that changing a winning formula during a five-match tournament was difficult. The coach noted that Bourgeois previously won a match in New Zealand and expects her to advance the team and maintain possession.
Fresh Faces and Tactical Shifts Against the Black Ferns
Ratier continues his squad overhaul by naming all four uncapped players in the group to play on Saturday. Second-row Ylona Avril will earn her first cap in the starting XV. Additional uncapped players Marion Latonnelle, Lylou Pédussaud, and Charlie Gauyat are named among the replacements.
At fly-half, Élodie Fernandez takes the number 10 jersey, stepping in after earning her first international minutes against Canada three weeks prior, while Carla Arbez misses out on the matchday sheet entirely. Scrum-half Alexandra Chambon captains the side.
Tour Schedule Across New Zealand
Saturday’s encounter in Hamilton marks the first test of a three-match series as part of the ongoing WXV Global Series. The test block follows earlier fixtures in France, where Les Bleues opened against New Zealand with a 28–14 defeat in Lyon, rebounded with a 29–26 victory over Australia in Aix-en-Provence, and defeated Canada 21–5 in La Rochelle.
The remaining fixtures of the New Zealand tour are scheduled for October 24 at 04:05 French time and October 31 at 07:10 French time.
Matchday Lineups and Squad Selections
The full starting XV selected by François Ratier features Morgane Bourgeois at fullback, flanked by wings Ibanez and Léa Murie, with Rousset and Téani Feleu forming the midfield partnership. Élodie Fernandez and captain Alexandra Chambon comprise the half-back pairing, while the forward pack includes loose forwards Touré, Léa Champon, and Axelle Berthoumieu, second-rowers Ylona Avril and Julia Grosz, and front-rowers Assia Khalfaoui, Riffonneau, and Deshaye. The replacement bench comprises Lazarko, Bazola-Allières, Marion Latonnelle, Roboam, Peyras, Lylou Pédussaud, Queyroi, and Charlie Gauyat.
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