France was beaten for the 13th time in a row by England (42-21), who achieved their sixth Grand Slam in a row, on Saturday in Bordeaux, in front of a record crowd for a women’s rugby match in France, 28,023 spectators. Trailing at half-time (35-14), Manae Feleu’s teammates spent the second period outnumbered, after the red card addressed to Assia Khalfaoui (43rd).
But this is not the only reason for the defeat. Clumsiness, hand mistakes, lost opportunities, an attempt refused by the video… The French women perhaps sinned by too much commitment, the desire to do well, and excitement too. But we must not overlook the clinical efficiency of the English, who never let an opportunity to score pass when they found themselves in the French camp. However, we saw some great things on the French side, with a lot of play, a strong defense, three-quarters who try and dare, forwards having regained their automatisms on the touchline.
@RedRosesRugby are your winners #GuinnessW6Npic.twitter.com/v7OscfbCWO
— Guinness Women’s Six Nations (@Womens6Nations) April 27, 2024
A powerful pack
But on Saturday in Chaban-Delmas, more was needed to beat the English, who struck a major blow eighteen months before “their” World Cup in 2025. After taking the first shot, in the 4th minute, the “Red Roses ” quickly took the advantage in the score (14-0, 11th), carried by their powerful pack, led by captain Marlie Packer and despite everything heckled by the defense of the Bleues, who made it their “identity”.
But the English are now also three-quarters of fire, encouraged by their new coach, New Zealander John Mitchell. Back lines that should not be left too much space, like in the 24th minute, when Émilie Boulard, wanting to pass the ball to Gabrielle Vernier, had it intercepted by center Megan Jones. But French women, too, have their X factor and it has a nickname that we want to sing: Gabrielle “Gaby” Vernier. The pocket center, named best player of the 2023 Tournament and a little shy since the start of this 2024 edition, found the fault to flatten the first French try (17th).
Doubled by Marine Ménager
The second was at the conclusion of a French scrum, from which scrum half Pauline Bourdon Sansus, untenable, was able to send Marine Ménager behind the goal line (14-21, 27th). Upon returning from the break, and while large black clouds reappeared above Bordeaux, the sky fell on the heads of Manae Feleu’s teammates. Khalfaoui, who had already received a yellow card last weekend in Wales, picked up another, transformed into a red after a bunker.
“At 15 against 15, it’s already hard,” former second row Safi N’Diaye had warned AFP before the match, worried about the three yellow cards handed out to the Blues in Cardiff, but at 14, things had to turn around to the impossible mission. The French women, however, continued to believe in it, to play quickly, camping in the opposing camp, pushing and pounding the English lines, until offering a double to Marine Ménager (35-21, 69th). But it was too late, the English even drove home the point with a sixth try, and a double, from Matthews.