A final score. The women’s XV of France started its World Cup well, dominating South Africa (40-5) this Saturday at Eden Park in Auckland (New Zealand) in the opening match of the competition.
Les Bleues, poured into Pool C, scored six tries, including a double from their scrum half Laure Sansus, named “player of the match”, earning themselves a bonus point which will be invaluable in the race for the classification for the quarter-finals. A good performance, without forcing too much but reassuring, one week before a crucial meeting against England.
A start to the match on top speed
In a sold-out Eden Park and under a beautiful sun, the French quickly scored three tries in fifteen minutes before marking time.
The first, a trickster try from the 2nd minute of the game, is signed Laure Sansus, the second is the work of the center Gabrielle Vernier (11th), following a small kick from the opener Caroline Drouin, and finally, the third came on an interception by Émilie Boulard (17th).
But, while the Habs enjoyed a numerical superiority after a yellow card addressed to the third line of the “Women Boks” Sizophila Solontsi in the 29th, they failed to materialize, chaining errors and approximations. This weak time on the French side continued after the break, the Blues conceding a try, signed by South African winger Nomawethu Mabenge (50th).
Despite a long time spent in the camp of the Boks, the Bleues, by Laure Sansus again, had to wait until the 67th minute to score their fourth try, synonymous with an offensive bonus, before Caroline Drouin, then the sevenist Joanna Grisez, did not worsen the score.
Mission accomplished
Gaëlle Mignot, the assistant coach of the French in charge of the scrum and attitudes in contact, had warned this Friday: “We want to enter the competition in the best possible way”. “What matters is to set up our game, to mark the spirits, the opponent, she added. And to send a strong signal to everyone by saying: We are present and we want to go as far as possible ».
Basically, mission accomplished, so for Céline Ferer’s teammates, but in terms of form, they will have to raise their level of play against the English “Red Roses”, big favorites in the competition. Les Bleues would benefit in particular from adjusting and settling a few details, and from letting go more in order to take advantage of the smallest space.