Leaving to lift its first world title in New Zealand, the women’s XV of France had to settle for third place.
The women’s XV of France, in search of a first world title, had to settle for the bronze medal on Saturday in Auckland, at the end of a grueling competition, but retains positive aspects, despite the disappointment, in view of the next World Cup.
blow a blow
France has livedhighs and lows” during his preparation and the competition, explains captain Gaëlle Hermet, hence the great relief perceived at the final whistle, in the form of “letting go of everything, of the moment, of joy, of happiness, of difficulties“. This World Cupwas not easy, we simply had itsums up scrum-half Pauline Bourdon.
After their inaugural victory against South Africa (40-5), Les Bleues, unhappy with their performance, rebelled: “There was a lead group grab and all the girls followed“, specifies the second line Céline Ferer.
Hermet confirms this shift which caused explanations between leaders and staff, coach Thomas Darracq being considered too rigid. In the next match, against England (13-7 defeat), “there was a real click, on the ground, in the commitment and in the game that we wanted to produce».
A rebellion “necessary“, because without that” I do not know where we would have been, but certainly not so far “, agrees the opener Caroline Drouin.
People first
Thanks to this World Cup,we have accumulated experience, solidified our bases“Said winger Joanna Grisez. “Not everything was rosy and yet we come out of there as if we had spent four years together and ten years in the mouth, in terms of experience».
During such a competition, “tu grow and mature humanly, rugbystically», Approves the pillar Assia Khalfaoui. Like the defense, impeccable, “our solidarity has been our strength: being there for each other, not pulling each other down and sharing moments of life“Retains the third line Charlotte Escudero.
“Keep building”
For Hermet, the coming generation, with girls who have mostly experienced a first World Cup, will allow “continue to build» women’s rugby in France.
«When you experience a World Cup, you necessarily gain experience, in different sectors, not necessarily on the rugby level, but on a human level, in the management of a group… I think that this World Cup will have been rich in lessons and learningadds the third line.
Without forgetting the young people for whom this “group is inspiring“, according to the back Emilie Boulard who was able to benefit in particular from the advice of the newly retired Marjorie Mayans, Safi N’Diaye, Laure Sansus and Céline Ferer.
Focus on the medal
The semi-final loss by one point (25-24) against the New Zealand “Black Ferns” must not be “a match for nothing»: «he will make us proud a little later», estime Grisez.
As proof, the frustration resulting from this defeat allowed the group to show its “strength of characterto take the bronze medal, according to center Gabrielle Vernier, because “to go home instead of the ‘loose’, it would have been difficult».
«Even if everything was not perfect, there was a build-up during each of our matches. This bodes well for the future.», points out Hermet. For the hooker Agathe Sochat, the results nevertheless remain “mixed» car «the World Cup, we touched it with our fingertips: we lack the experience to really catch it“. See you in 2025, in England.