This is a Six Nations tournament that Ireland will not have. After the men’s Grand Slam, the Irish already swept away by Wales (31-5) at the end of March even have to fight to avoid the wooden spoon. This Saturday in a country and windy stadium in Cork, Ireland in green jersey and blue shorts was punished by conquering Blues.
At the opening, a week earlier in Italy, France had been sluggish before winning (12-22). Faced with an opponent not qualified for the World Cup in 2022, the tricolors were more convincing. Above all, they did not give the clover players time to believe in it for very long. Captain Audrey Forlani’s try, from the 9th minute, set the scene (0-5).
Four minutes later, Caroline Boujard went flat (0-10, 13th). After a penalty from Dannah O’Brein (3-10, 22nd), Les Bleues third in the last World Cup pounded the Irish defense again with a third (28th), then a fourth (32nd) try, both scored by Pauline Bourdon (3-22). Gabrielle Vernier in turn overtook the opposing defense for the fifth try (3-27, 40th). At the break, the suspense was already gone.
It was then a question of managing without injuring oneself. Mission accomplished. Agathe Sochat came to put her grain of salt with a new test transformed downwind by Morgane Bourgeois (3-34, 55th). Do we stop there? Not at all: the Blues increased their lead thanks to Cyrielle Banet on the hour mark (3-39). It turned into a demonstration with the second personal test of Gabrielle Vernier (71st). It needed a ninth successful by Charlotte Escudero and transformed by Trémoulière (3-53, 76th). Easy, really too easy: “We rolled down the counter, rejoices Agathe Sochat at the microphone of France 2. We have points that could be improved, but we have started our adventure. Above all, we felt more serene than against Italy”.
On April 16 in Vannes, Les Bleues will try to remain undefeated against Scotland, then the following week against Wales in Grenoble. Just to prepare well for what will undoubtedly be the final of this 2023 tournament at Twickenham in front of 40,000 supporters expected on April 29. England has dominated the Women’s VI Nations since 2019, a tournament that has eluded France since 2018. “We have a high density of players, welcomes Gaëlle Hermet on France 2. We do not see the difference when the one enters or exits. We will have to reproduce this on all our next matches. »