TOPS
To discover
The 2023 World Cup schedule
The impressive tricolor wall
Admittedly, the French lost this Saturday against the English (7-13) for the eleventh time in a row.
But Thomas Darracq's players can come out with their heads held high.
They have long endeared the Red Roses, which dominate the oval head.
Their recipe?
An iron defense and permanent pressing.
The performance of Les Bleues is simply amazing: they made 214 tackles during this Crunch.
A burst of energy and aggressiveness that completely destabilized their opponents.
At the heart of this top-tier performance, third-line Marjorie Mayans was sparkling with 24 tackles in 70 minutes.
Despite this infuriating defeat, the Habs can approach the rest of the competition with certainty.
The Craft of Scarratt and the Red Roses
Jostled as rarely, unrecognizable, the English still managed to get out of the trap set by the Blues.
Rare strokes of brilliance certainly, but the Red Roses nevertheless chained a 27th success in a row.
All England points were scored by the experienced Emily Scarratt, who was honoring her 105th international cap.
The English center three-quarter scored all of his team's points with a try and two penalties.
Not brilliant but sufficient.
Prior to this match, Scarratt explained that
“the last games against France ended very tightly, so we know it will be very, very difficult.
The team that manages to impose its game will win, and we both have the qualities to do so.
The English did not manage to impose their game (especially on the balls carried) but they knew how to speak about their great experience.
FLOPS
Too much waste for the Blues
Despite this real tour de force in defense against England, the women's XV of France can logically harbor enormous regrets.
Because, in particular, of small hand faults, small offensive hiccups which polluted their game. The Tricolores had little ammunition to put in their mouths, but they regularly spoiled these opportunities with small slag.
It will obviously be necessary to erase this for the rest of the competition.
Against the big teams (England, New Zealand), it is paid cash...
The tiles for Sansus and R. Ménager
Two hard knocks in the first half for the French.
Indeed, they quickly had to compose without two elements: Laure Sansus and Romane Ménager.
The tricolor scrum half had to quickly give way after being hit in the knee.
Then, in the process, the number 8 of the Blue was forced to leave teammates after suffering a concussion.
In quick succession, these match facts could have destabilized the Habs but Pauline Bourdon and Gaëlle Hermet brilliantly took over.
More worrying: will Laure Sansus (who will end her career at the end of this World Cup) and Romane Ménager be able to continue the competition and be operational?
Response in the coming days.