A week after the disillusionment against Australia (20-29), the French women’s rugby team hoped to turn things around. It’s missed. Saturday November 4, in Auckland (New Zealand), for their last match in the WXV tournament, the Blues lost against Canada, with the same score as in the duel with the Wallaroos (20-29).
It is all the more frustrating since a year ago the Tricolores corrected the North American selection (36-0) during the small final of the World Cup. The victory (18-17) over the New Zealand Black Ferns, reigning world champions, for their entry into this WXV had foreshadowed a happier ending.
The title promised to the English or New Zealanders
However, on Saturday, they were off to a good start. Pauline Bourdon-Sansus, who made a good start against the Australians, scored the first try for the French. But while the scoreboard showed 10-0 in their favor, the Blues let their rivals take off. By a try from Emily Tuttosi before the break (35th, 10-7), then achievements from Krissy Scurfield and Tuttosi after returning from the locker room (10-19, tries in the 43rd and 51st).
The French were then provisionally at fourteen, after the yellow card received by Nassira Konde before half-time. To the return launched by Marine Ménager (57th, 17-19), the North Americans responded with a new try (66th) and a penalty at the end of the match (75th), which sealed their success (20-29).
This new tournament brought together eighteen teams, divided into three groups; the French were placed in the first, made up of the three best teams in Europe (with England and Wales) and the rest of the world (New Zealand, Canada and Australia). Les Bleues therefore finished this first edition in a disappointing fifth place in the standings. The title is promised to the English or Black Ferns, who face each other on Saturday.