Women's Rugby World Cup: Beware of a late start for the French women

The adventure is only just beginning. The French women's XV kicks off their World Cup this Saturday, in prime time on TF1 (9:15 p.m.) , against Italy, the toughest opponent in their group, which also includes Brazil, a novice, and South Africa, far less terrifying than the Springboks, the two-time reigning world champions. A debut that won't be missed.

Les Bleues have won four games in a row against the Italians, including in the quarter-finals of the 2022 edition (39-3), with the last French defeat having taken place a month earlier in Padua (26-19) in a warm-up match. "Our position today is rather outsiders in this World Cup, but I believe that the objective for us, clearly, is to do everything possible to allow ourselves to go all the way in this competition," explained Gaëlle Mignot, the co-selector of the French XV, at the beginning of the summer.

Sometimes it feels good to get a slap in the face just before a big competition.

Manae Feleu, co-captain of the French XV

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The problem is that the preparation did not go as planned with a heavy defeat conceded in a preparation match , in Mont-de-Marsan, against the formidable English (6-40). A big slap before starting the World Cup and a 16th defeat in a row since 2018 against the Red Roses, favorites of the competition. "Sometimes, it feels good to take a slap in the head just before a big competition. It will undoubtedly allow us to enter directly into this World Cup. To speak of helplessness is still a strong word," wanted to be positive the French co-captain Manae Feleu .

The fact remains that, since the last World Cup in New Zealand, and this narrow defeat in the semi-final against the Black Ferns , future champions, the French team gives the impression of stagnating. In Europe, it remains behind the almost untouchable English. And, last autumn, the Blues disappointed during the Women's XV tournament by losing heavily to New Zealand (39-14) and Canada (46-24) . In the wake of this, during the last Tournament, the narrow defeat against the English (43-42) seems like a trompe-l'oeil as the teammates of Pauline Bourdon Sansus (suspended Saturday for the opening match) had quickly been led 31-7 before revolting.

You don't need to be a rugby expert to see that what's causing us problems today is clearly the attack.

Joanna Grisez, winger for the French XV

After the heavy summer defeat against England, winger Joanna Grisez didn't mince her words to Midi Olympique : "We need to review our attacking style. You don't need to be a rugby expert to see that what's causing us problems today is clearly the attack. We lack efficiency, we lack the ability to play in the right areas. For the moment, it's messy, we lose the ball too quickly. We haven't shown much, it's even weak. We just need to play with the ball, manage to hold it, go and play in the right spaces and that will already be a good start." And Gaëlle Mignot added: "I think we're all aware that what we did against England doesn't at all reflect the preparation we've had, nor the work we've put in over the last few years. We need to let go, to show, as the girls say, our true colors."

Also read Laura Di Muzio: “Women’s rugby in France is a decade behind England”

The Tricolores need to get their heads straight. To avoid complicating their journey and fearing a run-in with the New Zealanders in the quarterfinals. " What we see is the opportunity to continue growing, and the string of matches should allow us to gain momentum and then, obviously, aim for our ultimate goal ," says co-coach David Ortiz. To finally reach the World Cup final. In nine editions, the French have failed eight times in the semifinals (and in the quarterfinals in 2010). A glass ceiling to break. "When you participate in a World Cup, you don't know if you'll have another one in your life. We can support players who are new to the competition just by talking about our experience at the last one," confides Manae Feleu. "I know that the most important thing I would have to tell them is to live every moment to the fullest."