Fifteenth for France, the title and nothing else

They worked for this meeting for five years. France’s 15th women’s World Cup kicks off on Saturday against South Africa (3:15 a.m. France time) with a clear ambition: to win the title. Les Bleues have never fared better than third place at the World Cup, and they are determined to make this edition, which takes place in New Zealand, theirs.

In the semi-finals at the first edition in 1991, Les Bleues never broke the glass ceiling for the bronze medal, which was obtained in six of the eight editions of the competition (1991, 1994, 2002, 2006, 2014 and 2017). Therefore, a huge challenge awaits the 32 players selected for this World Cup (October 8 – November 12), which has been postponed for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “The French women’s team has never been world champion, and that’s what motivates us every day. It’s been five years and we’ve been working hard to be”, sums up the experienced second grader Safi Ndiaye (34 years old, 86 caps).

“The federation does not put many means so that we do not qualify in the end or get third place“For the Montpellier player, who is representing the World Cup for the third time,” she asserts.We know it’s going to be hard (…) We’re not pretentious, and we won’t get there as favouritesIndeed, although the tournament is more than honorable for a year – two convincing victories over world champions New Zealand in the fall of 2021 and second place in the Six Nations after England – the French women present themselves as an outsider.”humble and hungryAccording to the logo they have printed on their shirts.

Ranking race

To achieve their goals, they will need to be ranked well at the end of the final stages and have a quarter within reach, which will require a good run in their Group C, where they will face England, at the top. The world rankings and the big favourites, as well as South Africa and Fiji. it is necessary “To start this competition vigorously to build confidence and above all to take points‘, warns Thomas Darracq, their coach.

For the man who took over the captaincy of the team instead of Annick Herod, who became the manager, the first phase of the competition is closer to “Quarter-finals classification race“In which eight of the twelve teams will compete. Especially since the major countries”hard work’,” in the words of Bleues captain Gaëlle Hermet, and above all impressed: This is how New Zealand’s “Black Ferns” (95-12) beat the Japanese in a warm-up match and crushed England’s “Red Roses” (73-7) before traveling to New Zealand.

When the French took control, they slowly took control of Italy (21-0) before they were defeated by the same Transalpine team (26-19). What gives cold sweats to their supporters. In these two games,We were not loyal to who we are, Alexandra Chambon Half Scrum confirmed to AFP. But it might be useful to show something else and take revenge on ourselvesThe appointment taken against South Africa, in the first game of the Blues on Saturday (03:15).