Les Bleues take on the New Zealand world champions and get their revenge

After being weaned off the ball early in the game, the Blues showed maximum efficiency by scoring from the rare chances they were given. Emily Pollard concluded the 60m race with a ball vomited by blacks in the French 22m race (fifth). Then Cyril Bannet, with a solo raid down the sidelines, doubled the score to reward an excellent team move on the closed side (16).

On several occasions, the Tricolors could have succumbed to the pace imposed by New Zealand and the strength of their forwards. But only Liana Mikaele-Tu’u managed to score a solid try (11th place). After the break, the French team dominated again, especially in closed rallies. The red card that Chris Veljko received for his challenge on Gabriel Vernier (62) did not really give the French the advantage.

Katelyn Fahakulu even gave the Black Ferns a chance after perfect play from Robbie Toei (71). But the Blues held on and held on to this small point until the end to achieve their first victory on New Zealand soil. It is the first notable success since the duo of coaches, Gayle Minot and David Ortiz, took over their duties at the beginning of the year.

Players: Pollard-Bourgeois, a high-flying duo

On the wing, Emily Pollard has often played as a full-back for France. But the Blagnanese don’t seem bothered by this substitution. The author of the first attempt of the match against her, after a long race in which she resisted the return of Rene Holmes (5th), combined perfectly with the person who replaced her in 15th place, Morgane Bourgeois. The Bordelez team took penalties in practice (8 points, 3/4) and brought a lot of calm to the back of the tricolor court. However, this was only his second selection for the French team, at the age of 20.