New Zealand: France loses after a close match

Women’s Rugby – France’s women’s rugby team Les Bleues lost 24 to 25 on Saturday 5 November to the “Black Ferns” of New Zealand after a particularly tough match in the semi-finals of the World Cup, at Eden Park in Auckland. Thus, they fail at the gates of the final, where they would have faced the women’s team in England. This is the ninth time that the French national team has failed at the gates of the final.

The France XV players could not have hoped that their best opponent would write their own page in the history of French rugby, by facing the host nation of the tournament at the legendary Eden Park stadium, which welcomed nearly 40,000 spectators for the occasion. . But the challenge was uphill, facing the five-time world champions (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2017), who advanced as the favourites.

“We are disappointed, we have to come to terms”

France came close to qualifying, but Caroline Drouin’s failed penalty kick at the last moment definitively dashed the hopes of the French fans, who were boosted by a very encouraging first period of play. The “Black Fern”, the world champion, will meet England in the final next Saturday, defeating Canada (26-19), who will face the French team for the bronze medal.

“It was a game on the line, we are disappointed, we have to absorb (…) We had a lot of heart throughout the competition, we showed it again today.”after meeting captain Gaëlle Hermet, at the TF1 microphone. “Too hard to come too close”However, he waived the Blue Team’s head coach, Thomas Darack. It’s very disappointing because the place was already there tonight. » But the captain assures him: “Next week, we will be aiming for third place.”

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