Rugby Seven: Beaten by New Zealand, Vice Champions Blue Olympics

The stride was too high, but the blues would still have a medal around their necks. Against New Zealand in the final, the French women’s rugby team lost (26-12) on Saturday. The French still won the silver, five years after they finished sixth in Rio, and the 17th Magic of the Tricolor Clan.

From the start of the meeting, New Zealand women, in their traditional black shirt, led the discussions. Blyde’s first attempt allowed the reigning Olympic vice-champions to gain (7-0), an advantage they would never lose. Despite an unhandled attempt by Caroline Drouin, the French, most of the time in their camp, suffered opposing assaults, to the point where they were late in the first half (19-5).

In the first seconds of the second act, Anne-Cecil Siovanni gave little hope to the French by scoring the fifth attempt at the meeting, allowing Blue to return to seven lengths for the New Zealand ladies (19-12). Short-lived hope. Three minutes from the end of the match, Tila Nathan Wong’s Test in the All Blacks (26-12) led the New Zealand women to the top of the podium.

Les Bleues, crying at the final whistle, finished the competition in second place.