France v Scotland
Round Three Vannes, Brittany
This was one of those worrying games the Six Nations throws up.
Scotland gave the French some problems early on, but long before the end they were run off their feet. The worry came with a lengthy break on 76 minutes for a serious head injury to Emma Orr. Eight medicos attendfed her with great care; she was clapped warmly as she left the field on a stretcher.
Orr was one of the few young names Bryan Easson had brought into the squad who had really distinguished themselves. We wish her well in her recovery. Her loss for the final two rounds is a real setback for the team.
How do players respond at a stage like that? There were four minutes left. Despite battering on the door, the French couldn’t add another score.
We needed no reminding of French intentions. They’ve waited quite long enough for a 6N championship, five years in fact. The way they deconstructed the visitors only adds to the coming drama of Round Five.
A packed Stade de la Rabine, a few miles from the Atlantic coast at Quiberon, enjoyed what it saw, though it offered some boos for refereeing decisions it disapproved of.
In many ways the game ran a similar course to events at the Arms Park: some determined raids by Scotland that they couldn’t complete, ferocious defence by the hosts, then outstanding counters. Their superiority in skill, strength, pace and cohesion dug away at Scottish ramparts. Only three tries conceded in the first half; six in the second, as tired limbs and lungs couldn’t respond.
Try-scorers: Paulie Bourdon, Mélissande Llorens, Emilie Boulard (a hat-trick), Gaëlle Hermet, Gabi Vernier, Romane Ménager and finally Maëllle Filopon.
Jessy Trémoulière wasn’t perfect with the boot – she missed the first three conversions, before managing four later – but quite sound enough to keep the Scots scurrying back to retrieve long kicks. Boulard too was a threat with the boot and with ball in hand.
The management is introducing new faces. Today it was Ambre Mwayembe who had impressed in the Under 20 games against England. Such is French strength there that the coaches need have few fears about bringing them on.
The other worry
The gap in class as as wide as ever. Bryan Easson continues his struggles to unearth new talent that will advance his team the way the French can. Introducing youngsters from the national league who are still at university cannot hope to stem the tide against players of the class of Vernier. Her back-handed off-load on the right wing to Boulard was another example of her breathtaking skills.
Next we have the Ireland-England game looming. For all the fervour of a Cork crowd, it’s possible to imagine a result even more damaging result than the two in Cardiff and Vannes. Red Roses will be playing out of their skins for the chance to appear at HQ in Round Five. Hard to imagine a bigger occasion, short of another World Cup.
Result: France 55 Scotland 0
Player of the Match: Melissande Llorens
Teams:
France
15 Emilie Boulard, 14 Caroline Boujard 13 Marine Ménager, 12 Gabrielle Vernier 11 Mélissande Llorens 10 Jessy Trémoulière 9 Pauline Bourdon 1 Ylana Brosseau 2 Agathe Sochat 3 Assia Khalfaoui 4 Maëlle Picut 5 Audrey Forlani (captain) 6 Axelle Berthoumieu 7 Gaëlle Hermet 8 Charlotte Escudero
Bench:
16 Elisa Riffoneau 17 *Ambre Mwayembe 18 Rose Bernadou 19 Romane Ménager 20 Julie Annery 21 Alexandra Chambon 22 Carla Arbez 23 Maëlle Filopon
*uncapped
Scotland
15. Chloe Rollie, 14. Liz Musgrove, 13. Emma Orr, 12. Lisa Thomson, 11. Francesca McGhie, 10. Helen Nelson, 9. Caity Mattinson, 1. Leah Bartlett, 2. Lana Skeldon, 3. Christine Belisle, 4. Lyndsay O’Donnell, 5. Louise McMillan, 6. Rachel Malcolm (captain), 7. Evie Gallagher, 8. Jade Konkel-Roberts
Bench
16. Jodie Rettie, 17. Anne Young, 18. Elliann Clarke, 19. Eva Donaldson, 20. Rachel McLachlan, 21. Mairi McDonald, 22. Meryl Smith, 23. Coreen Grant
Table after three rounds:
Table W L Pts
England 3 0 15
France 3 0 15
Wales 2 1 9
Italy 1 2 4
Ireland 0 3 0
Scotland 0 3 0
Referee: Lauren Jenner (FIR)
ARs: Clara Munarini (FIR) and Katherine Ritchie (RFU) TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
The French had happy memories of hosting the Springboks on the same ground two years ago. The Boks led them a merry dance, literally, after the match. A game completed in the best of good humour.
Today the scoreboard added explanations of the referee’s decisions, a sensible idea.
Scotland are left with two home matches, first against Italy, then Ireland. Hope springs eternal.
