Once more the French management has taken the unusual step of separating forwards and backs for initial training sessions.
Eighteen forwards have been selected for a two-day session on 6-7 March. They are:
Rose Bernadou (FFR/Montpellier)
Axelle Berthoumieu (FFR/Blagnac)
Manon Bigot (Blagnac)
Léa Champon (AOL/Grenoble Amazones)
Annaëlle Deshayes (FFR/Stade Bordelais)
Charlotte Escudero (FFR/Stade Toulousain)
Manae Feleu (FFR/Grenoble Amazones)
Teani Feleu (AOL/Grenoble Amazones)
Emeline Gros (FFR/Grenoble Amazones)
Gaëlle Hermet (FFR/Stade Toulousain)
Clara Joyeux (FFR/Blagnac)
Assia Khalfaoui (FFR/Stade Bordelais)
Romane Ménager (FFR/Montpellier)
Ambre Mwayembe (AOL/Grenoble Amazones)
Elisa Riffonneau (Trailfinders Women)
Agathe Sochat (FFR/Stade Bordelais)
Chloé Vauclin (AOL/Stade Rennais)
Kiara Zago (AOL/Stade Toulousain)
Note: AOL = Académie Olympique, the U20 Development structure
There are just four newer names: Bigot plays hooker; Vauclin prop; both Feleu, the younger sister of Manae, and Zago are locks. Each has come through the all conquering Under 18 group. This structure allows the coaches to concentrate fully on scrum, line-out and contact skills.
This first session leaves a group of 14 backs to prepare separately. No doubt the forwards will accuse them of trotting up and down the pitch a couple of times, then retiring for a well earned coffee.
But the splitting of the two parts of the squad is a policy that other nations do not follow, to the best of my knowledge. We have to assume that the whole squad will convene for combined practice. But that means yet another session or sessions, before the final selections are made. All very French.
Most managements set great store by getting their players together as often as possible, following the principle ‘It’s a team game!’ Would any of them consider following the French path? I doubt it.
At least Les Bleues can get inside knowledge of latest British form from their one PWR player, Elisa Riffonneau.
