The French management has gone its own way again, and good luck to them. They have announced a squad of 32 for the first two Six Nations games only, against Ireland and Scotland (see full list below).
So far as the public goes, the names of the backs might have been drawn out of a hat. We know the forwards were given a two-day special, but nothing similar for the backs. The fact that the two co-coaches are both ex-forwards must be discounted:
Once more they are able to post a desperately strong looking group. The pack should be capable of seeing of all but the English with something to spare.
The backs welcome back Caroline Drouin from her jaunts with the 7s squad. That enhances the whole back line, where they pose dangers of every sort. Cyrielle Banet’s name is included. I saw her being helped off the field of a makeshift stretcher last weekend, so must hope that the injury proved less than worrying.
Balance
The squad shows a distinct difference in forwards/backs balance from other nations. Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz have opted for a 19/13 split. That throws a greater weight on the backs to remain in working order. They can always call up emergency supplies, but that does disrupt team togetherness.
Captaincy
One central issue is captaincy. The management caused a flutter or two before WXV1 by announcing the still young Manae Feleu as captain. That choice had great merit, as she was familiar with New Zealand and the local tongue.
But it was noticeable how, at times of stress, everyone turned to listen to Gaëlle Hermet, who had been captain before being displaced – equally unexpectedly – by Audrey Forlani. For everyone’s sake, I hope she is reinstated.
Recent history
Les Bleues can’t have expected to be restarting their programme from so far back.
To finish fifth out of six in WXV1 last November wasn’t in their manifesto. Since then the people in charge (the FFR itself or the team management?) must have had serious thoughts about what went wrong, but there has been no public statement about a review.
To most outsiders it was simply a case of selection; experienced players took a back seat, while younger hopefuls were charged with bringing home the bacon. They couldn’t. If France go on to win the 2024 Six Nations and the 2025 World Cup, we will know their strategy was correct. They were treating WXV merely as a stepping-stone.
After beating New Zealand for the first time on Kiwi soil (18-17) they suffered two desolating losses to Australia (20-29) and Canada (also 20-29). Of course, credit is due to the two winning nations, but few can have predicted that fall from grace after the Black Ferns had been put in their place.
So their record against their leading rivals is topsy-turvy. They’ve not beaten England in six years and twelve attempts (admittedly, some heart-wrenchingly close results). They’ve beaten the Black Ferns five times out of six.
Round Five awaits
Once more it’s France’s turn to host. Two years ago England bored the pants off the crowd in Bayonne, but their emphasis on forward power paid great dividends. Since then they have re-developed their back play, so can offer threats fore and aft.
Les Bleues have yet to prove they possess a bench to equal the strength and know-how of the Red Roses. Somebody has to be Number Two in Europe, but they must be fed up with failing to turn that into Number One.
The squad:
Forwards
Rose Bernadou (Montpellier), Axelle Berthoumieu (Blagnac), Manon Bigot (Blagnac), Léa Champon (Grenoble), Annaëlle Deshayes (Stade Bordelais), Charlotte Escudero (Stade Toulousain), Madoussou Fall (Stade Bordelais), Manae Feleu (Grenoble Amazones), Teani Feleu (Grenoble Amazones, Emeline Gros (Grenoble), Gaëlle Hermet (Stade Toulousain), Clara Joyeux (Blagnac), Assia Khalfaoui (Stade Bordelais), Romane Ménager (Montpellier), Ambre Mwayembe (Grenoble), Elisa Riffonneau (Trailfinders Women), Agathe Sochat (Stade Bordelais), Chloé Vauclin (Stade Rennais), Kiara Zago (Stade Toulousain) (19)
Backs:
Cyrielle Banet (Montpellier), Océane Bordes (Stade Toulousain), Émilie Boulard (Blagnac), Pauline Bourdon Sansus (Stade Toulousain), Morgane Bourgeois (Stade Bordelais), Alexandra Chambon (Grenoble), Caroline Drouin (Stade Rennais), Nassira Konde (Stade Bordelais), Marine Ménager (Montpellier), Lina Queyroi (Blagnac), Suliana Sivi (Stade Rennais), Lina Tuy (ASM Romagnat), Gabrielle Vernier (Blagnac) (13)
