The FFR were kind enough to announce a squad to prepare for WXV before anyone else. But it is a work in progress, not the finished article. Who can tell where an axe may fall before the plane finally takes off?
The group of 35 divides up 19 forwards,16 backs, but we must bear in mind the four unavailables added below (three forwards, one back).
The Squad
Julie Annery (Stade Bordelais), Carla Arbez (Stade Bordelais), Cyrielle Banet (Montpellier), Axelle Berthounieu (Blagnac), Emilie Boulard (Blagnac), Pauline Bourdon (Stade Toulousain), Morgane Bourgeois (Stade Bordelais), Yllana Brosseau (Bobigny), Alexandra Chambon (Grenoble), Annaëlle Deshayes (Stade Bordelais), Charlotte Escudero (Stade Toulousain), Madoussou Fall (Stade Bordelais), Manae Feleu (Grenoble), Maëlle Filopon (Blagnac), Audrey Forlani (Blagnac), Emeline Gros (Grenoble), Gaëlle Hermet (Stade Toulousain), Clara Joyeux (Blagnac), Assia Khalfaoui (Stade Bordelais), Nassira Kondé Stade Bordelais), Coco Lindelauf (Blagnac), Marine Ménager (Montpellier), Romane Ménager (Montpellier), Lina Queyroi (Blagnac), *Mabinty Sylla (Stade Bordelais), Laure Touyé (Montpellier), Gabrielle Vernier (Blagnac), *Mélanie Blanchard (Stade Rennais), *Léa Champon (Grenoble), *Lilou Graciet (LOU Rugby, Lyon), *Eneka Labeyrie (LOU Rugby, Lyon), *Ambre Mwayembe (Grenoble), *Suliana Sivi (Stade Rennais), *Lina Tuy (Romagnat), *Marion Zdzioblo (Stade Bordelais)
* uncapped
Unavailable at the time of announcement: Rose Bernadou, Caroline Boujard, Célia Domain and Agathe Sochat.
That’s quite a stack of lesser known names at the end. Despite the ongoing triumphs French junior squads have known for several years (their Under 18s made their English counterparts look like beginners), it’s hard to imagine more than the odd one or two appearing in three such high-profile games.
It will be fascinating to see whether the management keeps Audrey Forlani as captain. She became the surprise choice as Mignot and David Ortiz took over. By some accounts her younger predecessor, Gaëlle Hermet, was less than enraptured by the news; even less by being left on the bench.
Now with Madoussou Fall restored to fitness (we hope) and Manae Feleu hoping to gain a starting place alongside her in the second row, Forlani’s starting position must be under threat. The official list makes no mention of a captain, which may be an indicator in its own right.
Sevens versus Fifteens – not again!
Yes, I’m afraid so. While we see Nassira Kondé’s name included above, other leading short-form experts such as Caroline Drouin, Marie Dupouy and Mélissande Llorens are missing. It’s perfectly possible that all three and others will be restored to full strength before departure. But it still leaves a taste of dissatisfaction in the mouth; fans are so rarely sure who will be able to join in. If Sevens players do return, then it must be at the expense of others who have played a full part in preparation.
Sadly, nobody, least of all World Rugby, is in a position to draw a clear dividing-line between the two formats.
The French Schedule
v New Zealand, Friday 21 October, Wellington
v Australia, Friday 28 October, Dunedin
v Canada, Saturday 4 November, Auckland
Les Bleues have to face the hosts and favourites first. They may see that as the challenge they want – or not. On balance, the sides having to travel halfway around the world may prefer an easier contest first up. That is England’s privilege. But unlike them, Les Bleues are the proud owners of four successive wins over the world champions.
They will have a distinct advantage in the large numbers of players from just five leading clubs: Stade Bordelais 9, Blagnac 8, Grenoble 5, Montpellier 4 and Stade Toulousain 3. That’s 29 out of a group of 35; it brings an unusual degree of familiarity between players. And yes, Stade Bordelais have been buying in star players the way certain English clubs have. It has made them national champions.
One crucial area will be the strength France can offer on the bench. That has so often proved the tipping-point in recent Anglo-French crunches, where the last few minutes have turned the result in England’s favour.
The French target remains the same as ever: to maintain their top standards through to the end of the final game. They have proved the eternal bridesmaids when it comes to the most fashionable weddings, repeatedly falling at the semi-final stage in World Cups. For the WXV it’s more straightforward, three big matches for which they can prepare with clarity and purpose. Their coach, Gaëlle Mignot, has herself known a succession of disappointments. It will be a real triumph for her if she can inspire a very talented squad to alter history.
