We should have expected it, but we didn’t. This French squad to face the Black Ferns is far from what most people might have expected. How many French fans got it right?
The squad:
15 Morgane Bourgeois (Stade Bordelais), 14 Cyrielle Banet (Montpellier HR), 13 Marine Ménager (Montpellier HR), 12 Gabrielle Vernier (Blagnac), 11 Émilie Boulard (Blagnac), 10 Lina Queyroi (Blagnac), 9 Alexandra Chambon (Grenoble Amazones), 1 Ambre Mwayembe (Grenoble Amazones), 2 Elisa Riffonneau (Trailfinders Women), 3 Clara Joyeux (Blagnac), 4 Manae Feleu (captain, Grenoble Amazones), 5 Madoussou Fall (Stade Bordelais), 6 Axelle Berthoumieu (Blagnac), 7 Gaëlle Hermet (Stade Toulousain), 8 Charlotte Escudero (Stade Toulousain)
Bench: 16 Laure Touye (Montpellier HR), 17 Coco Lindelauf (Blagnac), 18 Assia Khalfaoui (Stade Bordelais), 19 Audrey Forlani (Blagnac), 20 Léa Champon (Grenoble Amazones), 21 Emeline Gros (Grenoble Amazones), 22 Pauline Bourdon-Sansus (Stade Toulousain), 23 Nassira Konde (Stade Bordelais)
David Ortiz explains the thinking like this: the group is still in a development stage. That helps to explain the inclusion of two youngsters in the front row, Ambre Mwayembe and Elisa Riffonneau. But it places a responsibility on Clara Joyeux’s head at tight-head to show them the way.
Gaëlle Mignot limits herself to generalities, foregrounding the squad’s sympathy for the men who came so close to reaching their target of a World Cup triumph, then echoing Ortiz’ line about gradual development.
It would be fascinating to know how many other head coaches would adopt the same approach when faced with a match of such singular importance.
Mignot recognises the magnitude of the task the team is taking on. Adaptability will be crucial for them, and there they have the advantage of a range of game-skills.
On the bench the selectors opt for a 6/2 split between forwards and backs. No need to underline the reasons why, or the perils it threatens. Out behind they have just a great scrum-half (who used to double as a 10) and a talented Sevens speedster, only recently transferred to the longer format. Should a back suffer an early injury…
This game is the pick of the weekend’s trio. The other four nations will learn a heap from it.
Details:
Saturday 21 October, KO 07.00 (UK time); Sky Stadiium, Wellington
