France
Les Bleues have everything to play for.
Theirs is an unlikely story at the World Cup: they have been ever-present, ever a threat, yet in nine attempts they have finished third seven times. Only once, in 1988, have they failed to reach the semis.
Their first opponents are old rivals Italy at Sandy Park; so their version of the official welcome took place at Exeter Cathedral. The majesty of the setting took their breath away. They hadn’t expected anything on this level of grandeur.(A feather in the cap of the organizers).
Every player has now been presented with her own tournament cap – another imaginative gesture. The French wore theirs at jaunty angles for the official photo, with the cathedral as an imposing backdrop.
Their chances
I fear they remain no better than in the past.
There remains the usual proviso: “If everything clicks”, but it so rarely does when the result really matters.
They have beaten all their main rivals (New Zealand, Canada, England) in the past, but they haven’t convinced even their most die-hard supporters that they can repeat these achievements to order.
Their website has published their past record in some detail.
But across three long lists – appearances, try-scorers and points-scorers – only two names appear from this coming tournament. One is the co-coach, Gaelle Mignot; the other is Romane Menager – but it is her sister Marine who makes the trip – injury once again!
It’s hard to put a finger on the causes of French lack of success. A prime one may well prove to be the nature of their contracts, far removed from the English – and several others.
A second brings us back to selection, a topic I may have mentioned a few dozen times before.
Take for example the addition of these five players to the group: Makarita Baleinadogo, Khoudedia Cissockho, Hina Ikahehegi, Taina Maka and Marie Morland. Each has enormous talent and potential, but between them they have gained a mere seven caps. The first and last named may make their debut in England.
Add to them Carla Neisen, highly experienced with 27 caps. But she had devoted herself mainly to 7s till a recent call-up to play England.
With a player-depth similar to England’s, we are left wondering why these extremes of selection have occurred. Every nation has been faced with unwanted absences; the French management hasn’t shown itself capable of preparing for them successfully.
As they complete their training sessions in Exeter, the squad can look forward to another trouble-free passage to the knock-outs; two straightforward wins against Brazil and South Africa; but first the Italy game on Saturday that is vital to obtain the best possible route to ultimate success.
That bridge to a first final? Fingers firmly crossed.
Fixtures
23 August v Italy at Sandy Park
31 August v Brazil at Sandy Park
7 September v South Africa at Northampton
