Last Friday the French squad assembled at the Roissy- Charles de Gaulle Airport outside Paris. The plane flew them to London from where a coach hauled down the long winding road to Exeter. But the accommodation awaiting them there made up for the rigours of the journey. This was Woodbury Park; a few miles outside
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;
You can well imagine the way loyal French fans reacted to the game in Mont-de-Marsan (6-40). Their comments range far and wide. Few are positive. Starting at the top: “Is the staff capable of running a successful Division 2 side?” No! This was evidenced by instructions an assistant offered during a water-break; “Get hold of
The Red Roses achieved their sixteenth consecutive win over France in a strangely shaped match in Mont-de-Marsan. For once les Bleues failed to score a single try. They depended on Morgane Bourgeois’ boot for their points. More striking was England’s reversion to type: the style that caused so much dissension up to the last RWC
The management have selected the following players to represent France in their solitary warm-up match before the World Cup: 1 DESHAYE 2 BIGOT 3 BERNADOU 4 M. FELEU 5 MADOUSSOU FALL 6 ESCUDERO 7 CHAMPON 8 T. FELEU 9 CHAMBON 10 ARBEZ 11 ARBEY 12 NEISEN 13 M. MENAGER 14 GRISEZ 15 BOURGEOIS 16 RIFFONNEAU
Here are three very varied items. Canada v USA These old foes met for the last time before the real battles begin. A record-breaking North American crowd of 11,453 provided a wonderful atmosphere. They witnessed an exciting game in which the Eagles took early command to lead 14-0. They built powerful phases to keep the
The French staff have revealed the party to play in the 2025 RWC. Forwards MAKARITA BALEINADOGO ROSE BERNADOU AXELLE BERTHOUMIEU MANON BIGOT YLLANA BROSSEAU LEA CHAMPON KHOUDEDIA CISSOKHO ANNAELLE DESHAYE CHARLOTTE ESCUDERO MADOUSSOU FALL RACLOT MANAE FELEU TEANI FELEU AGATHE GERIN (nee SOCHAT) HINA IKAHEHEGI ASSIA KHALFAOUI TAINA MAKA MARIE MORLAND SERAPHINE OKEMBA ELISA RIFFONNEAU
We have our first dramatic pre-World Cup news flash. Pauline Bourdon-Sansus, in many people’s eyes the greatest current Number 9, has been suspended for two matches. She had made clear in the media (especially in the Sud-Ouest newspaper) her dissatisfaction with refereeing standards. Her criticism was aimed primarily at the reffing of the Elite 1
The Allianz Stadium, London One of the unlikeliest final scores this famed tournament has known. In the tensest atmosphere you could wish for outside a World Cup final, the game went down to the last minute and the last point. Maybe you’ve known a win by the odd-point in 85 in so critical a match.
England v France The two managements have now made their decisions. They take on even greater significance, as they hint at the likeliest starting sides at the World Cup. Teams: England 1 Hannah Botterman 2 Lark Atkin-Davies 3 Maud Muir 4 Morwenna Talling 5 Abbie Ward 6 Zoe Aldcroft (captain) 7 Maddie Feaunati 8 Alex
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