Chronique du Tournoi : un quasi sans faute pour les Françaises
Ce dimanche, les Bleues affrontaient leurs homologues italiennes pour le compte de la troisième journée du Tournoi des Six Nations féminin. Les joueuses de David Ortiz et Gaëlle Mignot étaient fortement attendues après leur prestation mitigée en Ecosse, qui s’était soldée par une victoire étriquée (5-15). Il fallait absolument rectifier le tir pour rassurer et se rassurer dans ce Tournoi !
Une première mi-temps parfaite
Les coéquipières de Manaé Feleu avaient donc à cœur de montrer un tout autre visage. Il fallait ne laisser aucune chance à une équipe italienne en confiance, puisque victorieuse en terre Irlandaise lors de la précédente journée.
Les Françaises ne tardent pas à entrer dans la partie avec un essai de Nassira Kondé dès la deuxième minute. Emmenées par une Pauline Bourdon-Sansus très en forme – comme depuis le début du Tournoi – les Bleues tiennent le ballon et enchainent les temps de jeu !
Très peu pénalisées, les Françaises occupent le camp italien et semble avoir réglé le problème d’indiscipline rencontré en Ecosse. Deshayes (23e), Escudero (32e) et Llorrens (38e), franchissent la ligne d’en-but adverse et permettent à l’équipe de France d’empocher le point de bonus offensif dès la première mi-temps. (26-3).
Cette concrétisation est également très rassurante car elle avait fait défaut aux Bleues en Ecosse, incapables de transformer leur temps mort. Il faut souligner l’énorme performante de la première ligne 100% bordelaise – Deshayes, Sochat, Joyeux – très en vue dans le secteur offensif et à l’origine de nombreuses avancées.
La copie de cette première mi-temps est parfaite, les Italiennes sont étouffées par le jeu français et les Bleues ont retrouvé leur efficacité offensive, avec notamment beaucoup de rigueur dans les soutiens et donc de la continuité dans le jeu.
Une deuxième mi-temps plus timide
Si les Françaises marquent dès la 44e minute par Assia Khalfaoui, elles sont moins appliquées sur la seconde période. La conquête est plus fébrile avec trois touches perdues consécutivement.
Des ballons précieux, qui relancent les Italiennes, qui parviennent ainsi à reprendre possession de la balle et à enchainer les temps de jeu. Par deux fois, D’Inca profite d’erreurs défensives pour s’envoler dans l’en-but français, avec notamment une course de plus de 50 mètres sur son dernier essai. Ces deux actions seront sans conséquence sur le score final, puisque les Bleus l’emportent largement, 38-15.
Si l’essentiel est assuré, l’addition aurait pu être beaucoup plus lourde pour les Italiennes, tant les Françaises ont dominé les débats. A noter, la très bonne entrée de Téani Feleu – sœur de Manaé – qui pour sa première cape n’a pas tremblé et a amené toute sa puissance sur les duels offensifs.
Aujourd’hui, les Tricolores ont rassuré en concrétisant leurs temps forts et en retrouvant cette confiance offensive. C’était une étape indispensable avant de voyager au Pays de Galles, qui reste un adversaire largement à leur portée. Il faudra néanmoins réussir à tenir le rythme et la rigueur sur deux mi-temps pour tenir tête à nos meilleures ennemies anglaises, lors de la dernière journée du Tournoi.
Comments on RugbyPass
Well said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to commentsForget what was said or how many players said it. TONY BROWN IS THE NEW ATTACK COACH. That’s the only story worth freaking out over. The springboks are going to grow their game an awful lot over the next cycle and it’s not just the 19 disgustingly arrogant Irish players who refused to shake Ebens hand and said “see you in the final if you can cheat your way past France” who will find that out first hand.
121 Go to commentsOn one hand I think it's a bit ridiculous that this gar into the season and with only 2 wins the Crusaders may make the finals. On the other hand if it was only top 4 or 5, then that last several weeks may be mainly dead rubbers. Nope, 8th place after round robin shouldn't be able to lift the trophy.
4 Go to commentsI do think the media in NZ treated him badly. Sam is a legend. He is humble, a great rugby mind and leader. What happened in the final could happen to anyone. The margins is so fine these days. I lay blame at the feet of the coaching staff and NZ rugby. The stats tell’s all. The AB’s was the worst disciplined side in the WC with more red and yellow cards than anyone else. Problem is NZ rugby is not training their players to play safer. And thats the danger a fast game brings. More yellow and red cards. But Sam Cane in my eye was and still is a great ambassador for the game, that just had a stroke of bad luck.
5 Go to commentsI hope Jim and co. Add this to their list of icebreaker questions they can ask all their guests going forward. So we can eventually hear what everyone thinks about this subject. “What do you think Ireland meant…”
121 Go to commentsHe’s a dominant personality. That might be both a good and bad thing in team dynamics. Certainly it ruined Smith’s first crack at 10 with Owen at 12. BTW, Bristol flatter to deceive. When things really matter, they tend to deliver less rather than more. Farrell would have been good for them
36 Go to commentsGot a lot of over the top abuse from Crusader fans, in particular, who thought every 7 they had was miles better. Now we will see if anyone is better? Laid his body on the line every game so finishing early makes sense. A lot of life left after rugby.
5 Go to commentsA poor decision to appoint Carley as not only is Pearce a better referee but also importantly speaks French.
2 Go to commentsHe is 100 % on the mark. Malicious arrogance with a lack of respect for the other teams mostly the south. they must learn from True rugby nations like the Boks and Kiwis
121 Go to commentsThis Outiniqua boy has played sublime rugby and deserves a spot in BI LIONS team. Well played son
4 Go to commentsI don’t like to see players miss big matches but this ban looks to be tailored to allow him to compete in the final. In principle a suspension for a very dangerous tackle in a semi should warrant missing the relevant final. Done now. One the flip side having both teams with very strong squads/teams available for the final will add to the occassion hopefully.
1 Go to commentsTalent to burn and a huge engine..hope he gets a shot at higher honours
2 Go to commentsIf anything like his dad he has a bright future, Soane was the best ball carrying props ive ever seen using a combination of pace power and footwork.
1 Go to commentsThose who saw Sharks vs Clermont and Ox N'Che vs Rabah Slimani should have a good idea of the best scrumagers… May be not the best props…
2 Go to commentsIt's been an unusual era of unpopular, highly competitive, domineering, fairly big fly halves in the home nations with Farrell, Sexton and Biggar. Russell is different in personality and player I think. I'd rank Sexton first of the three because he is just as good a game controller but also has a great passing game. And his competitiveness never seems to cause problems with refs.
36 Go to commentsThank goodness he wasn't born in Scotland, he'd have been a great candidate for the Scottish Barbarians. I wouldn't put it past them to push for a “where the player was conceived” rule 😂
2 Go to commentsOwen Farrell is one of the most polarising figures in the game. His entire attitude on the field (and sometimes off of it) smacks of arrogance and he is about as brash as Donald Trump in a political debate. Yet behind that facade is a calculating, determined and powerful leader who drives any team forward with an Iron will. You are right in that he gets better in the heat of battle and in the face of overwhelming odds. He develops a narrow focus and he delivers his best in a way that few others can. He is one of Englands great performers who sacrificed alot for the team and who often bears the weight of responsibility of leadership alone on the field and in front of the media. Despite what many think of him he is a fantastic game manager with a good rugby brain. He will be sorely missed from the international stage
36 Go to commentsAlways proud of the effort, Sam. The All blacks never stop fighting, never just roll over. He didn’t get anywhere near the respect he earned, but that’s due to results, not commitment to the cause. Have fun dominating in Japan!
1 Go to comments