France resist Black Ferns comeback to claim famous WXV1 victory
The world champion Black Ferns had not faced France since a tight semi-final at the Rugby World Cup last year. This Test promised to be just as tense as both nations got their debut WXV1 campaigns underway in Wellington.
France’s defence was the star of the show, rushing the Black Ferns’ dangerous backline, offering no breathing room and holding New Zealand to their lowest score since 2021’s Northern Tour.
The Black Ferns pressed deep into France’s 22 in the opening minutes, testing the desire of their opponents. Metres were made but ultimately France withstood the onslaught, winning a breakdown turnover to relieve pressure after the demanding opening stanza.
France absorbed more pressure off the ensuing lineout but Emilie Boulard read the play expertly to steal the pass and run 60 metres, outpacing Renee Holmes in the footrace to score the opening points of the match.
The offloads were flowing for the Black Ferns and the fluent attack was bursting the French line in every other phase. Deft touches at the line saw New Zealand burn through metres and again test the French defence on the try line. This time, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u rumbled over and the scores were locked.
The pace was unrelenting and the next big play came from Cyrielle Banet, who made a sweeping run before fending the final defender to run in France’s second try.
France were instantly back on defence upon the resumption of play. Possession was hard won for the French who were often defending deep in their own half with a clearance kick the only course of action once possession was retrieved.
It wasn’t until the half-hour mark that France were able to get the ball in hand with a decent field position. Their few attacking opportunities prior had been exceptionally well taken, but phase play was a physical contest and the battle at the gain line was fierce.
A penalty in front of the posts saw France take the three, pushing their lead to 15-7, where it stayed heading into the halftime break.
It was an untidy start to the second period and France again profited with three points from right out in front.
The Black Ferns looked out of sync on attack, overrunning their lines and missing passes that were going to hand earlier.
With the French defensive line applying heavy pressure, New Zealand found more pay through hard runs from their forwards in tight. But, that is not the identity of this team and the persistence to get the ball wide continued to put the breakdown under all sorts of pressure as backs were caught behind the gain line.
A scrum penalty won the Black Ferns a shot at the posts and Renee Holmes obliged to bring it back to a one-score deficit.
The ambition in New Zealand’s offload game continued to cause more harm than good, surrendering possession and handing France broken play attacking opportunities.
Compounding the New Zealanders’ problems was a red card to Chryss Viliko, who made blatantly dangerous contact on the side of the breakdown in the 65th minute.
Being down a player only galvanized the group and once the offloads started sticking, the Black ferns were on the front foot looking dangerous.
Katelyn Vahaakolo collected a chip through from Ruby Tui and Ruahei Demant slotted the conversion to close the gap to a single point.
The score made for a tense final six minutes. Just like that semi-final one year ago, the slimmest of margins separated the two but this time it was France in the drivers seat and the visitors’ superb defence saw them close the match on top. Final score: 18-17.
Comments on RugbyPass
Great role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
54 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
54 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
54 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
54 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
54 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
54 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
54 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
54 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
54 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
54 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
54 Go to comments