Chronique du Tournoi : Une victoire laborieuse pour les Bleues
Après sa belle victoire contre l’Irlande (38-17), l’équipe de France se déplaçait, ce samedi 30 mars, en Ecosse pour le compte de la deuxième journée du Tournoi des Six Nations féminin. Les Ecossaises, quant à elles, revenues victorieuses du Pays de Galles (18-20), une première depuis 20 ans, avaient décroché la 6e place au classement mondial, leur meilleur ranking de l’histoire ! Malgré ce beau résultat, les statistiques penchaient en faveur des Bleues qui partaient ultra favorites sur le match : leur dernière défaite face à l’Ecosse remontait à 2010 et la France s’était imposée 55-0 l’année dernière !
L’équipe de France domine mais ne marque pas
Dès les premières minutes de la rencontre, l’équipe de France met la main sur le ballon et envoie beaucoup de jeu, lancée notamment par Pauline Bourdon-Sansus, en parfaite animatrice. De la vitesse, du rythme, des enchainements fluides, on se dit que l’après-midi va être longue pour le XV du chardon. Romane Ménager et Assia Khalfaoui sont très sollicitées et cassent de nombreux plaquages, mettant leurs coéquipières dans l’avancée. Mais si l’équipe de France domine, elle ne marque pas !
A plusieurs reprises, le dernier geste pêche face à une défense valeureuse des Ecossaises. Ainsi, Bourdon-Sansus puis Kondé commettent un en-avant à quelques mètres de l’en-but tandis que Khalfaoui ne peut aplatir que sur des mains écossaises. Un manque de réalisme frustrant tant les Bleues se créent les occasions pour prendre le large.
Leurs adversaires font le dos rond toute la mi-temps et installent progressivement leur jeu, jusqu’à obtenir une pénaltouche et marquer le premier essai de la rencontre par Martin (5-3, 35e).
Le score à la mi-temps ne reflète absolument pas la domination territoriale des Bleues mais révèle le manque criant de concrétisation français.
Une deuxième mi-temps poussive
Dès le retour des vestiaires, les Bleues remettent la marche en avant, profitant d’avoir cette fois le vent dans le dos. Kelly Arbey, la jeune ailière toulousaine, est à la conclusion d’une belle avancée sur mêlée et marque le premier essai des Bleues (5-8, 53e).
On pense les joueuses de Gaëlle Mignot et David Ortiz libérées, mais il n’en est rien. La deuxième mi-temps est à l’image de la première : les Bleues balbutient leur rugby et commettent beaucoup de fautes de main. Si la mêlée est stable, la touche devient fébrile et les tricolores perdent cinq précieux ballons dans ce secteur.
Malgré cela, les Françaises se créent des occasions mais les pertes de balles sont beaucoup trop nombreuses pour espérer concrétiser. Il faut attendre la 82e minute et la dernière attaque bleue pour voir un nouvel essai, marqué par Emeline Gros (5-13, 80e).
Une victoire peu rassurante
L’essentiel est là : la victoire est assurée, mais que ce fût douloureux ! Après le 55-0 obtenu l’année dernière, le score final de la rencontre est extrêmement frustrant et ne reflètent pas les ambitions de l’équipe de France. Si Romane Ménager et Manaé Feleu ont été percutantes, Sochat et Fall n’ont pas su faire la différence comme elles l’avaient fait la semaine précédente. Très en vues face à l’Irlande, Queyroi et Boulard ont été beaucoup plus timorées sur les lignes arrières.
Le score a été si serré jusqu’à la fin que le staff n’a pu faire entrer les jeunes Lina Tuy et Morgane Bourgeois.
Les Bleues s’imposent donc, mais sans le bonus, et les inquiétudes entrevues face à l’Irlande n’ont pas su être gommées avec notamment 20 fautes de main et 10 pénalités concédées. Si l’envie et la capacité d’avancée des tricolores sont bien présentes, il faut absolument trouver les clés pour corriger techniquement ces pertes de balles et imprécisions face à ligne.
La réception de l’Italie, le dimanche 14 avril prochain à Jean-Bouin, peut être un match piège.
Comments on RugbyPass
I reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
1 Go to commentsHaha did he always say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
42 Go to commentsWell 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.
122 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.
6 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…”
122 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
42 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.
6 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
122 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.
42 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 comments