Morgane Bourgeois’ Women's Six Nations notebook: Chapter 3

Joanna Grisez’s withdrawal marked the beginning of the week. After just one match it was a rather chilling moment when she was forced to leave us. Everyone knows just how vital she is to the team.

Unsurprisingly, there is widespread concern, and the results follow fairly quickly. This is a heavy blow for the squad, but above all for Joanna: we know that her road to recovery will be a long one. Nevertheless, Joanna finds some very positive and reassuring words, leaving us on an encouraging note.

A revitalised squad

Teani Feleu took over immediately and, as always, brought her good humour and freshness with her. After four weeks of living together her arrival does the squad a world of good as she injects new energy and a breath of fresh air into daily life.

The arrival of the Under-21s that week reinforces this feeling. They are there to prepare for their tournament and, soon, the girls who already know each other from their clubs are reunited. They chat, share and play together.

These new faces, like Teani, provide a welcome change in the fourth week, when life in a group can sometimes feel monotonous.

Trip to Wales

Next, we depart for Wales on a chartered flight. This is always a special and rewarding experience. Particularly for those who are doing it for the first time. We’re staying at the same incredible hotel as two years ago.

The captain’s run doesn’t quite go to plan. There’s pressure and nervous energy. But that won’t necessarily reflect the match the next day as the leaders were keen to point out.

On Saturday morning, we had some free time, many of us went out for coffee by Cardiff Bay to enjoy the scenery and get some fresh air.

The match and its consequences

The match isn’t straightforward. Just like last week, the first half is tight but we manage to find our rhythm in the second 40 minutes. Afterwards, everything happened in quick succession. We popped over to watch the Under-21s in the curtain-raiser for just a few minutes as we had to head back early.

As if Joanna’s injury wasn’t enough Gaby Vernier got injured too. A second blow for the team. That’s sport for you. But losing a pair of centres in consecutive matches is rare and frustrating.

Gaby is a key part of the squad

Gaby is not just a leader on the pitch. She plays a huge part in squad life through her energy and genuine commitment to the team.

She’s often teased for her nostalgia, which always seems to kick in a bit too early at the end of a tournament, but deep down, she’s right.

She fully appreciates the value of these moments. Losing her means losing an excellent player and a part of the collective spirit.