The final score suggests clear dominance. The way the match unfolded says otherwise: in the 66th minute, France were within a converted try of the world champions.

Four New Zealand tries, two for France

New Zealand scored through Justine McGregor in the 13th minute, Mia Anderson in the 25th, Mererangi Paul in the 45th and Liana Mikaele-Tu’u in the 70th. Braxton Sorensen-McGee converted all four.

For France, Pauline Bourdon Sansus scored the first try in the 35th minute, converted by Carla Arbez, and Lina Queyroi the second in the 66th, which she converted herself.

The match stayed alive until the 70th minute

France never led, but they did not collapse. Trailing 14-0 after twenty-six minutes, they went in at the break 7-14 down.

Mererangi Paul’s try early in the second half, in the 45th minute, pushed them fourteen points back, 7-21. Queyroi’s in the 66th cut the gap to seven, 14-21, a converted try, with a quarter of an hour to go.

That was when New Zealand pulled clear again, through Mikaele-Tu’u in the 70th minute.

Two first caps

François Ratier had picked two players who had never worn the shirt, centre Lili Dezou and Blagnac lock Julia Grosz. Pauline Bourdon Sansus captained the side in the absence of Manae Feleu, and scored.

Aubane Rousset and Rose Bernadou were ruled out.

Five more matches to come

The match opened the Women’s XV Global Series, which replaces WXV without keeping its format: no table and no trophy, but a six-match tour for France, against New Zealand, Australia and Canada at home, then three matches away to the Black Ferns.

It was the first time Lyon had hosted a France women’s Test.