A week after letting the Black Ferns get away, France go again with a partly reshuffled side, and not only by choice.
Three new caps
François Ratier has picked three players who have never worn the France shirt: Maïlys Mailagi, Mouna Touré and Élodie Fernandez. All three start on the bench on Saturday at 5.45pm at the Stade Maurice-David in Aix-en-Provence.
Élodie Fernandez, a 23-year-old fly-half from the Haute Vallée de l’Aude, was called up this summer to prepare for the competition. It was her first time at Marcoussis.
Five changes, three of them forced
The head coach has made five changes to his starting XV. Three of them are not selection decisions: Kelly Arbey, Lili Dezou and Chloé Jacquet have joined the France sevens squad. As a knock-on effect, Anaïs Grando, Gabrielle Vernier and Émilie Boulard come into the side.
Up front, Elisa Riffonneau starts at hooker and Cloé Correa in the second row.
Starting XV: Boulard, Grando, Vernier, Téani Feleu, Murie Arbez, Bourdon Sansus, Champon, Escudero, Berthoumieu, Correa, Grosz, Khalfaoui, Riffonneau, Mwayembe.
Replacements: Mailagi, Brosseau, Deshaye, Soqeta, Touré, Chambon, Queyroi, Fernandez.
After a false start
France opened their Global Series campaign with a 28-14 defeat to New Zealand in Lyon. After trailing, they had closed to within seven points before fading in the final quarter of an hour.
Assia Khalfaoui, who starts again at tighthead prop, sums up what was missing: “We still lack technical accuracy.” The head coach, for his part, is asking for patience with a largely new-look group.
Unpaid leave to wear the shirt
Julia Grosz, who makes a second straight start in the second row, described what her first cap cost her: “I had to take unpaid leave to be with France.” It is a timely reminder just as Montpellier Hérault Rugby announce plans to make their women’s set-up semi-professional over three years.
The squad still lives with a foot in two worlds, and that is what makes absences hard to absorb. Three starters have left for sevens. On top of that come Manae Feleu, who is putting her studies first, Madoussou Fall Raclot, who is pregnant, and Kiara Zago: three players with 96 caps between them.
“Very solid and physical”
The head coach makes no secret of what awaits his players. “Australia are very solid and physical,” warns François Ratier, who above all wants something else from his side after the false start against New Zealand: “We have to show a lot more precision under pressure.”
That is exactly what was missing in Lyon. Having closed to within seven points, France gave way in the final quarter of an hour, just when accuracy matters most.
The rest of the Global Series
France face Canada on 26 September in their third match of the competition, before heading to New Zealand in October.
This schedule serves as a full-scale rehearsal: every one of these opponents is among the nations that will have to be beaten to go all the way, and the side put together this autumn is the one that will play next year.
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