Women's 6 Nations Tournament: despite the record attendance, the French XV leaves the Grand Slam to the English

Les Anglaises ont réussi leur sixième Grand Chelem consécutif. MAXPPP – Gareth Fuller

Les Françaises ont été dominées par le XV de la Rose 42-21, samedi27 avril, lors de cette "finale" du Tournoi des 6 Nations féminin, disputée à Bordeaux dans un stade Chaban-Delmas jamais aussi garni pour un match de rugby féminin dans l’Hexagone.

France was beaten for the thirteenth time in a row by England (42-21), who achieved their sixth Grand Slam in a row, Saturday in Bordeaux, in front of a record crowd for a women's rugby match in France, 28,023 spectators.

Trailing at half-time (35-14), Manae Feleu's teammates spent the second period outnumbered, after the red card addressed to Assia Khalfaoui (43rd). But this is not the only reason for the defeat. Clumsiness, hand mistakes, lost opportunities, a try refused by the video… The French women have perhaps sinned by too much commitment, the desire to do well, and too much excitement.

Clinical Englishwomen

We must also not omit the clinical efficiency of the English, who never let an opportunity to score pass when they found themselves in the French camp.

👏 𝑵𝒐𝒖𝒗𝒆𝒂𝒖 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒅'𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 sur un match des Bleues !

Vous étiez 28 023 supporters à les encourager aujourd'hui à Bordeaux ! ✨
🙏 Merci à tous !#FRAANG #XVdeFrance #NeFaisonsXV pic.twitter.com/VyFCDTKUL6

— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) April 27, 2024

However, we saw some great things on the French side, with a lot of play, a strong defense, three-quarters who try and dare, forwards having regained their automatisms on the touchline. But on Saturday in Chaban-Delmas, more was needed to beat the English, who struck a big blow eighteen months after "their" Global in 2025.

After having taken the first shots, from the 4th minute, the "Red Roses" quickly took the advantage in the score (14-0, 11th), carried by their powerful pack, led by captain Marlie Packer and despite everything heckled by the defense of the Bleues, who made it their "identity& ;quot;. But the English are now also three-quarters of fire, encouraged by their new coach, New Zealander John Mitchell. Back lines that should not be left too much space, like in the 24th minute, when Émilie Boulard, wanting to pass the ball to Gabrielle Vernier, had it intercepted by center Megan Jones.

But French women, too, have their X factor and it has a nickname that we want to sing: Gabrielle "Gaby" Vernier. The pocket center, named best player of the 2023 Tournament and a little shy since the start of this 2024 edition, found the fault to flatten the first French try (17th).

Doubled with Marine Ménager

The second was at the conclusion of a French scrum, from which scrum half Pauline Bourdon Sansus, untenable, was able to send Marine Ménager behind the line -goal (14-21, 27th). Upon returning from the break, and while large black clouds reappeared above Bordeaux, the sky fell on the heads of Manae Feleu's teammates. Khalfaoui, who had already received a yellow card last weekend in Wales, picked up another, transformed into a red after a bunker.

Le déboulé de Marine Ménager sur l’aile pour l’essai des Bleues 🤯😍#FRAANG #NeFaisonsXV #XVdeFrance pic.twitter.com/pUtYpSBB9K

— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) April 27, 2024

"At 15 against 15, it's already hard", had warned before the meeting at the & rsquo;AFP the former second row Safi N’Diaye, worried about the three yellow cards distributed to the Blues in Cardiff. But at 14, it was bound to turn into mission impossible. The French women, however, continued to believe in it, to play quickly, camping in the opposing camp, pushing and pounding the English lines, until offering a double to Marine Ménager (35-21, 69th). But it was too late, the English even drove home the point with a sixth try, and a double, from Matthews.