France - England (6-40): Les Bleues crushed two weeks before the start of the World Cup

One step forward, two steps back. We left our Blues behind on the final day of the 6 Nations, falling just one point short (42-43) of a title that has eluded them for seven years. But just over three months later, they were able to once again measure the gap that separates them from their English neighbors, hosts of the next World Cup from August 22 to September 27.

This Saturday, the French women were completely non-existent, failing to score a single try, with only two small penalties awarded. This was a far from satisfactory result, especially against the English steamroller, who were already leading 12-0 after fifteen minutes.

The Red Roses appeared to be in control of the match from start to finish, scoring their third try after the Blues' first three points (3-19, 37th). The fourth came in the same circumstances, three minutes after Morgane Bourgeois' second penalty of the evening (6-26, 47th).

And then the curtain fell, with the English largely dominating, coming to crowd into the French 22 without breaking through. At least until the 75th minute, when they came through with force after a throw-in and then returned to the charge, showing their physical dominance (6-40, 78th).

Six tries conceded and none scored, a real beating and a fourteenth straight defeat for Les Bleues in the Crunch. We have to go back to 2018 for the last victory (18-17), which at the time gave France the last Six Nations.

"It's not mentally tough, there's a lot of frustration," Charlotte Escudero admitted to France 4. "We got caught out a bit everywhere. The crowd gave us a lot, but on the pitch, we weren't there."

Les Bleues will kick off their World Cup campaign on Saturday, August 23, against Italy. They will then follow that with matches against Brazil and South Africa. But this heavy defeat against England will certainly dampen their ambitions.