France-England: the big signal sent by the English, the Blues are in the dark

TOPS

The carried balloons, the trademark

A clean lineout, good alignment, good structure, and a try. That's what the English repeated four times, against a French side who were completely overwhelmed and sent into their own in-goal area. Much more powerful, the players in pink, well led by an explosive front row, used this strength on several occasions to score points and/or win penalties. Not the most attractive play, certainly, but certainly the most effective.

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Maud Muir (24 years old) put the French defenders through a nightmare. In the Landes heat, the English right prop delivered a hell of a game, making a series of monstrous charges and earning two penalties in the scrum. Powerful, mobile, but above all very technical, with numerous post-contact passes to her name, the Gloucester player even scored her try after a good maul. It was well-deserved, given the performance she put in.

England is more than ready

At home, the Rose players will be favorites for the world crown. This Saturday, they sent a strong signal to the competition with this big away victory. Aggressive—in the good sense of the word—precise, powerful, and realistic, the teammates of Ellie Kildunne (best player in the world in 2024) impressed and showed that they were ready. Let's remember once again that the English players are all professionals, play in better facilities, and do nothing else. This explains their logical domination at the European and world level, even if the New Zealanders are also formidable.

Also read: Alpine hunter, firefighter, rugby at 23… The unusual journey of Manon Bigot, the French team's hooker

FLOPS

Bourdon Sansus missed

You're missing just one person... Suspended for two matches after criticizing the refereeing last May (during the Elite 1 final lost by her team, Toulouse, against Bordeaux), the French scrum-half reminded everyone how important she was to the French team. Her replacement, Alexandra Chambon, failed to organize the French team's play. It must be said that the Blues were so pushed around up front... Her exits from the half, like the ball given away in the 50th minute or the missed light ball a minute later, were not handled carefully enough. Her ball given away too easily just before half-time wasn't a good inspiration either. However, it's difficult to blame her, as it was so difficult to play behind a crushed pack.

Animation, attack, discipline... Nothingness

Trailing by 16 points, the French XV preferred to take all three points. This, perhaps, was the main admission of helplessness in the face of the English steamroller. In Mont-de-Marsan, almost nothing worked. Les Bleues were crushed in the ruck zones, took every hit, were too undisciplined... and conceded 40 points. Like the Landes department number where the match was taking place, ultimately. The only positive notes in this quagmire were the 8,000 spectators present in the stands of the Guy and André Boniface stadium or the strong performances of the lively Joanna Grisez or the powerful Madoussou Fall. And that's about it.