France’s women’s XV, seeking a maiden World Cup final, came very close to feat at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday, losing on the wire against New Zealand (25-24), after a missed penalty from Caroline Drouin on the last minute. The Black Ferns, reigning world champions, will meet England in the final next Saturday, victorious over Canada (26-19), with Les Bleues taking on the bronze medal.

The French, for the eighth time in the semi-finals of a World Cup, have again failed at the gates of the final, against a team they had just beaten four times in a row. For this first game between the two nations on New Zealand soil, in a sparse Eden Park, the tension lasted until the end, with this penalty that the Blues conceded at the last minute, but which Drouin, otherwise impeccable, did not fail to pass . Solidarity and without complexes: in response to the haka of the New Zealanders, the Blues, who had repeated all week that they “desecrated» their opponents and «trivializehad at that moment chosen to gather in a circle on the lawn of Eden Park, to shout out the «Marseillaise“.

blue wall

In a sky colored pink by the setting sun, they set the tone of entry, occupying the field and opting to play a penalty touch rather than attempt the penalty. Great choice: the third row Romane Menager, back from a fortnight’s rest after suffering a concussion against England in the group match, has energy to spare. During the week his captain Gaëlle Hermet had warned: “if there’s one player you shouldn’t see too often on the pitch on Saturday, it’s her!“On this penalty, the Montpellier player just needs to flatten powerfully and Drouin to transform (10-0, 23rd).

After the cut of the score by back Renee Holmes (10-3, 29th), the “Black ferns» tried to break through the blue wall, but the Habs, with the best defense of the teams in the last four, did not panic, tackling and tackling again, Charlotte Escudero and Madoussou Fall in the lead. After a scrum, leaving the ball quickly, they went on to score their first try through center Stacey Fluhler to finish: draw (10-10, 37th). The French women could have started to have doubts then. Nothing happened: they immediately responded with an attempt from center Gabrielle Vernier, to return to the dressing room ahead (17-10).

After the break, on a low kick from Holmes, the New Zealanders took control and signed their second effort from center Ruby Tui (17-15, 44th). In a still intense encounter, the two sides battled in riotous energy until, on a carried ball closed by center Teresa Fitzpatrick, New Zealand took the advantage for the first time (22-17, 56th, then 25-17, 63rd ). Thanks to Romane Menager, again her, France took the score (25-24, 65th). Safi N’Diaye, decisive in the previous attempt and for his 90th selection, then received a yellow card, without the New Zealanders being able to take advantage of it.

Even they are penalized at the end of the game: victory is at Drouin’s feet, but thirty meters from the posts his shot is too short, causing Eden Park to roar with relief. An Eden Park once again cruel to French rugby, eleven years after the Blues’ 8-7 defeat to the All Blacks in the 2011 World Cup final.

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