Paraguay is not what it used to be, sang Michel Sardou in 1988. Thirty-three years later, the icon of the variety could adapt his title to the Black Ferns, the female equivalent of the All Blacks. After receiving two corrections from the English, world number one at the moment (43-12 and 56-15) for their start of the European tour, the reigning world champions exploded again this Saturday in Pau, against the XV of France (38-13). That said, we should not devalue the performance of the Blue, who planted six tries (including a double from winger Cyrielle Banet) for only one conceded at the end of the match.
Untouchables! 🏉
the #XVdeFrance gives himself a sixth try thanks to Laure Sansus 🇫🇷 #FRANZL
Follow the end of the match ▶ https://t.co/l1NvGQRtB8 pic.twitter.com/irE1gzVQPS
– francetvsport (@francetvsport) November 13, 2021
In front of 12,000 spectators and in the incandescent atmosphere of the Hameau stadium, Gaëlle Hermet’s teammates left their opponents no chance. “This is the culmination of a lot of work for months, underlined after the meeting the third line and captain tricolor, at the microphone of France 2. We said to ourselves that we wanted to show character, it is validated . For the other test, next week, there will be a few more small flaws to correct. “
Third French victory in a row against the Black Ferns
The two teams will meet again next Saturday in Castres, a few hours before the same poster for men, in Saint-Denis. A week after torpedoing South Africa in Vannes (46-3), the XV of France recorded its third victory in a row against the Black Ferns after the successes of November 2018 at Grenoble 30-27) and July 2019 in Chula Vista (California), during the Super Series (25-16).
Les Bleues hit hard this Saturday, while the next World Cup is scheduled next year in New Zealand, from October 8 to November 12, after a one-year postponement due to the health situation.