Hopes are high after some good individual performances from the Welsh players in the Allianz Premier 15s and the challenge is to break a run of four defeats in last season’s tournament. There will also be a whiff of revenge in the air given France came to Cardiff last year and went away with a 50-0 victory.
Gutsy second-half performance but French just too good
Ymdrech da #MenywodCymru #FRAvWAL pic.twitter.com/vbuoXqmoFw— Welsh Rugby Union 🏉 (@WelshRugbyUnion) April 3, 2021
FINAL SCORE: FRANCE 53 – WALES
A yellow card to Georgia Evans in overtime allows the French to drive a line-out over the line for an eighth try to round things off and surpass last year’s score in Cardiff.
SEVENTH TRY FOR FRANCE
Wales twice held up the French over their own line and then pushed them off a scrum, but one last counter attack earned impressive full back Emily Boulard a try in the corner to wrap things up.
France’s Emeline Gros runs in a try
ANOTHER POWER SCRUM FROM THE FRENCH – SECOND TRY FOR GROS
The French are turning up the heat up front and another power scrum destroys the Welsh pack and Emeline Gross picks up her second try of the second half from close range. This time Pauline Bourdon converts.
France 43 – 0 Wales
TRY NO 5 FOR FRANCE
A magnificent scrum from the French pushes Wales off their own ball. No 8 Emeline Gros picks up and runs straight to the posts for a fifth try. Caroline Bourdon’s conversion attempt is charged down by Jasmine Joyce.
FRANCE 36 – 0 WALES
BACK IN ACTION IN VANNES
Elinor Snowsill has got the second half underway and it is going to be a rearguard action from the Welsh team as they try to make a dent in their 31-0 half-time deficit.
HALF-TIME: FRANCE 31 – 0 WALES
A tough first-half for the Wales. They gave away a string of penalties and were consistently punished by the home side. The defence has been brave, but they have yet to reach the home 22.
France’s Caroline Boujard scores a try
FRANCE EXTEND LEAD
Pauline Bourdon has added a simple penalty to make it 24-0 after half-an-hour. France are dominating the collisions and Wales are giving away too many penalties.
FLYING START FOR THE FRENCH
The Montpellier wing Caroline Boujard notched a hat-trick within 15 minutes at the start in Vannes. She crossed in the 3rd, 6th and 15th minutes as France sped into a 21-0 lead. Scrum half Pauline Bourdon converted all three as the French punished a catalogue of Welsh errors.
KICK-OFF
We’re underway in Vannes and Siwan Lillicrap’s team are ready to show new head coach Warren Abrahams what they are capable of against a strong French outfit.
POWER PACKED FRENCH SQUAD FOR SIX NATIONS 2021 / TEAM V WALES
Annick Hayraud has named a 35-player French squad packed with talent and experience. Back rower Gaelle Hermet continues as captain and among the players is the World Rugby Player of the Decade Jessy Tremouliere. She starts on the bench against Wales.
French Team v Wales: Emilie Boulard; Caroline Boujard, Maelle Filopon, Gabrielle Vernier, Marine Menager; Morgane Peyronnet, Pauline Bourdon; Annaelle Deshaye, Agathe Sochat, Clara Joyeux, Coumba Diallo, Madoussou Fall, Celine Ferer, Gaelle Hermet, Emeline Gros
Reps: Laure Touye, Arkya Ait Lahbib, Mailys Dhia Traore, Safi N’Diaye, Marjorie Mayans, Laure Sansus, Camille Imart, Jessy Tremouliere
French Squad
Backs
Cyrielle Banet (29 Aug 1994/Montpellier/Wing)
Caroline Boujard (6 Jan 1994/Montpellier/Wing)
Emilie Boulard (Chilly Mazarin/Full-back)
Pauline Bourdon (4 Nov 1995/Bayonne/Scrum-half)
Marie Dupouy (27 Jul 2002/Blagnac/Centre)
Maelle Filopon (27 May 1997/Toulouse/Wing)
Camille Imart (11 Jan 1995/Toulouse/Fly-half)
Marine Menager (26 Jul 1996/Montpellier/Wing)
Morgane Peyronnet (6 Jul 1992/Montpellier/Centre)
Elise Pignot (2 Dec 1995/Romagnat/Full-back)
Laure Sansus (21 Jun 1994/Toulouse/Scrum-half)
Jessy Tremouliere (29 Jul 1992/Romagnat/Full-back)
Gabrielle Vernier (2 Jun 1997/Blagnac/Centre)
Forwards
Arkya Ait Lahbib (22 Feb 1992/Montpellier/Prop)
Julie Annery (12 Jun 1995/Stade Français/Back-row)
Lise Arricastre (17 Jun 1991/Lons/Prop)
Rose Bernadou (3 Mar 2000/Montpellier/Prop)
Alexandra Chambon (2 Aug 2000/Grenoble Amazones/Lock)
Lenaig Corson (15 Mar 1989/Stade Français/Lock)
Annaelle Deshaye (16 Mar 1996/Lyon/Prop)
Coumba Diallo (27 Sep 1990/Stade Français/Back-row)
Célia Domain (24 Apr 2000/Blagnac/Prop)
Madoussou Fall (17 Mar 1998/Bobigny/Lock)
Celine Ferer (21 Jun 1991/Toulouse/Lock)
Emeline Gros (19 Aug 1995/Montpellier/Back-row)
Gaelle Hermet (12 Jun 1996/Toulouse/Back-row)
Clara Joyeux (10 Jan 1998/Blagnac/Prop)
Assia Khalfaoui (24 Mar 2001/Stade Bordelais/Prop)
Marjorie Mayans (17 Nov 1990/Blagnac/Back-row)
Safi N’Diaye (16 Jun 1988/Montpellier/Lock)
Agathe Sochat (21 May 1995/Montpellier/Hooker)
Mabinty Sylla (2 Feb 2020/Blagnac/Lock)
Caroline Thomas (26 Sep 1991/Romagnat/Hooker)
Laure Touye (12 May 1996/Montpellier/Hooker)
Mailys Dhia Traore (9 Jul 1995/Toulouse/Prop)
CAPTAINS MEET FOR THE COIN TOSS
🇫🇷🏴 Le 𝐓𝐎𝐒𝐒 vient d'être effectué entre les capitaines !
Les Bleues donneront le coup d'envoi ! Rendez-vous dans 45min sur @France4tv 📺#FRAGAL #XVdeFrance #NeFaisonsXV pic.twitter.com/NGMchcc0W9
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) April 3, 2021
WALES V FRANCE
(Stade de la Rabine, Vannes, 8pm BST, BBC iplayer)
15 Robyn Wilkins (Worcester Warriors)
14 Lisa Neumann (Sale Sharks)
13 Hannah Jones (vice-capt, Gloucester-Hartpury)
12 Kerin Lake (Gloucester-Hartpury)
11 Jasmine Joyce (Bristol Bears)
10 Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Bears)
9 Jess Roberts (Sale Sharks);
1 Caryl Thomas (Worcester Warriors)
2 Kelsey Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury),
3 Donna Rose (Saracens)
4 Gwen Crabb (Gloucester-Hartpury)
5 Teleri Wyn Davies (Sale Sharks)
6 Georgia Evans (Saracens)
7 Manon Johnes (Bristol Bears)
8 Siwan Lillicrap (capt, Bristol Bears)
Replacements
16 Robyn Lock (Gloucester-Hartpury)
17 Cara Hope (Gloucester-Hartpury)
18 Cerys Hale (Gloucester-Hartpury)
19 Bethan Dainton (Harlequins)
20 Natalia John (Bristol Bears)
21 Megan Davies (Exeter Chiefs)
22 Gemma Rowland (Bristol Bears)
23 Courtney Keight (Bristol Bears)
WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS 2021
ROUND 1 ROUND 2
Saturday, 3 April Saturday, 10 April
Pool A: England 52 – 10 Scotland Pool A: Italy – England
Pool B: France – Wales Pool B: Wales – Ireland
ROUND 3 FINALS DAY
Saturday, 17 April Saturday, 24 April
Pool A: Scotland – Italy Italy – Unknown
Pool B: Ireland – France England – Unknown
Scotland – Unknown
COMFORTABLE START FOR ENGLAND
Twin sisters Bryony and Poppy Cleall both crossed for tries as England opened the defence of their Six Nations title with a comfortable 52-10 win over Scotland in Doncaster.
England scored eight tries in all, four of which Katy McLean converted, but they also picked up two yellow cards and were down to 13 at one stage in the second half. The Scots scored one try and also picked up two yellows and a red card for replacement hooker Molly Wright for a dangerous tackle three minutes after she had come onto the field.
England had picked up a bonus-point by half-team. Marlie Packer scored the first try of the 2021 Championship in the 10th minute, while Leanne Riley, Lark Davies, Bryony Cleall and Jess Breach also crossed before half-time.
The reigning champions went on to confirm they are going to be the team to beat in the re-vamped tournament as they went immediately to the top of Pool A.
