France top seeds for Olympic qualifier

The five World Series teams dominated the opening day. France swept through Pool B, conceding just one try - against Wales - while scoring 18 of their own. Russia and England were similarly untroubled in Pool A, Russia beating England in the decisive fixture, Only in Pool C did a team from outside the Series trouble any WSWS teams, Scotland only losing to Spain by a single score, and to Ireland by two. Ireland topped the pool.

The pattern continued on Day Two in the quarterfinals, with the Russian and French keeping clean-sheets against the Scotland and Poland (third best at the end of the group phase), while Spain won easily against the Belgium. The only all World Series match-up saw Ireland dominate its English neighbour (24-19) to join the final four.

Spain were up against reigning European Champions Russia in the first semi-final, who left them pointless (26-0) to reach a new final.

The other semi-final was much closer between France and Ireland. In an encounter where the defences countered the respective attacks, France managed to reverse an unfavorable situation by scoring the decisive try between the posts (14-12).

In a replay of previous finals, the French and Russians me to decide the title and top seed for the Olympic Qualifier. A tense match saw the teams who deadlocked for almost the whole first half before Anne-Cécile Ciofani managed to score the only try of half (5-0). Faster than their opponents, les Bleues took control of the match by crossing the line a second time with Carla Neisen (9th minute - 10-0). Faced with a strong defense, David Courteix players continued to control the game resulting in a new try by Fanny Horta (13th minute - 15-0). The Russians saved their honour thanks to Daria Noritsina , but too late to change the outcome.

The outcome of the opening leg decided the seedings for Kazan Olympic Qualifier where the winner will go to Tokyo, while the second and third will play in the World Repechage tournament

Although Belgium and the Netherlands qualifed for the tournament, they have withdrawn. Scotland and Wales do not take part as England wil be competing to win Great Britain a place at the Games. This resulted in four paces being allocated to the European Trophy, which should have included Finland but they have also withdrawn passing their place to fifth-placed Sweden.

Overall therefore seven countries from the Grands Prix qualified: France, Russia, Spain, Ireland, England, Poland, Italy. Four countries from the Trophies Series (in Budapest and Lisbon): Germany, Romania, Czechia and Sweden join them, along with the winner of the Conference (in Zagreb), Moldova

Pool A

FrancePolandItalyMoldova

Pool B

RussiaEnglandGermanySweden

Pool C

SpainIrelandRomaniaCzechia

The tournament will take place on 13th-14th at Central Stadium in Kazan. With none of the WSWS teams being seriously challenged in Marcoussis (apart from by Scotland, who will not be in Kazan) the tournament looks like a straight fight between the five teams. France should have a straightforward run to last four, while the games between England and Russia, and Spain and Ireland, are likely be key to deciding who will join them.

Results from Marcoussis:

Pool A:Russia 47-0 Ukraine; England 31-5 Poland; Russia 38-7 Poland; England 57-0 Ukraine; Poland 66-0 Ukraine; Russia 22-7 England

Pool B:France 52-0 Netherlands; Belgium 26-19 Wales; France 32-5 Wales; Belgium 7-5 Netherlands; Wales 12-10 Netherlands; France 26-0 Belgium

Pool C:Ireland 15-0 Spain; Scotland 24-7 Italy; Ireland 41-5 Italy; Scotland 19-26 Spain; Italy 5-29 Spain; Ireland 22-14 Scotland

Quarter-Final:Russia 45-0 Scotland; France 35-0 Poland; Ireland 24-19 England; Belgium 5-34 Spain

9th-12th Place Semi-Final:Wales 50-5 Ukraine; Netherlands 5-24 Italy

5th-8th Place Semi Final:Scotland 31-7 Belgium; Poland 0-21 England

Semi-Final:Russia 26-0 Spain; 14-12 Ireland

11th Place:Match Ukraine 12-26 Netherlands

9th Place:Match Wales 10-12 Italy

7th Place:Match Belgium 5-19 Poland

5th Place:Match Scotland 7-35 England

3rd Place:Match Spain 19-0 Ireland

Final:Russia 7-15 France