France too good in Pau
New Zealand fell to their third defeat of the Autumn with France too good in Pau, winning 38-13.
Published by Alison Donnelly, November 13th, 2021
3 minute read
The scoreline could have been even more convincing had France turned some of their dominance into more points early on, with New Zealand again just too far off the pace to make a real game of it.
This was the third win in a row for France over New Zealand and another miserable record for New Zealand, losing to France by their biggest ever margin.
France started well with Romane Menager and Emiline Gros dominating the early ball carrying but it was New Zealand who struck first through a Kendra Cocksedge penalty.
New Zealand persisted with a tactic of kicking a lot of their possession away and the French back three lapped it up with Cyrielle Banet in particular in fine form.
It was Banet who hit back for France out wide minutes later and then when a brilliant team effort ended with a Garbrielle Vernier Crossfield kick, the winger got her second quickly after.
Cocksedge kicked another penalty, but France dealt a suckerpunch just before the break when Chloé Jacquet - who had come off the bench - finished another well worked team effort which started with a driving lineout. A Caroline Drouin conversion gave the home side a 13 point lead at the break.
France were getting great reward from their rolling maul and as New Zealand’s own set piece started to wobble, they continued the momentum after the break – this time Emilie Boulard was the tryscorer after hard work up front, with Agathe Sochat especially good.
France scored again through Sochat and Laure Sansus – both coming from lineouts, before Eloise Blackwell put some respectability on the scoreline before the death for New Zealand.
France will be relishing the chance to win their fourth in a row in Castres next week, while New Zealand might well be wishing this tour was over.
Black Ferns:1. Phillipa Love 2. Grace Houpapa-Barrett 3. Aleisha-Pearl Nelson 4. Joanah Ngan-Woo 5. Maiakawanakaulani Roos 6. Dhys Faleafaga 7. Les Elder © 8. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u 9. Kendra Cocksedge 10. Ruahei Demant 11. Ayesha Leti-I’iga 12. Kelly Brazier 13. Stacey Fluhler 14. Portia Woodman 15. Chey Robins-Reti
Reserves: 16. Georgia Ponsonby 17. Aldora Itunu 18. Amy Rule 19. Eloise Blackwell 20. Kennedy Simon 21. Ariana Bayler 22. Patricia Maliepo 23. Carla Hohepa
France1. Coco Lindelauf 2. Agathe Sochat 3. Annaellë Deshayes 4. Céline Ferer 5. Audrey Forlani 6. Gaëlle Hermet 7. Romane Ménager 8. Emeline Gros 9. Pauline Bourdon 10. Caroline Drouin 11. Caroline Boujard 12. Gabrielle Vernier 13. Maëlle Filopon 14. Cryielle Banet 15. Émilie Boulard
Reserves: 16. Laura Touye 17. Yllana Brosseau 18. Clara Joyeux 19. Safi N’Diaye 20. Axelle Berthoumieu 21. Laure Sansus 22. Chloé Jacquet 23. Jessy Tremouliere