Inspired Lille on top in France

Action from Toulouse v Lille (Photo: La Voix du Nord)

A game against the newly promoted team this early in the Top 8 could normally expected to be a relatively straight-forward game for the national vice-champions, by Stade Toulousian Feminin are no ordinary team. They travelled up to Lille having never lost a regular league game – ever – having won the Armelle Auclair (Elite 2) last year, in their first year in their new guise, without losing a game. Then last week they opened with a shock win away at champions Montpellier.

As a result Lille travelled south knowing they would be faced with a tough game, and after Alice Dallery’s injury last week, coach Damien Couvreur had questioned the physical and psychological state of his team before the game "It's hard to predict on what will happen in the minds of girls, it could be complicated”, he had said, “Does it will be a raise, or, conversely, reduce their commitment?”

And, after 25 minutes, it was Stade Toulousain who held the advantage 8-0. But Lille we determined to win the game for their absent teammate, using her name as a battle-cry they fought back to win 25-8, scoring five tries answered Couvreur’s doubts, giving the team a maximum 10 points from the first two games.

However Lille are not the only team to make a perfect start. To the west, Britany’s Stade Rennais, have also started well and took on Normandy’s Ovalie Caennaise in the nearest thing he north of France has to a local derby (they are only 180km apart!).

And it was the Bretons who were triumphant. Rennes were totally on top in the first half, ending 26-0 ahead. Caen fought back in the second half, pulling a try back and preventing addition to the score until the final five minutes. However, Rennes 33-5 win was emphatic and enough to put them equal with Lille on 10 points.

Finally champions Montpellier finally got their campaign going against Bobigny, but not before the Parisians had got on the scoreboard first with a Sandra Métier penalty. But captain Gaelle Mignot turned that over with a try almost from the restart, after which first the hands and then the feet of Montsé Amedee with a try and two penalties put the champions in command at the break, 18-3 ahead.

That continued throughout the second half, with a Cyrielle Banet extending the lead with the crucial third try. Banet added another to end the game and, with Fanny Cottier also touching down and Amedee having a great game with the boot, the Ladybirds are flying.

The top 10 now takes a week’s international training break, returning on 10thOctober with a repeat of last year’s final – Lille v Montpellier.

*"Putain d’Alice" is based on "Putain de Nanas", a term that Lille adopted last season. It does not seem to translate very easily but, very roughly (and cleaned up a bit) seems to come out as "[Those] Damn Girls". So, perhaps, "[That] Damn Alice". Alternative translation appreciated!

CLUB

P

W

D

L

PD

BP

Ft+

PTS

1

LILLE METROPOLE RC VILLENEUVOIS

2

2

0

0

58

2

0

10

1

BLAGNAC SAINT ORENS RUGBY FEMININ

2

2

0

0

47

2

0

10

3

MONTPELLIER R C

2

1

0

1

32

2

0

6

4

STADE RENNAIS RUGBY

2

1

0

1

-13

1

0

5

4

A C BOBIGNY 93 RUGBY

2

1

0

1

-14

1

0

5

6

STADE TOULOUSAIN RUGBY FEMININ

2

1

0

1

-10

0

0

4

7

L OVALIE CAENNAISE

2

0

0

2

-50

0

0

0

8

U S A P XV FEMININ ROUSSILLON

2

0

0

2

-50

0

2

-4

+Games forfeited (-2 pts, and a 0-25 defeat)