The French women's XV wins against Canada (21-5) and victoriously concludes the fall series

A prestigious victory. The French women's XV finished the fall series in style by defeating Canada, vice-world champion (21-5) after a solid and controlled performance, with impeccable discipline, on Saturday in La Rochelle.

After the blunders which handicapped them against New Zealand (14-28), the yellow and red cards which polluted their rugby against the Australians who were finally defeated by courage (29-26), Pauline Bourdon-Sansus' teammates surely delivered the best performance since the start of François Ratier's mandate this winter.

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Because apart from the realism which did not allow the Blues to distance themselves from the ultimately rather disappointing Canadians a week after their Homeric draw among the best English players in the world (26-26), it looked like a founding match with all these +young people+ thrown into the deep end, like Marie Ibanez, daughter of former international hooker Raphaël.

If we have to go beyond individualities, we can unanimously cite Mouna Touré, queen of the air in touch, with all four lungs in the confrontation zones, and Élodie Boulard, author of her second double in a row (23, 50) after a year of purgatory and a brilliant save on Justice Pelletier which allowed her colors to stay ahead in the score.

After resisting the North American initiatives, and these dynamic balls which sent Lizzie Gibson behind the line (35th), the French and their bench in tune finished better and Alexandra Chambon folded the matter solo at the last minute for a success which calls for others, next month in New Zealand where three tests await the Blue.