France take close win over USA

France got their Super Series off to a good start with a come-from-behind 19-13 victory over hosts USA in Salt Lake City on Friday. A dominant second half brought them back from an eight-point halftime deficit and what might have been a significant upset had the Six Nations champions lost.

The USA came out of the gates in fine form, putting the French on the retreat and earning a great attacking scrum for powerful no8 Jordan Gray to launch from. She was halted at the 5 metre line but the ball came back quickly and after Hope Rogers made a couple more metres, Kimber Rozier sold a wild dummy to shoot through the gap for the opening score. She made a hash of what should have been a simple conversion, but the Eagles were flying early.

Nothing was held back and the onslaught continued on the French line. Gray’s carrying continued to cause problems and eventually a penalty was won at the scrum. This time Rozier was on target to make it 8-0.

France fired a furious rebuttal at the tail end of the first half. Gaëlle Mignot forced her way over the line but she was held up. Further pressure saw Saskia Morgan sent to the bin but the Eagles defense stood their ground and the half ended with no further scores.

The blitz continued as the teams returned to the field. Again the Eagles defense was strong but the cracks began to appear and eventually replacement scrumhalf Pauline Bourdon found just enough space to skirt around the outside and score the first try for France. That spurred the visitors on and very quickly they crossed again with winger Julie Billes using her pace to take the corner for a converted score and the lead.

A third try, which proved decisive, came from the rolling maul with Manon Bigot the one to fall on the ball. The Eagles replied as quickly as possible when Naya Tapper finished off an excellent move with several offloads to set up a grandstand finish. A succession of penalties drew two yellow cards for France in the final moments but the USA couldn’t quite make it to the line before time ran out.

The Eagles now face Canada in a derby match on Tuesday, while France test themselves against familiar foes England, who will be keen to lift their game after being blown out by Canada earlier on Friday.

FRANCE 19
Tries – P. Bourdon (48), J. Billes (52), M. Bigot (63)
Cons – C. Cabalou 2 (53, 64)
Yellow cards – S. N’Diaye (79), C. Cabalou (80)

USA 13
Tries – K. Rozier (8), N. Tapper (67)
Pens – K. Rozier (23)
Yellow cards – S. Morgan (39)

FRANCE
1 Lise Arricastre 2 Gaëlle Mignot (capt.) 3 Julie Duval 4 Manon André 5 Céline Ferer 6 Pauline Soulard 7 Gaëlle Hermet 8 Romane Ménager 9 Yanna Rivoalen 10 Audrey Abadie 11 Julie Billes 12 Lucille Godiveau 13 Carla Neissen 14 Camille Cabalou 15 Laura Delas

16 Manon Bigot 17 Laure Clermidy 18 Patricia Carricaburu 19 Emilie Mathieu 20 Safi N’Diaye 21 Pauline Bourdon 22 Camille Boudaud 23 Caroline Boujard

USA
1 Tiffany Faaee 2 Katy Augustyn 3 Hope Rogers 4 Stacey Bridges (capt.) 5 Alycia Washington 6 Christiane Pheil 7 Joanna Kitlinski 8 Jordan Gray 9 Deven Owsiany 10 Kimber Rozier 11 Cheta Emba 12 Sylvia Braaten 13 Jane Paar 14 Saskia Morgan 15 Jessica Wooden

16 Sam Pankey 17 Catie Benson 18 Jamila Reinhardt 19 Molly Kinsella 20 Elizabeth Cairns 21 Jennifer Lui 22 Megan Foster 23 Naya Tapper

Referee: Joy Neville (IRFU)