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France scored 19 unanswered points in a dominant second half to secure a 36-10 win over the Women’s Eagles on Tuesday. Damp conditions after a heavy downpour in Béziers made for tricky footing at the Stade de la Méditerranée, but that did not prevent the home side from moving the ball effectively and scoring six tries to the USA’s one.
A well-constructed maul from a 5 meter lineout just three minutes into the match landed hooker Agathe Sochat in for the opening score. The Eagles struck back immediately, however, through Hope Rogers. After a powerful run took the captain to within inches of the line, two quick recycles handed her a second crack and this time she forced her way over for the try. Kimber Rozier’s conversion handed the USA an early 7-5 lead that would last nearly 20 minutes.
The strong handling of the French was evident throughout with quick hands putting Caroline Ladagnous in open space and the center stepped inside Jessica Wooden’s covering line to score her first of two tries. Audrey Abadie again could not make the conversion but Rozier was on song with a penalty attempt soon after to draw scores level.
As the French piled the pressure on a tiring American defense, a hard line from Marion Peyronnet drew two defenders and opened just enough space for Annaëlle Dessayes to take the offload in under the sticks. Abadie made it count this time to make it 17-10 at the break.
The third quarter proved the decider as the home side came flying out for the second half. Sochat was held up just short of the line but quick hands found Ladagnous again with breathing space and she had no problems diving over the line for her second try. Romane Ménager was next with the defense again on their heels and backed up to their own goal line. With energy levels sapped quick hands gave Elodie Guiglion a chance to stretch her legs and stepping through a tackle she handed a short ball to Yanna Rivoalen on her inside for the sixth try of the day.
With the contest over replacements streamed into the match and neither side could put any further points on the board during the final quarter of play. The two will meet once again on Friday at Altrad Stadium in Montpellier where the USA will have an immediate chance to exact their revenge.
SCORING
FRANCE 36
Tries – A. Sochat (3’), C. Ladagnous 2 (24’, 45’), A. Dessayes (40’), R. Ménager (55’), Y. Rivoalen (60’)
Cons – A. Abadie 3 (40’, 46’, 56’)
Yellow cards – L. Touye (73’)
USA 10
Tries – H. Rogers (6’)
Cons – K. Rozier (7’)
Pens – K. Rozer (30’)
TEAMS
FRANCE
1 Annaëlle Dessayes, 2 Agathe Sochat, 3 Julie Duval (capt.), 4 Lenaïg Corson, 5 Audrey Forlani, 6 Marion Peyronnet, 7 Laëtitia Grand, 8 Romane Ménager, 9 Pauline Bourdon, 10 Audrey Abadie, 11 Marine Ménager, 12 Lucille Godiveau, 13 Caroline Ladagnous, 14 Elodie Guiglion, 15 Laurianne Lissar
16 Carline Thomas, 17 Lise Arricastre, 18 Manon André, 19 Safi N’Diaye, 20 Yanna Rivoalen, 21 Elodie Poublan, 22 Christelle Le Duff, 23 Laure Touye
USA
1 Sarah Chobot, 2 Katy Augustyn, 3 Hope Rogers (capt.), 4 Alycia Washington, 5 Jordan Gray, 6 Christiane Pheil, 7 Kate Zackary, 8 Kate Daley, 9 Jennifer Lui, 10 Kimber Rozier, 11 Kelsi Stockert, 12 Sylvia Braaten, 13 Alev Kelter, 14 Tess Feury, 15 Jessica Wooden
16 Sam Pankey, 17 Catie Benson, 18 Tiffany Faaee, 19 Abby Gustaitis, 20 Elizabeth Cairns, 21 Joanne Fa’avesi, 22, Naya Tapper, 23 Megan Foster
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Joy Neville (IRFU)
Assistants: Rose LaBrèche (RC) & Valérie Pélissier (FFR)
