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The Women’s Rugby Super Series came to a close on Sunday as France blasted the USA by a final score of 53-14. Les Bleues finish the tournament in 3rd place. Despite the win over Canada, the Eagles were relegated to last place with zero bonus points earned in their three losses.
A competitive opening to the game saw France limited to only a pair of penalty goals from star fullback Jessy Trémoulière. Two quick tries followed, however, as Madoussou Fall drove over from close range and then a charge-down ended with Emeline Gros touching down to make it 20-0 at the break.
The French forwards were having their way early in the second half when a cross-kick landed in the hands of Céline Ferer for the score. Laure Sansus was next, the replacement scrumhalf darting over from the back of a five-meter scrum with Trémoulière’s fourth conversion stretching the lead to 34-0.
Alev Kelter finally broke the goose egg after Jennine Duncan made headway down the wing. Kelter converted her own to give the USA something to smile about, but the frowns and frustration would return in the blink of an eye.
Within seconds of the restart Cyrielle Banet was around the corner with Emma Coudert slotting the conversion. Marine Ménager got the finish on the other wing next, and the coup de grâce came from Sansus who snuck through for her double.
The Eagles got their own charge-down with just a couple minutes to play, earning a 5-meter scrum to set up one final try. Charli Jacoby got the credit, finishing from close range with Kelter’s conversion ending the scoring and a difficult day at the office for the Americans.
SCORING
USA 14
Tries – A. Kelter (65′) C. Jacoby (78′)
Cons – A. Kelter 2/2 (66′, 79′)
FRANCE 53
Tries – M. Fall (28′), E. Gros (36′), C. Ferer (42′), L. Sansus 2 (50′, 75′), C. Banet (67′), M. Menager (70′)
Cons – J. Trémoulière 4/4 (29′, 37′, 43′, 51′), E. Coudert 2/3 (68′, 76′)
Pens – J. Trémoulière 2/2 (9′, 24′)
TEAMS
USA
1 Hope Rogers, 2 Joanna Kitlinski, 3 Nick James, 4 Nicole Strasko, 5 Stacey Bridges, 6 Rachel Johnson, 7 Joyce Taufa, 8 Kate Zackary (capt.), 9 Ashlee Byrge, 10 Gabby Cantorna, 11 Jennine Duncan, 12 Amy Talei-Bonté, 13 Emily Henrich, 14 Neariah Persinger, 15 Alev Kelter
Replacements: 16 Catie Benson, 17 Charli Jacoby, 18 Katy Augustyn, 19 Asinate Serevi, 20 Kristine Sommer, 21 Olivia Ortiz, 22 Bui Baravilala, 23 Kristen Thomas
FRANCE
1 Lise Arricastre, 2 Caroline Thomas, 3 Clara Joyeux, 4 Madoussou Fall, 5 Audrey Forlani, 6 Gaëlle Hermet (capt.), 7 Céline Ferer, 8 Emeline Gros, 9 Pauline Bourdon, 10 Morgane Peyronnet, 11 Morgane Ménager, 12 Gabrielle Vernier, 13 Camille Cabalou, 14 Caroline Boujard, 15 Jessy Trémoulière
Replacements: 16 Agathe Sochat, 17 Laure Touyé, 18 Annaëlle Deshayes, 19 Fiona Lecat, 20 Axelle Berthoumieu, 21 Laure Sansus, 22 Emma Coudert, 23 Cyrielle Banet
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)
Assistants: Rebecca Mahoney (NZRU) & Julianne Zussman (Canada)
TMO: Amanda Cox (USAR)
