Springbok Women taught a lesson by slick French in World Cup encounter in Northampton

The Springbok Women received a sobering dose of reality at the World Cup in the form of the fleet-footed French, who ran up a 57-10 score in the final match of Pool D in Northampton on Sunday evening.

The Springbok Women have been a revelation at the tournament, starting with a 66-6 win over flyweights Brazil, followed by a 29-24 victory against middleweights Italy, but heavyweights France pulled the South African challenge back down to earth. South Africa finished second in Pool D and will play New Zealand in the quarter-finals.

The French, ranked the fourth-best team in the world, outclassed the Bok Women, who were hamstrung by a red card to centre Chumisa Qawe. With both teams already qualified for the playoffs, coach Swys Bruin gave opportunities to players who had not yet featured at the World Cup.

Cleverly, he told his squad that the jerseys were open for the quarter-finals, but few had the chance to impress as they were on the back foot from first whistle to last.

For context, in April the Springbok Women spent a week at the French national centre in Marcoussis, participating in joint sessions and match simulations as the French took on the role of teachers. In a mark of respect for the South Africans and their renowned forwards, the French coaching staff beefed up their pack and opted for a 6-2 split on the bench.

Early in the game, the French ascendancy in the set scrums was apparent. A scrum penalty gave them the territory to apply pressure through the phases, culminating in a try for fullback Emilie Boulard in the tenth minute. The Boks hit back immediately with a penalty from Byrhandré Dolf.

As the first quarter ended, the South Africans launched a promising attack, but a loose pass was intercepted, leading to a try by centre Gaby Vernier. A major setback followed when Qawe was yellow-carded for a high tackle that included head contact.

The French scrum was rampant, and No 8 Charlotte Escudero cruised over from an advancing maul near the Bok line. At this point, Qawe’s yellow was upgraded to red, making the uphill task even steeper.

With the French scrum winning penalties at will, and the Bok defence stretched, the floodgates opened. Hooker Agathe Gerin scored just before half-time to make it 24-3 at the break. Just three minutes into the second half, Boulard grabbed her second, thanks to another dominant scrum.

Right wing Joanna Grisez scored next, followed by Annaëlle Deshaye as the score mounted. Grisez then spectacularly crossed for her second to take the tally to 50 before Alexandra Chambon completed the rout with her team’s ninth try.

The biggest cheer of the day came at the very end when Bok scrum-half Nadine Roos scored a wonderful solo try to cap an excellent personal performance.

Scorers

South Africa 10

Try: Nadine Roos; Penalties: Byrhandré Dolf; Conversions: Dolf.

France

Tries: Emilie Boulard (2), Gaby Vernier, Charlotte Escudero, Agathe Gerin, Joanna Grisez (2), Annaëlle Deshaye, Alexandra Chambon; Conversions: Lina Queyroi (6)