The concluding Pool D contest of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, pitting France against South Africa, seemed poised for a thrilling showdown, at least based on expectations.
However, the game unfolded quite differently, with France asserting total command.
The stakes were high, with the victor securing a specific path forward. Both teams had already earned their spots in the elimination rounds slated for Exeter the following weekend, leaving only the determination of their quarter-final opponents.
France’s decisive 57-10 victory ensured a quarter-final clash with Ireland at Sandy Park, steering clear of a match against New Zealand. Perhaps more significantly, it signaled that Les Bleues were hitting their stride after a demanding lead-up to the tournament.
This raises the question of how France has been faring at the World Cup thus far.
It’s not that France has been outright struggling, but rather that the team hasn’t quite unlocked its full potential.
A middling Six Nations run was briefly overshadowed by an electrifying showing against England at Twickenham, nearly snatching a highly improbable victory in the crucial Grand Slam showdown. Yet, a discouraging defeat at home to the same English squad during their sole World Cup warm-up encounter left the French side pondering what went amiss.
When co-head coaches David Ortiz and Gaëlle Mignot’s team initiated their World Cup journey with a hard-fought 24-0 victory over Italy in Exeter, some red flags emerged.
Handling errors, a lack of discipline, and inaccuracies cropped up throughout the team’s performance. Seasoned players, including co-captain Marine Ménager, appeared out of sync. Failing to secure a bonus point in a match where France held sway in set-pieces and possession was a shortfall.
The dismantling of Brazil underscored that France hadn’t lost their rugby prowess altogether. However, with all due respect to Brazil, they don’t presently match France’s level, making a lopsided win the sole plausible result.
South Africa was always destined to be the true test. The key question was how France would respond to a team they’d faced during a specially arranged training session at Marcoussis earlier in the Six Nations calendar.
This Springbok team differs significantly from the one decisively beaten 40-5 in the opening match of the previous World Cup in New Zealand. Ortiz and Mignot were aware of this.
“They were touring in France, and we had the opportunity to host them for a joint session. It was during the Six Nations. It was an intense session, very physical,” Mignot recalled during the week.
“It took us a while to fully grasp, but it quickly became clear – they were determined, had a statement to make, and wanted to convey a message.
“The players felt it, and so did we. They made it clear that South Africa had arrived at this World Cup to showcase their progress, that they’ve elevated their game, and were aiming for the quarter-finals. And they validated that by qualifying.”
The coaching staff’s message was unambiguous. Les Bleues were not permitted to rely on past accomplishments to dictate their fate. They had to perform, and that’s precisely what they did.
Ortiz and Mignot’s choice of a 6-2 bench split on Sunday demonstrated that they regarded the power of the South African pack seriously.
Match Summary 
A standout feature of the French team amidst a slightly inconsistent attack in this tournament has been their scrum, and this held true once more.
From the outset, France held the upper hand, leveraging this aspect of the game to their advantage.
“We aimed to dominate in the scrum, in the tackles,” co-captain Manae Feleu stated. “We anticipated a tough challenge from South Africa, given their sizable and physically imposing team, so we sought to make a statement in those areas.”
Two tries stemmed directly from scrums deep within the Springbok’s 22. Charlotte Escudero’s initial score was a straightforward pick and go, yet the entire pack could have easily surged over the line on their own.
Emilie Boulard was subsequently handed a relatively easy score from another Escudero pick-up, which she then passed to Pauline Bourdon-Sansus.
It’s been a reliable constant for France, and when the pack performs well, the backline follows suit. Lina Queyroi navigated the match smoothly at fly-half, while the increasingly dependable centre partnership of Gabrielle Vernier and Nassira Kondé carved openings in the defense at will.
Combined with the backline of Boulard, Joanna Grisez (each securing a brace), and Méngaer, France possesses the potential to be unstoppable.
Understandably, this gameplan and style pleased Ortiz.
“We are elated,” he reflected post-match. “This aligns with our aspirations; we executed our desired gameplan and must now concentrate on the quarter-final.
“We managed to control what eluded us last time, correct our errors, and hope this translates to a superior performance in the quarters.”
To achieve that and maintain their aspirations for an eighth semi-final appearance, Ortiz and Mignot will hope for another set-piece masterclass against Ireland.
Fixture
Women’s Rugby World Cup
France Women
Ireland Women
When questioned about their selection choices against the Springboks, Ortiz and Mignot’s responses were resolute. The co-coaches had an abundance of talent to choose from, but these players were handpicked for the occasion.
Bourdon-Sansus once again paired with Queyroi at half-back, while Boulard received the nod over Morgane Bourgeois at full back. The playmakers were selected for their tempo and execution, and the pace at which France operated proved insurmountable for South Africa.
Player of the match for the second consecutive week, Bourdon-Sansus was pivotal to virtually every attacking move for France. Her distribution consistently propelled her team onto the front foot with relative ease, and the scrum-half kept South Africa on the defensive early in the second half with a series of quick tap penalties as the Springbok discipline waned.
Boulard, too, was outstanding and will undoubtedly pose a significant threat for Ireland to contend with the following weekend. The full back, who shifted to the wing after Bourgeois replaced Ménager at half-time, maintained a constant presence in attack and secured two well-executed tries.
She also engineered France’s bonus point try on the verge of half-time; her quick throw-in after Jakkie Cilliers tapped the ball into touch enabled Queroi to send Agathe Gerin – on her 60th cap – crashing over in the corner, effectively ending the game as a contest.
“We still have much to offer,” Bourdon-Sansus affirmed. “Our objective was to finish first, and we achieved it. Now, we are progressing steadily, becoming stronger for the quarter-final, and we are prepared to go.
“[Being solid in defence] was our aim. We still have some fine-tuning to do, but we’ll be at our best for next week against Ireland.”
The fact that France remains not entirely content with their performance is a positive sign. The challenge posed by Ireland next weekend should not be underestimated. These two teams are well-acquainted and engaged in an incredibly tight match during the Six Nations back in March.
France is progressing towards something significant; the players are clicking, and time will reveal whether they can complete the task.
