Wales Women spirited in French defeat
Women's Six Nations: Despite a decisive loss, this Welsh side continue to imprint on the nation.
Rarely does such a decisive loss yield such positives as Wales’ 5-33 loss to France does. Resilient, defiant, spirited? Yes. Losers? Certainly not.
There was no sense of defeat in the faithful supporters as Sioned Harries twisted her torso to plant Wales’ solitary try in the dying embers of the game. There might have been just under 3000 in attendance, but the thunderous cheers filled the Cardiff Arms Park and flowed onto Westgate Street. Further capturing the attention of a nation who have become so enamoured with a side who have come so far, and have so far to go.
Wales’ slow start was France’s gain, as they skipped and slalomed their way to a 26-point lead in the first half. Securing the important bonus point within 28 minutes. Their silk-laden attack was no match for the Welsh. The fleet-footed Chloe Jacquet danced down the wing as Jessy Trémoulière conducted her Les Bleues orchestra with the virtuosity that we’ve all come to expect from her.
Comparisons to the men’s game do women no favours, but Annick Hayraud has clearly found her own Antoine Dupont in Laure Sansus. The distance on her kicking allowed the French to play the majority of the game in Welsh territory. Her two scores took her up to six tries for the tournament, and her excellence shone so brightly that despite being substituted in the 49th minute, she comfortably collected player of the match.
It was mounting evidence that France, along with England, are in a league of their own in this tournament, far ahead of the four other nations. Two of the three clear favourites, assuming Wayne Smith can reinvigorate the Black Ferns, for the upcoming World Cup in New Zealand.
For Wales, more important than the scoreline was their spirit of enterprise. Their defiance in the face of an unwinnable battle. France may have carved through them in the first half, but Wales were unlucky to head into the second scoreless after a sustained period of pressure late in the first. A break from Hannah Jones provided a platform to attack off in France’s 22. They edged close to the try line, but a pass out wide failed to find the hands of Niamh Terry.
Their harassment of the French defence finally paid dividends as the game neared its conclusion. Wales forced a string of penalties out of the French in their own 22. With the clock already in the red, the Welsh maul collapsed and prompted a momentary lapse in a solid French defence. Sioned Harries spotted the opportunity and bulldozed her way through and hit the deck, contorting her body and reaching out for the try line to an eruption of joy from the crowd.
Each and every week that passes brings more confirmation that the professionalisation of the women’s game in Wales will one day yield its weight in gold. The full-time contracts bring much more than money to the table. It extends to having access to high-quality environments to train and hone your talent, top-level coaching and backroom staff. Most importantly, it breeds confidence. Players believe in themselves more when they know the organisation behind them believes too. This Welsh side, even in defeat, play with the spirit and courage that professionalism has provided them.
Ever since the incredible opening weekend triumph was followed up by a physical performance and win against the Scottish. Despite a 58-5 loss to England, thoroughly the best team in the world, the Welsh caused significant problems for the English. They stayed strong in the face of a swashbuckling French side, restricting them to just a single try in the second half. Remember for a moment that this fixture last year ended in a 58-0 win for France.
Now Siwan Lillicrap and her side will look ahead to Italy next week, with the very real possibility of securing third place in the Six Nations. A remarkable improvement, and all the proof the WRU needs to increase their expenditure in women’s rugby.
[Photo Credit: WRU]
That's the optimistic view. The weaknesses in kicking, of all types, remain. So do exiting methods, and repossessions at breakdown. They make for very hard labour.