05/21/2022 21h35
While the Blues fell to Fiji in the quarter-finals of the women’s tournament, the Blues got the better of Australia and will see the semi-finals of the Toulouse stage of the World Rugby 7s Tour.
The Blues responded present in Toulouse this Saturday. After their success over Wales then Kenya on Friday to launch the group stage, the Tricolores started the second day of competition with a defeat against the Fijian Olympic champions. The “Flying Fijians” made the difference at the very start of the match with Kaminieli Rasaku then Sevuloni Mocenacagi before Pierre Mignot unlocked the counter for the Blues. Pilipo Bukayaro gave the Fijians a twelve-point lead at the break. Waisea Nacuqu and Filipe Sauturaga added to the scoreline as Jonathan Laugel closed the gap in the meantime. Nisie Huyard allowed the Habs to end the match on a high note. This defeat (33-21) placed the Blues in second place in their pool, with a quarter-final against Australia. A meeting that the French got off to a good start with a try from Thibaud Mazzoleni from the 2nd minute. However, Nick Malouf then Ben Dowling allowed the Australians to take the lead at the break. The game turned into a showdown in the second period. Pierre Mignot set the tone from the restart before Dietrich Roache allowed Australia to come back in front but without the transformation passing. This is what made the difference because William Iraguha allowed the Blues to equalize then the transformation of his own try allows the Habs to snatch victory (19-21). The Irish, who defeated the Argentinians (0-14) will be their opponents this Sunday for a place in the final.
???? ??????! The Blues come to the end of the @Aussie7s and qualify for the semi-finals in Toulouse ?
Well done guys ?#FranceSevens #ItsGameTime pic.twitter.com/ZI086AwiOz
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) May 21, 2022
Les Bleues stall at the gates of the last four.
If the Blues were at the party at the Stade Ernest-Wallon, it was not the case for the Olympic vice-champions in Tokyo. Les Bleues cannot hope for better than fifth place on home soil. After kicking off the tournament with a bang with victories over Brazil and England on Friday, the Tricolores followed up with a narrow success over Ireland. If Megan Burns launched the Clover team with a try at the very start of the match, the Blues have long failed against the opposing defense. It was only at the end of the match that Joanna Grisez then Jade Ulutule found the loophole to allow the French team to win (5-12) and finish in first place in their group.. In the quarter-finals, the Fijians presented themselves on the way to Les Bleues. A missed first half showered the hopes of the tricolor. Lavena Cavuru, Alowesi Nakoci and Ana Maria Naimasi scored three tries to give Fiji a 19-point lead at half-time. A fourth achievement by Rusila Nagasau at the start of the second act put Les Bleues on the edge of the precipice. Late tries from Joanna Grisez and Ian Jason didn’t change anything (12-24. The Tricolores stop in the quarter-finals, with a revenge against Brazil for their first classification match this Sunday.
