In Hamilton, during the final phase of this stage of the world circuit, the Blues had to settle for a place at the foot of the podium, while the Blues finished 7th in the women’s table.
In New Zealand, the Blues just missed the podium. Indeed, qualified for the final phase of this stage counting for the world circuit, the team of Jérôme Daret unfortunately did not make the weight in the semi-finals against the locals (heavy defeat 38-0), after having nevertheless left South Africa in the previous round (22-17). During the small final against the United States, beaten them by Argentina, the French again suffered defeat, but by nothing this time (14-15). During this meeting, Théo Forner and William Iraguha were the two Tricolores try scorers, who conceded three. After the recent 9th place in South Africa, the Blues sign a much better overall performance. Note that in the final, the Argentinians surprised the New Zealanders (14-12) and therefore won on the land of their rivals.
Simple and effective 💪
Despite this splendid try by William Hiraguha, the Blues of France 7 failed to materialize against the @USARugby but they still leave with 4th place in the #NZ7s 🤩#HSBC7s I @FranceRugby pic.twitter.com/O6awP8LckM
— World Rugby FR 🇫🇷 (@WorldRugby_FR) January 22, 2023
Les Bleues less successful in Hamilton
For their part, the French women were much less prominent than in Cape Town, where they had taken 5th place at the end of 2022. Because, in Oceania, David Courteix’s players finished 7th this time. Beaten in the quarter-finals by Ireland (24-7), France then failed to react against Japan (12-19), despite attempts by Chloé Pelle and Séraphine Okemba. The fault of the Japanese who finished the game much better with twelve points scored in the last minutes. Behind, however, Les Bleues finished this stage of the world circuit on a high note. Opposed to Fiji in a match for 7th place, the Tricolores delighted with a very good victory to finish (34-5). Yolaine Yengo and Pelle each scored twice. Moreover, if in the men’s table, New Zealand did not win in Hamilton, the women’s team assured at home, they who were victorious in the final against the United States (33-7).
