%3BResize%3D620 "France Women's Rugby Defeats Canada 21-5 in WXV Series")
The France women’s rugby team defeated Canada 21–5 at Stade Marcel-Deflandre in La Rochelle. Elodie Boulard scored two tries and Alexandra Chambon added a late score to secure the victory against the vice-championnes du monde.
France Downs Canada to Close Autumn Test Series
The win brought down the curtain on the autumn Test series with a dominant performance.
Contrasting Fortunes on the Pitch
The victory offered a stark contrast to France’s earlier autumn outings. Those fixtures included a 28–14 defeat to New Zealand and a narrow 29–26 win over Australia marred by five disciplinary cards. Against Canada, head coach François Ratier’s side maintained a dominant performance and capitalized on their territorial dominance.
Boulard opened the scoring in the 22nd minute following a multi-phase attack initiated by Marie Murie and Marie Ibanez. Arbez added the conversion. Boulard extended the lead to 14–5 in the 50th minute after a forward surge led by scrum-half Pauline Bourdon-Sansus.
Canadian Struggles and Defensive Resilience
Canada played without captain Sophie de Goede and full-back Claire Gallagher. The visitors struggled to find their usual attacking rhythm.
Defensively, France neutralized several Canadian scoring threats. Boulard executed a try-saving tackle on Justice Pelletier in the 53rd minute. Meanwhile, Mouna Touré disrupted the Canadian lineout with four steals.
Fresh Faces and Tactical Management
Ratier utilized his bench effectively throughout the second half. He introduced fresh combinations in the front row and half-backs. Scrum-half Alexandra Chambon sealed the result in the final minute with a try, converted by Carla Queyroi.
Marie Ibanez made her international debut. The 23-year-old winger and daughter of former France hooker Raphaël Ibanez started on the right wing, gaining significant yardage across multiple touches.
Global Series Context and Upcoming Tour
The fixture formed part of the WXV Global Series, a tournament featuring the world’s top twelve women’s rugby nations. Canada entered the match following a 26–26 draw against England. France, however, capitalized on disciplined execution to close out their domestic window.
The squad will now travel. Three upcoming matches are scheduled in New Zealand between October 17 and October 31.