France showed their class and experience as they beat the Springbok Women by 57-10 in the final pool match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Northampton on Sunday afternoon.
As a result, the Springbok Women will face New Zealand in their quarter-final at Sandy Park in Exeter on Saturday, 13 September at 14:00 (SA time), while France will take on Ireland on Sunday.
The Springbok Women entered the last round of pool matches as potential dark horses after two impressive performances against Brazil and, in particular, Italy that seemed to bely their world ranking coming into the tournament.
Reality check
However, they were given a reality check by the team ranked fourth in the world as the match, which was billed as a pool decider, was effectively over as a contest by half-time as France scored four first-half tries, mixing up their game brilliantly against a SA side that showed wholesale changes from their victory over Italy.
Things were quite evenly poised early on, with France scoring an unconverted try before Byrhandré Dolf landed a penalty goal to make it 5-3.
The French scored a second try but then disaster struck as Chumisa Qawe was sin-binned for a high tackle, which was upgraded to a 20-minute red card.
France added three more tries to their tally in the time South Africa only had 14 players on the field before the Bomb Squad was sent on.
The replacements made a difference, but the Springbok Women couldn’t capitalise and instead, France finished with two late tries, but the last say belonged to Nadine Roos, who was rewarded for a superb performance with a sublime individual try.
SCORERS
Springbok Women
Try: Nadine Roos
Conversion: Byrhandré Dolf
Penalty: Dolf
France
Tries: Emilie Boulard (2), Gaby Vernier, Charlotte Escudero, Agathe Gerin, Joanna Grisez (2), Annaelle Deshaye, Alexandra Chambon
Conversions: Lina Queyroi (2), Morgane Bourgeois (4)
Will the Springbok Women upset New Zealand?
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