Marcus Leach’s View Point: Week 3

Wales Women travel to France knowing that the outcome of this game will go a long way to deciding who will be competing with England Women in the last two weeks of the tournament for a possible Grand Slam.

France Women have been less than convincing in their victories over Italy and Ireland, whilst Wales Women have been less than emphatic in their victories over Ireland and Scotland. So the stage is set for a thrilling encounter as both sides look to improve on their recent showings.

Wales Head Coach Fielies Coetsee has been forced into one change from the side who performed so admirably in Scotland two weeks ago. Hooker Rhian Bowden is still suffering from slight knee injury and is replaced by Amy Broadstock. Broadstock who is usually a prop, can play anywhere in the front row and comes into the starting side to win her 28th cap, while Bowden has been included on the bench in a hope that she will be fit to play some part in the game.

Coetsee is well aware that this will be Wales’s toughest challenge of the Championship to date, although he will be boosted by the knowledge his side beat France Women last time around.

“This will, without a doubt, be the most challenging game so far in this year’s Six Nations,” said Coetsee. “We will have to produce our best performance of the season to beat France Women on French soil and, after losing to us last year, they will be seeking revenge.”

However Coetsee has total confidence in his squad and believes they are capable of earning a win that will keep their Championship, and possible Grand Slam hope alive.

“The players are well aware of the task ahead and I am confident that we can win,” he added. “One thing I do know for certain is that, at kick-off on Saturday, you will not find 22 more passionate and dedicated players wanting to do their country proud.”

There are also changes on the bench for Wales Women where Caryl Thomas and Non Evans come in for Hannah Roberts and Stacey Saunders respectively. Evans makes her first appearance in the Wales squad this season having missed the last year through injury.

France Women have also kept changes to a minimum, with Head Coach Roland Puig making just two changes to his unbeaten side. Alexandra Gayda comes in on the wing in place of Marion Talayrach, who drops down to the bench. The other change sees Claire Canal take the No.8 jersey from Myriam Loyez.

France Women will be keen to gain revenge for last season’s defeat (11-10) to Wales, where they had to play the entire second half with fourteen players after Sandra Rabier was shown a red card.

“This game is important for us not just for this Championship but also for how we lost last year,” said Puig. “We are keen to improve on our display over the Irish where if we are honest we wasted a lot of good chances to score more tries and make the game comfortable for us.

“Wales though will be a good challenge as they have improved ever so much over the last two seasons and we look forward to the game.”

Leach’s Prediction:
This game could be the closest of the Championship with both sides unbeaten so far and keen to maintain their record. Both have a settled look to their squads as well as key play makers. If Naomi Thomas can orchestrate her back-line to good effect Wales could just edge this one, although with home advantage France will go into this game as favourites and should edge a close affair. France Women to win by five points.

France Women: 15. Céline Allainmat, 14. Alexandra Gayda, 13. Christelle Le Duff, 12. Dalila Boukerma, 11. Fanny Horta, 10. Estelle Sartini (c), 9. Julie Pujol, 8. Claire Canal, 7. Delphine Plantet, 6. Maud Camatta, 5. Sandra Rabier, 4. Corinne Devroute, 3. Fanny Gelis, 2. Laetitia Salles, 1. Danièle Irazu

Replacements: 16. Audrey Noguera, 17. Gabrielle Mutis, 18. Mélanie Gauffinet, 19. Myriam Loyez, 20. Jennifer Troncy, 21. Séverine Collombat, 22. Marion Talayrach


Wales Women: 15. Elen Evans, 14. Rhian Williams, 13. Rachel Poolman, 12. Clare Flowers, 11. Louise Rickard, 10. Naomi Thomas, 9. Mellissa Berry (c), 8. Kylie Wilson, 7. Jamie Kift, 6. Catrina Nicholas, 5. Liza Burgess, 4. Claire Donovan, 3. Jenny Davies, 2. Amy Broadstock, 1. Louise Horgan

Replacements: 16. Rhian Bowden, 17. Caryl Thomas, 18. Gemma Hallett, 19. Nicola Evans, 20. Becky Davies, 21. Non Evans, 22. Hayley Baxter

Saturday 24th February 2007, 1.30pm (French Time) 12.30pm (UK Time) – Stade Guy Moquet à Drancy
Marcus Leach (Rugby Writer) www.planet-rugby.com