{"id":366090,"date":"2025-08-23T01:45:17","date_gmt":"2025-08-23T01:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/366090\/"},"modified":"2025-08-23T01:45:17","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T01:45:17","slug":"vernier-returns-for-france-as-coaches-look-for-players-to-step-up-against-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/366090\/","title":{"rendered":"Vernier returns for France as coaches look for players to ‘step up’ against Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Centre Gabrielle Vernier<\/a> returns to France\u2019s<\/a> starting line-up for their opening match of Women\u2019s <\/a>Rugby World Cup<\/a> 2025, after sitting out Les Bleues\u2019<\/a> sole warm-up match against England in early August.<\/p>\n

Vernier will resume her midfield partnership with co-captain Marine M\u00e9nager in one of three changes \u2013 the only one among the backs \u2013 that coaches Ga\u00eblle Mignot and David Ortiz have made to the starting line-up for Saturday\u2019s match against Italy at Sandy Park, Exeter.<\/p>\n

She comes in for sevens star Carla Neisen<\/a> who returned to 15-a-side international rugby in Mont-de-Marsan on 9th August after an absence of several years, and who has been named on the bench.<\/p>\n

\"VideoTop 50 Women\u2019s Rugby Players \u2013 montage<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve picked the world\u2019s Top 50 women\u2019s rugby players for 2025! View the list now<\/p>\n

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\"VideoTop 50 Women\u2019s Rugby Players \u2013 montage<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve picked the world\u2019s Top 50 women\u2019s rugby players for 2025! View the list now<\/p>\n

Morgane Bourgeois retains her place at fullback, in the middle of a settled back three with wingers Kelly Arbey<\/a> and Joanna Grisez.<\/p>\n

In the absence of Pauline Bourdon<\/a> Sansus, who is serving the final match of her two-game suspension for questioning refereeing standards, Alexandra Chambon<\/a> starts at nine, forming a halfback partnership with Carla Arbez.<\/p>\n

In the front row, Yllana Brosseau<\/a> and Assia Khalfaoui<\/a> start on either side of hooker Manon Bigot<\/a>, in for Anna\u00eblle Deshayes and Rose Bernadou<\/a>, who both drop to the bench.<\/p>\n

Agathe G\u00e9rin, meanwhile, has been named on the bench, after a midweek emergency return to France to be at her wife\u2019s side for the premature birth of their son.<\/p>\n

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In a heartfelt post on social media, G\u00e9rin wrote: \u201cIn such intense moments, you may wonder: how can she be 100 percent on the field? So I would ask you: who can still doubt the incredible strength of a woman who has just become a mother?<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not just about playing rugby: it\u2019s about being the most inspiring role model possible for our children. It\u2019s about courage, the courage to pursue my ambitions and my work for so many years. The courage to show them that life is a series of challenges from which you have to draw all the positives and sometimes push forward against all odds.<\/p>\n

\u201cWomen\u2019s Rugby World Cup 2025, I\u2019m coming with a hunger that only mothers can understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re convinced we can win,\u201d France co-captain M\u00e9nager had told French sports newspaper L\u2019Equipe on the eve of Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup 2025<\/a>, her final tournament hurrah as a player.<\/p>\n

After their six-try, 17-penalty, 40-6 humbling by England in their only pre-tournament warm-up match earlier this month, that may appear to be little more than bravado.<\/p>\n

But, M\u00e9nager, 29, who announced her retirement as a player back in May, went on: \u201cWe\u2019re a team that operates a little reactively. Of course we weren\u2019t satisfied with the match against England. We never knew how to put our game together. We completely lost our way.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we\u2019re a team that knows how to react \u2026 and we\u2019ve shifted into a different dynamic since we arrived in England.\u201d<\/p>\n

No one in the squad is under any illusion that the warm-up defeat in Mont-de-Marsan was a wake-up call, a reminder that Les Bleues remain, as coaches Mignot and David have repeatedly reminded everyone, \u2018outsiders\u2019 for the title. Not-to-be-underestimated outsiders \u2013 no one should necessarily write-off the number four-ranked side in the world after all \u2013 but outsiders nevertheless.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to face England to see where we were,\u201d Mignot told journalists after the match, \u201cand we got what we deserved \u2026 when you concede so many penalties, it\u2019s going to be difficult to play [rugby] in opposition territory.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indiscipline, the ease with which England powered through France\u2019s defence and an inability to keep the ball were serious issues in Mont-de-Marsan, but the most frustrating was at the breakdown \u2013 attacking rucks, in particular, an area the squad has worked hard with consulting coach Alexandre Ruiz throughout the summer.<\/p>\n

The difference between French players objectively calculating their rucking, and England\u2019s simply doing it became increasingly obvious as the scoreline difference ticked up in Mont-de-Marsan. There wasn\u2019t much in it. There didn\u2019t need to be. A fraction of a second was more than enough for Red Rose defenders.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor positive attacking movement, you need quick rucks,\u201d Mignot noted. \u201cFor that, the ball carrier has to do her job well and win her duel, but the support players also have to clear the ruck so that the scrum-half can move the balls quickly. That\u2019s key, and that\u2019s what England did.\u201d<\/p>\n

France had a week off to recharge their batteries immediately after the match. But the focus on their return to Marcoussis, and since their arrival at their Exeter Rugby World Cup<\/a> base, has been on the details of that defeat and \u2013 importantly \u2013 eliminating handling errors, lapses in defensive concentration, and maintaining discipline.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re still getting into the swing of things. We lack precision, especially in terms of keeping the ball to play in opposition territory,\u201d Ortiz said as Les Bleues readied to travel to England.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have the assets,\u201d Mignot insisted. \u201cBut we need to step up our game. Our team needs to play a string of matches to find its place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fixture<\/p>\n

Women’s Rugby World Cup<\/p>\n

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France Women <\/p>\n

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Italy Women <\/p>\n

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England started that string of matches for the French in early August. Italy, then Brazil, and finally South Africa are the next phase. While their 16th loss in a row against John Mitchell\u2019s side hurt, it highlighted brutally and precisely where Les Bleues were deficient, and luckily, it was a warm-up match.<\/p>\n

Maybe it\u2019s too easy to read too much into a poor one-off performance. France did not expect to be fully ready \u2013 in attack, defence, or even physically \u2013 when they faced England.<\/p>\n

The goal, according to ex-international Safi N\u2019Diaye, is for France\u2019s players to be at their physical peak in time for the knockout phase. \u201cWhen [France] are at their best, numerous things will improve in defence and attack,\u201d she told Midi Olympique.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s something of a gamble to be underdone against difficult Six Nations<\/a> rivals Italy \u2013 a side another former international, L\u00e9na\u00efg Corson, said will be gunning for Les Bleues. \u201cThe Italians don\u2019t like us very much,\u201d she said in a recent interview with RugbyPass<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a rivalry, like England and France. For them, it\u2019s a really important game. If they can beat France and get into the competition, they\u2019ll be so happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Menager, France<\/a> are good at reactive rugby. That reaction needs to start on Saturday in Exeter.<\/p>\n

France squad v Italy
1 Yllana Brosseau
2 Manon Bigot
3 Assia Khalfaoui
4 Manae Feleu<\/a> (co-captain)
5 Madoussou Fall<\/a> Raclot
6 Charlotte Escudero
7 L\u00e9a Champon
8 T\u00e9ani Feleu<\/p>\n

9 Alexandra Chambon
10 Carla Arbez
11 Kelly Arbey
12 Gabrielle Vernier
13 Marine M\u00e9nager (co-captain)
14 Joanna Grisez
15 Morgane Bourgeois<\/p>\n

16 Agathe G\u00e9rin
17 Anna\u00eblle Deshaye
18 Rose Bernadou
19 Axelle Berthoumieu
20 S\u00e9raphine Okemba
21 Lina Queyroi
22 Lina Tuy
23 Carla Neisen<\/p>\n