Revamped France head to New Zealand buoyed by first top-three win since 2023

France arrive in New Zealand for the WXV Global Series southern hemisphere leg with genuine momentum behind them, having beaten Women’s Rugby World Cup finalists Canada 21-5 at Stade Marcel Deflandre in La Rochelle in September — their first win over a top-three nation since they edged New Zealand 18-17 in October 2023.

The result, combined with an extraordinary comeback victory over Australia in Provence the week prior, leaves Les Bleues with a 2-1 record from their opening three WXV outings. The raw emotion in the squad when Alexandra Chambon booted the ball into touch to seal the Canada win underlined exactly what the result represented to a group that has been rebuilding its identity.

“We hope this is the beginning of a beautiful story,” scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus told journalists after the final whistle. “It’s been a long time since we beat a top-three country. We can only be proud to have beaten the World Cup runners-up.”

Bourdon Sansus was quick to temper the optimism, however, issuing a pointed warning to her teammates even as the celebrations continued in the dressing room. “As I told the girls in the huddle, it was a great performance, but we always have to stay at the top of our game. We often struggle with inconsistency. We slip up after a good performance. I hope this bodes well, but we have no reason to rest on our laurels because we all want to win titles.”

The scrum-half also pointed to a shift in the squad’s collective mindset since the Six Nations. “We’re less focused on spectacular performances — we’re building something. We’re on the right track. We’re working hard, we’re working well, and I think we’re improving with every match, so it’s encouraging.”

Head coach François Ratier has been clear that the 2026 WXV Global Series is not an end in itself but an early waypoint on the road to the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Australia. “The home games against Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are important milestones,” he said. “It’s a game plan that’s taking shape, and the girls are starting to make it their own. We’re evolving together, growing together, and now we’re starting to see the results.”

Bourdon Sansus echoed that long-term outlook, acknowledging there is still significant ground to close on the nations above them. “We’re still a long way behind the nations ahead of us, so it’s up to us to catch up. There are plenty of areas we still need to improve, especially our work on the floor.” France head to New Zealand knowing a win there would represent another significant marker in that process.