Rouet takes accountability after Canada's 21-5 defeat to France in La Rochelle

Canada head coach Kévin Rouet accepted full responsibility after his side were outclassed 21-5 by France in La Rochelle, a performance he described as falling well short of the team’s standards.

France controlled the match from start to finish, with Émilie Boulard crossing twice and Alexandra Chambon adding a third try. Carla Arbez and Lina Queyroi converted to give François Ratier’s side a comfortable victory. Canada’s only reply came through Lizzie Gibson, who scored in the 35th minute — her fourth try in three WXV Global Series fixtures this autumn.

The defeat was a jarring step back for a Canada side that had drawn 26-all with England and beaten Scotland by 10 tries in the two weeks prior. Rouet was candid in his assessment.

“We have been focusing on chasing the number one, and I think today we did not present ourselves to the best of our ability,” he said. “That does not define us, but consistency is the key to being number one. Today, we were not able to be accurate or consistent in our performance. We take full accountability for that, and I will give credit to France on their performance today.”

Despite the frustration, Rouet pointed to the broader context of a demanding four-week campaign and kept his focus firmly on what lies ahead. Canada face back-to-back home Test matches against England in Toronto and Ottawa in October — fixtures that carry significant weight given England’s victory over Canada in the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final at Allianz Stadium, sealed with the last play of the game.

“We are still angry, and we know our dream is not over, because we want to get that win against England, and that will be the key focus,” Rouet said. “I am also proud of the girls for their work these past four weeks. It was a hard battle with a lot of travelling.”

The La Rochelle result serves as a reminder of the consistency Canada will need to find if they are to challenge John Mitchell’s England side on home soil.