women
international women
François Ratier made five changes to his starting XV France they are looking at their first victory WXV Global Series 2026 against the Wallaroos this weekend.
Last Saturday in Lyon, France lost 28-14 to the Black Ferns. The Blues host Australia this week in Aix-en-Provence, before Canada to visit La Rochelle until the end of September.
Three changes have been imposed on players returning to the France Sevens group. Lili Dezou, Kelly Arbey and Cloé Jacquet are replaced by Gabrielle Vernier, Anaïs Grando and Émilie Boulard enter the starting team. It was Boulard’s first Test match under Ratier.
In the pack, Elisa Riffonneau was named as the starting bitch ahead of Mathilde Lazarko. Cloé Corréa replaces Siobhan Soqet in the second row.
François Ratier, head coach of France, said: “Australia are a very tough side. Anyway, all the Anglo-Saxon nations we face are physically very strong and play a very direct game. New Zealand combined those two traits, and the players certainly felt the physical toll. But Australia is even more physical.
“There are weaknesses to be exploited though. Against them we can’t afford the two or three lapses in concentration we had defensively against New Zealand. It wasn’t down to the system itself; it was more a case of players losing focus at the moment at key times. We identified that.
“As far as the power and physicality we’re going to face, it’s the same kind of challenge. We’re not going to be caught off guard in that regard.”
2026 WXV Global Series | France’s Matchday 23 squad against Australia
15 Emilie Boulard
14 Anaïs Grando
13 Gabrielle Vernier
12 Téani Feleu
11 Léa Murie
10 Carla Arbez
9 Pauline Bourdon Sansus (captain)
1 Amber Mwayembe
2 Elisa Riffonneau
3 Assia Khalfaoui
4 Julia Grosz
5 by Cloé Corré
6 to Axelle Berthoumie
7 Léa Champon
8 Charlotte Escudero
Substitutions
16 Maïlys Mailagi
17 Yllana Brosseau
18 Annaëlle Deshaye
19 Siobhan Soqeta
20 Mouna Toure
21 Alexandra Chambon
22 Lina Queiroi
23 Elodie Fernandez
