women
international women
France they haven’t suffered a defeat like Saturday’s 81-12 loss to the Black Ferns in Hamilton for three decades.
As WXV Global Series 2026 continued, Whitney Hansen’s side ran riot at the FMG Stadium, scoring 13 tries to kick-start their domestic campaign in emphatic fashion.
The last time The Blues lost by more than 60 points in 1996 Canada Cup, bathtub New Zealand ran out 109-0 winners.
It was an inexperienced French side on the field, with many of the 23rd playing five games or less.
The team was also without the world-class experience of Manae Feleu, Madoussou Fall Raclot and Pauline Bourdon Sansus.
“I take full responsibility for the fact that I put them on the field,” Ratier said.
“They’re doing the best they can with the abilities they have, but I’m the one who chose them – I want that to be clear. I’m taking ownership.”
“The players shouldn’t hang their heads in shame; that’s what we told them. However, we asked them to do their job this week, because they have work to do.”
France will have little time to reflect on the defeat. Next weekend, the two teams will meet again, this time at Semenoff Stadium in Whangarei.
Although disappointed, Ratier believes his team must use their disappointment and turn it into something positive if they are to enjoy long-term success.
“Once again we are at the beginning of a new cycle,” he said. “It really hurts. Honestly, it’s just bullshit. One day we’ll look back on this as a moment in our journey. A bad moment. We have to turn it into something positive.”
The beginning of the life of France under Ratier certainly had its contrasts. In May, the team entered the final weekend of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations in the fight for the Grand Slam, only to be well beaten by the Red Roses in Bordeaux.
In the WXV Global Series, they have now lost twice to the Black Ferns, pushed them close to the Wallaroos and beat a poor Canadian team in La Rochelle.
As such, it remains difficult to gauge France’s true level, especially given their long list of unavailable players.
“Right now, for sure, nobody is proud or happy with the result,” Ratier said. “We’re ashamed; that’s not the image we wanted to project.
“Besides the fact that our opponents dominated and there was an obvious disparity in the level of play, they were simply better than us. We played the complete opposite of what we should have, which made things difficult.”
