Six Nations gives Bok Women perfect World Cup preview

Today at 05:56 AM

SPOTLIGHT: The Springbok Women will have the luxury of seeing what they will encounter during the World Cup when the Six Nations kicks off this Saturday.

South Africa will open their World Cup campaign against Brazil before fixtures against Italy and France, who will be in action during the Six Nations.

Italy take on defending champs England, while France will face Ireland in Dublin this weekend.

France will attempt to end England's grip on the Six Nations title and win a first championship since 2018.

France, who are still co-coached by Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz, lost 18-42 to England at Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux on the final day to leave them having to wait another season to end their wait.

Later in the year they managed a single win in WXV, a 22-14 victory over USA, but lost to hosts Canada and reigning world champions New Zealand.

It means they will need a strong showing against a confident Ireland at Belfast's Kingspan Stadium in the opening match to give their squad a much-needed morale boost.

"We need to mentally stop asking ourselves questions of why we're not performing the way we want to," France captain Manaé Feleu told Six Nations.

"We've been asking ourselves a lot of questions lately and you can feel it on the field.

"We just need to get back to the basics and have fun because rugby is a game and if you're not having fun, I don't think there's a point."

Mignot and Ortiz have named a squad of 32 players for the opening two rounds, but it only contains three players with over 50 caps in contrast to England with 11.

Before then they are likely to bring some new faces into the team. Feleu picked out her little sister and No.8 Teani and wing Kelly Arbey as two players who can make an impact and become established members of the team.

Feleu is also looking forward to seeing how scrumhalf Pauline Bourdon Sansus plays. Bourdon Sansus is one of France's most experienced backs with 61 caps, and a player who is in strong form for her club side Toulouse.

"Kelly Arbey is one you are going to see more of, and my little sister Teani. I can't wait to see her on the field more," Feleu said.

"Then there's Pauline Bourdon Sansus who has been in great shape with her club, and I can't wait to see her.

"I learned that good things take time and to be patient and to reflect when things don't go as you would have wanted. There is usually a lesson to be learned. To be patient with me and the team and to take your time when things don't go well."

Eagle-eyed rugby fans will notice a special twist to France's jerseys.

Look closely at the numbers the players wear on their backs, and you will notice the names of a multitude of clubs woven into their designs.

It is something that French teams have adopted over the past few years to remind the players of where they started, and to maintain a link with their supporters.

"They've been doing this for a while in France," Manaé Feleu stated.

"Every club that is in the French Federation has their name on the numbers.

"We want to give back to the small clubs because even though we're in the French team we wouldn't be where we are without them. You need to remember when you were young, and you were first coming through."

The French Rugby Federation (FFR) is responsible for teams in French territories around the world, no matter if they are on the French mainland, or one of the overseas departments or regions.

It means that Feleu's first club is included, despite it being located in the Wallis and Futuna Islands which is located over 16,000 kilometres away from Paris in the South Pacific Ocean, north of New Zealand.

The 25-year-old was born in Mâcon, in Burgundy, but when she was two her family moved to Wallis and Futuna in French Polynesia where her parents worked as sports teachers and Feleu and her younger sister Teani, who is also in the France squad, first played rugby.

Though she admits she didn't enjoy it as much as the rest of her family initially, and played a wide variety of sports, eventually she took it seriously. Feleu then boarded a high school in New Zealand where her game developed, and she carried that development on when she moved to France for university and eventually got the call to the French set-up.

"Every club that is in the French Federation gets a mention including Onaliki, my first club in Wallis and Futuna," she said. "In France we are really big about where we come from and our first clubs and how it started, to show our gratitude to them. We have to start somewhere, and we have to show our gratitude to them.

"It is very special. When I look back, I would never have thought I could come all this way and seeing where it has taken me and all the opportunities, I get because of rugby is so special. I'm so grateful to be able to do all of this because of rugby."

Source: Six Nations