‘Tough’ French side praised after not conceding points to start Olympics

If there’s one women’s sevens team that’s flying dangerously under the radar at the Paris Olympic Games then it’s the French. France were one of the top sides on the SVNS Series but Australia and New Zealand are being talked about as the clear gold medal favourites.

Rio Olympics gold medallist Alicia Lucas has started to change that narrative in the media after describing the French as “a really tough” team after their sensational start to the Games in front of a packed house at Stade de France.

With a record-breaking crowd in attendance for women’s rugby sevens, France gave their supporters a lot to smile and cheer about. The SVNS Series runners-up beat Brazil 26-nil and almost put 50 points on Japan in their second pool match.

But their accuracy in defence was especially impressive. Brazil have a strong side that includes try-scoring phenomenon Thalia Costa and Japan showed in the back half of the Series in 2023/24 that they don’t go down easily, but they couldn't score at all.

France seemed to thrive with about 70,000 supporters cheering and chanting them to success. Along with Canada, they’re the only women’s side to beat both Australia and New Zealand in the season just gone, so they’ll likely be in the mix when medal matches get underway.

“Didn’t they leave their mark today! A whopping 49-nil verse Japan and then a 26-nil against their earlier opposition,” former Australian sevens star Alicia Lucas said on Stan Sports’ Olympics Daily.

“It’s incredible the message they’re sending.

“Also, zero on the scorecard. That’s impressive for a defensive team.

“They embraced that big, big crowd that was there for them today – all the ‘(Allez) Les Bleus’ that was cheering for them. They were focused and ready and that is going to be a really tough French side.”

But to give credit where it’s due, Australia and New Zealand are overwhelming favourites for a reason. Between the two neighbouring nations, they won seven of eight Cup Finals on the SVNS Series with Ireland claiming the crown in Perth seven months ago.

Australia won the overall Series title at Madrid’s Civitas Metropolitano almost two months ago, but New Zealand have some bragging rights of their own after taking out the League at Singapore’s National Stadium earlier this year.

The two rivals, just like France, are unbeaten after the opening day. Australia beat South Africa and Japan while New Zealand delivered heavy losses to China and Canada. As Lucas explained when talking about the Aussies, “They are off to an absolute flyer.

“It was a history-breaking day out at Stade de France – the biggest ever crowd for a female rugby sevens match. It was electric.

“I got to see them in the tunnel before they ran out, got to give them little hugs and love and all my support so that was really special for me personally.

“But the performance that they put on was absolutely golden – dominating their first match against South Africa and then following and backing that up against GB which was a rally tightly contested game.

“It was really special.”