Rugby 7s: Les Bleues launch the Madrid tournament with a big victory over Fiji

A good walk in the sun to kick off the tournament. The French septists largely won their first match of the world circuit final on Friday noon in Madrid, in the Civitas Metropolitano stadium of Atlético footballers. An easy success (36-7) against the Fijians who held on to the Blues until the break (10-7) before completely collapsing in the second half of a match where Anne-Cécile Ciofani scored a hat-trick.

But for the Tricolores, there is no question of congratulating themselves on the magnitude of the score in the access corridor to the pitch which serves as a mixed zone. “It’s good, but it’s not enough,” says Séraphine Okemba, one of the leaders of the Olympic vice-champions. We still need to increase the level of aggressiveness. We isolated ourselves at times on the pitch, and that could cost us dearly for the rest of the competition. It’s still a victory, but the goal remains this first place (in the group). »

This should be played against the Australians, other favorites in the Bleues group where the two best teams will compete in the semi-finals on Sunday. The players from the southern hemisphere then largely dominated the Irish (33-14).

“We need to be more collective and that will do it,” says Chloé Jacquet. It was a first day and now it’s time to recover. » David Courteix’s players, who are still chasing their first coronation on the world circuit, now have 24 hours of recovery before facing Ireland on Saturday noon and then probably playing for first place in the group against Australia in the afternoon (3:27 p.m.).

The French men’s team begins its competition against the Australians this Friday (7:05 p.m.). A match that Antoine Dupont, back with the septists, could play less than a week after his grueling Champions Cup final won (31-22) with Stade Toulouse against Leinster.