France bounce back with 25-16 win over New Zealand in Women's Super Series

France Women 25 - 16 New Zealand Women, Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center

France opened their account in the ongoing Women's Super Series as they completed a 25-16 win over their New Zealand counterparts in the third round at Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center on Saturday.

The opening quarter was total domination from France as they pushed Black Ferns on the backfoot. Maelle Filopon set the tone as she breached the New Zealand defence to send Caroline Boujard over the line in the fifth minute. Jessy Trémoulière followed with a conversion and a penalty to make the scoreline 10-0.

Tremouliere missed her second penalty in the 15th minute but added the conversion on Filopon's try a minute later as they scored 15 unanswered points. Kendra Cocksedge on her 50th Test got New Zealand off the mark in the 19th minute with a penalty kick but that was cancelled out by Tremouliere.

France suffered a setback when Audrey Forlani saw yellow for hands in the ruck in the 32nd minute and Cocksedge followed with a penalty kick as the teams went into the break with an 18-6 scoreline.

Cocksedge with her third penalty in the 52nd minute reduced the gap down to nine points but a converted try from Tremouliere ensured France had a convincing lead of 25-9. In a bizarre final 10 minutes, France gave an opening to New Zealand with a yellow card to Bourdon that also resulted in a penalty try for the Black Ferns to make the scoreline 25-16.

France were reduced to 13 players for the final seven minutes with captain Gaelle Hermet sin-binned for sacking a drive just short of the line but managed to hold their defence well to seal a nine-point win.