Ladagnous inspires France fightback against Wales – Six Nations Women’s Rugby

from Women’s Rugby Six Nations:

France grabbed two second-half tries in their 15-3 victory at Bridgend to inflict Wales’ first home defeat in the Women’s RBS 6 Nations Championship in three years.

Although Non Evans edged Wales in front with a first-half penalty, France were very much in the ascendancy after the interval and tries from Caroline Ladagnous and Sandrine Agricole made it a first defeat on Welsh soil since England won 30-0 in 2007.

Wales entered the game full of confidence following their 28-12 defeat of Scotland while the memory of last-year’s defeat to Les Bleus, which cost them the Grand Slam, was still fresh in the mind.

They got off to a great start through Evans’ sixth minute penalty but after that they struggled to find any rhythm.

Instead the visitors should have gone into halftime with a lead but fly-half Aurelie Bailon had an off day with the boot and could not turn penalties into points.

Even when Laetitia was sent to the bin early in the second half, Wales could not capitalise on their numerical superiority.

Instead France got the game’s first try with 15 minutes remaining. A good passage of play down the left-hand touchline saw lock Hasna Rhamouni break the gameline before hooker Sandra Rabier’s superb offload put flying winger Caroline Ladagnous away.

While France’s first try was superbly worked, their second owed far more to a Wales mix-up.

Captain Mel Berry gathered a kick ahead only to delay her pass to full-back Evans which gave the French chasers the time to charge-down the Cardiff Blues’ kick with Agricole snaffling the loose ball before touching down.

Bailon added the conversion to go with an earlier penalty to round off a great day for the visitors.

For a full schedule of all the 2010 Six Nations action, go here. For travel packages to England for the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup, go here.