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Menager eager to make up for lost time with France Women

Inpho
At this year’s Rugby World Cup France flanker Romane Ménager had to watch from the sidelines as her team fell in the semi-finals to England – she has no intention of missing out when the two sides meet again in Béziers in next year’s Women’s Six Nations.

At this year’s Rugby World Cup France flanker Romane Ménager had to watch from the sidelines as her team fell in the semi-finals to England – she has no intention of missing out when the two sides meet again in Béziers in next year’s Women’s Six Nations.

Ménager was one of the standout performers at the World Cup, named in the team of the tournament and notching four tries in total.

That included one against Ireland, in a crucial match against their Six Nations rivals, but the 21-year-old suffered an injury in that game that caused her to miss the semi-final against England.

In her absence Les Bleues went down 20-3 in a game that was closer than the final score suggested, and Ménager is keen to make up for that disappointment.

She said: “Given what we achieved at the World Cup, we think we are capable of a lot and that’s clear to everybody. Our objective is to win the Six Nations.

“In rugby it’s the same for everyone, France v England is so important and no one wants to lose that game. As is the case every year, we’ll be even more up for it, especially after losing the semi-final at the World Cup against them, so we want to gain our revenge.

“Of course it’s difficult to have missed the semi-final. You play in the pool games to play a semi-final so when you can’t play it hurts. But that’s how it is, that’s the world of sport.”

Still only 21, Ménager has established herself as one of the key players in the French team since making her debut in 2016.

Alongside Safi N’Diaye in the back row, she will be a key player for Samuel Cherouk this season, with Les Bleues taking on Spain and Italy in November.

Cherouk has named a much-changed team with lots of new faces involved, and Ménager is relishing the chance to be part of a new generation of French players.

She added: “I think we’re trying to look at more players and look to the future with some very young girls. So we can’t wait for the first matches in the autumn.

“The Spanish were at the World Cup and we’re expecting a tough match so we’ll need to prepare well because we can’t afford to be off our game.”

One player not in the squad is Ménager’s twin sister Marine, who has signed a contract with France’s Sevens team.

The pair came through the ranks together at Lille Villeneuve, where Romane still plays, but this season marks the first where they have not played together – something the flanker admits is not easy.

She added: “I started playing rugby at the age of seven with Marine. Along with our older sister Caroline, we all played at Villeneuve and have stayed there ever since;

“This year she signed up for the France Sevens team so she trains every day at the national training centre (in Marcoussis) with the Sevens team.

“We’ve always been used to playing together all the time so it is a big change but I think it can only help both of us in the long run.

“I could be tempted by Sevens someday but for now I’m focused on playing XVs and enjoying it.”