Red-card heartbreak as Bok Women crash 57-10 to France

France’s slick off-loading and set-piece muscle condemned the Springbok Women to a 57-10 defeat in Sunday’s Rugby World Cup Pool D decider at Franklin’s Gardens, leaving South Africa to confront defending champions New Zealand in next weekend’s quarter-finals.

The fourth-ranked French outfit shot out of the blocks, full-back Emilie Boulard striking after ten minutes before centre Gaby Vernier and No 8 Charlotte Escudero stretched the margin to 19-3. South Africa’s task turned mountainous on the half-hour when right wing Maria Qawe was sent off for a high tackle, and Bourdon Sansus’s well-drilled side capitalised ruthlessly, crossing nine times in total. Scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus orchestrated proceedings and collected a second straight Player of the Match award, while replacement half-back Alexandra Chambon added the ninth try in the dying minutes.

For the Boks, a first-half Libbie Dolf penalty and Nadine Roos’s stoppage-time solo effort were scant consolation on a bruising afternoon that exposed the gulf between tier-one sides and South Africa’s still-developing programme. Handling errors under pressure and a retreating scrum gifted France possession and territory, and the numerical disadvantage forced captain Babalwa Latsha’s pack into energy-sapping defensive shifts. “We knew it would be tough,” Latsha admitted afterwards, praising the travelling support and insisting the squad will “take the lessons” into the knockout phase.

France top the pool and book a last-eight meeting with Ireland, maintaining momentum after earlier wins over Spain and Japan in the group stages. South Africa, whose two pool victories secured a maiden World Cup quarter-final, now face the formidable Black Ferns at Sandy Park on Saturday. Coach Swys de Bruin must rally his charges quickly, tightening discipline and set-piece cohesion if the Boks are to extend their historic campaign beyond Exeter.