French Army too strong for Swiss
Switzerland celebrate 500 years of neutrality this year, after suffering defeat to France at the Battle of Marignano. Today the French Army did battle with the Swiss again, this time on the rugby field, but the result was just as decisive.
Published by John Birch, April 14th, 2015
4 minute read
The game was Switerland’s first since the European Trophy last autumn, where the finished fourth after a narrow defeat to Russia, and comes only a month after Swiss rugby emerged from its enforced winter break. It also marked the beginning of their preparations for this year’s tournament, which they will host. Currently ranked 23, the Swiss aim to break into the top 20 and games against strong opposition like the French Army team are key to that ambition.
The French Army, if they were an international team, would rank several places above the Swiss at around 18th, alongside Belgium who Switzerland will meet in the European Trophy (they play the Belgians every year in games that are normally closely fought, losing 45-28 last month having won the previous year). Their team today included ten players from Top 8 teams, including Maeva N’Diaye and Meryl Dubertrand who have both played for France at U20 level.
In short this was always going to be a tough game for the hosts.
The game was played at Monthey, a wonderfully attractive ground surrounded by mountains that looked perfect on a sunny April afternoon.
The first half was played almost entirely in the Swiss half. The French took five minutes to get on the scoreboard, thanks to a drive from a scrum that would be familiar to anyone who has seen the national team, which was well converted by Cassandra Cote. A second try followed after 14 minutes as Adline Carrasquete broke the Swiss line to touchdown under the posts. The Swiss had little answer to the powerful French pack, and after 22 minutes Meryl Dubertrand added a third try after a maul had wreaked havoc in the Swiss defence, opening up a huge overlap. Five minutes later Dubertrand added another try, cutting through the Swiss line, and the Army added a fifth try just before the break, which came with the score at 29-0.
The pattern continued in the second half with Laurie Pros touching down soon after the restart, but after this the Swiss at last began to put some phases of play together and put some pressure on the visitors. However French pressure ensured that some good platforms were lost through slightly rushed and inaccurate passing and handling, and as the attack broke down drew to a close France were able to add a seventh try from a driving maul.
The final ten minutes of the game were more even, and the Swiss saved their best play for the final two minutes when a serious of phases took them close to the French line, but without any reward.
Switzerland: 1 Katja Dick, 2 Kisten Aebischer, 3 Angela Diener, 4 Cynthia Munstermann, 5 Lea Strohm, 6 Aida Stann, 7 Holly Shaerar, 8 Judith Martinot, 9 Fabienne Ullmann, 10 Esther Duss, 11 Selina Fux, 12 Rahel Bisshardt, 13 Simone Haymoz, 14 Heenriette Thole, 15 Christa Hermann
French Army: 1 Christekke Semelis, 2 Celia Capel, 3 Jessica Garnier, 4 Vao Bacondro, 5 Malia Tokotuu, 6 Ghislaine Sato, 7 Stephanie Cibassie, 8 Lisa Pointu, 9 Judie-May Romero, 10 Cassandra Cote, 11 Maeva N’Diaye, 12 Laurie Pros, 13 Adeline Carrasquete, 14 Anne-Laure Meizzi, 15 Meryl Dubertrand
