Spain given a French lesson

This was always going to be a tough fixture for the Spanish even before France selected what is likely to be their first-choice starting fifteen for next month's tournament. Spain, on the other hand, were resting a number of big names still recovering from their sevens programme, including Laura Esbri, both Barbara and Julia Pla, and Berta Garcia, and featured three new caps.

France dominated the start of the match, and threatened to run away with the game after a four-try first half performance that opened and closed with a brace of tries from Safi N'Diaye, with the powerful backline adding scores from sevens stars Shannon Izar and Caroline Ladagnous. Spain had their moments, playing an open and expansive game that reflected their sevens experience, but failed to turn their chances into points and ended the half at 22-3, with only a Patricia Garcia penalty to show for their efforts.

Some heroic second-half defence ensured that France had to wait until nearly the hour mark to further extend their lead, but as the hosts tired and turned to the bench three more French tries - a second from Ladagnous, followed by scores from Le Duff and Grassineau - allowed France to end the game with an impressive 37-3 victory.

Looking back Spain will have learnt a lot in from a game against what was almost certainly the toughest opposition they have met in a test match since leaving the Six Nations eight years ago and will be hoping that their missing star players will allow them to close the gap in August. How they recover and apply lessons learnt from today's game to their next game against Ireland on Saturday will be interesting.

France will be pleased about their performance against determined opposition, though their failure to convert six of their seven tries raises old concerns. At the World Cup every point will count.

SPAIN:  1. Isabel Rico; 2. Aroa González; 3. Elena Redondo; 4. Lourdes Alameda; 5. María Ribera;6. Diana Gasso; 7. Ángela del Pan; 8. Ana María Aigneren (c); 9. Patricia García; 10. Vanesa Rial; 11. Iera Etxebarría*; 12. Marina Bravo; 13. Elizabet Martínez; 14. África Félez; 15. Nuria Carreras*.

Replacements: 16. Mª Carmen Sequedo (x 1, '50); 17. Elsa Porto* (x 2, '59); 18. Saioa Jaurena (x 3, '68); 19. Tania Ortega (x 6, '68); 20. María Casado (4, '50); 21. Anna Arnau (x 14, '59); 22. Elena Roca (x 15, '69)

*New caps

FRANCE: 1 Hélene Ezzano,. Gaëlle Mignot 2 (c).; . 3 Eloide Portaries; 4. Nadal Marine; 5. Assa Koïta; 6. Coumba Diallo; 7 Laëtitia Grand.; 8. Safi N'Diaye ; 9. Jennifer Troncy ;10 . Sandrine Agricole 11 Camilie Grassineau 12 Marjorie Mayans 13 Shannon Izar; 14 Marion Lievre ; 15. Caroline Ladagnous.

Replacements: 16. Laëtitia Salles; 17. Christelle Chobet; 18. Lise Arricastre;  19. Sandra Rabier; 20. Manon Andre; 21. Yanna Rivoalen; 22. Christine Leduff; 23. Jessy Tremouliere..

Referee: Marlize Jordaan (RSA); Linesmen: Raposo and Vega (ESP)

Scoreboard:

0-5, min. 7. Try N'Diaye

0-10, m. 14. Try Izar

3-10, m. 20. Penalty P. Garcia

3-17, m.35. Ladagnous try, converted by Agricole

3-22 m.35. Try N'Diaye

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3-27 m. 58. Try Ladagnous

3-32, m. 62. Try Leduff

3-37, m. 74. Try Grassineau