Biarritz (AFP)

The walk was too high. The French women's rugby sevens team, which finished Sunday 6th of the Biarritz tournament, the last stage of the world circuit, will have to go to Kazan, in July, to qualify for the Olympic Games.

The finding after the defeat in the quarterfinals on Sunday against Canada (12-5 defeat) or the last classification match against Australia (24-10) was about the same as that established the day before in front of the States United States (19-7 defeat): The French women, third in the world circuit last year and vice-world champions, struggling this season to compete with the best nations.

"There is disappointment," commented Blue coach David Courteix, after the elimination in quarters. "It's the same match as yesterday, except that we put more intelligence at times today (...) We must learn.While we make four balloons on the six or seven we have to play, that's a lot. "

Captain Fanny Horta preferred to look at the positive side. "We are failing on technical mistakes that do not depend on us, we lack mastery, keeping a cool head (...) We are progressing, especially in the ability not to stay on this frustration".

Meanwhile, the season of the French is inevitably disappointing compared to the previous one: three semi-finals on six tournaments but no medals. Result, the Blue finish in first place not directly qualifying for Tokyo 2020 (5th), behind the four major nations (New Zealand, USA, Canada, Australia).

And the prospect of an Olympic qualifying tournament (TQO) under high tension in mid-July in Kazan with Russia, England, Ireland and Spain, which are hot on the heels of the French world rankings.

"The Kazan tournament will be very special," warns Courteix. "The five teams that run after the qualification are very close to each other, they all have extremely strong game identities, so there will be oppositions of style that will be worth the look. the dramatic intensity of the issue ".

If the Blues fail in Tatarstan, they will have one last chance in the 2020 draft repechage. That's another season to think they would rather avoid each other.

? 2019 AFP