Tokyo (AFP)

The French women's rugby sevens team, confident after a very successful qualifying tournament in mid-June, comes to Tokyo with "ambition" and "desire" to the point of being one of the contenders for the podium.

While their male counterparts failed to qualify for the Games, the French septists enjoyed themselves in Monaco, where their qualification was played out: five matches, five wins, not a single point conceded and nearly 51 registered on average.

Admittedly, in front of them, the adversaries were not of "Olympic" size (Madagascar, Colombia and Hong Kong), but they marked the spirits.

They also gained confidence there: "I admit that they amaze me with their ability to display a lot of control while taking full advantage of the force of the event on an emotional level without it hampering their performance" , underlined their trainer David Courteix, at the end of the TQO of Monaco, on the site of the FFR.

So, why not dream of a first Olympic medal in this discipline, which appeared on the program during the last Rio Games?

From Thursday, the challenge promises to be met, with scarecrows like Australia, 2016 Olympic champion, New Zealand, winner of the 2019-2020 world circuit, or even Canada, "tanned" in Rio in 2016, and that the Blue find from the group stages.

During the last world circuit, captain Fanny Horta and her teammates were in fourth place when competition was stopped due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Behind the inevitable trio of New Zealand (1st), Australia (2nd) and Canada (3rd).

- "Fearsome" -

But to climb on the podium of a big competition, the Blue ones have already done it ... during the last World Cup in 2018 in San Francisco.

They had successively dismissed Japan (33-7) in the round of 16, Canada (24-19) in the quarterfinals and Australia (19-12) in the semi-finals.

Only the "Black Ferns Sevens" were able to stop them in the final (29-0).

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The other two opponents of the French septists in Pool B will be Fiji and Brazil.

"We have the weapons to showcase our qualities, and the French teams are formidable (...) when they are focused, convinced, humble, respectful and focused on the only elements that can allow them to play well", says David Courteix, which will be able to rely on a united collective and talented individuals, such as Séraphine Okemba, Anne-Cécile Ciofani or Lina Guérin.

The men's tournament, meanwhile, will pit the Fijians, reigning Olympic champions, placed in Pool B with Great Britain in particular, and New Zealand, reigning world champion and winner of the last one from Monday to Wednesday. world circuit, which is in group A. Bronze medalist in Rio, South Africa will be part of group C.

At the end of the group stage, the first two of each group as well as the two best thirds are qualified for the quarter-finals.

© 2021 AFP