Teani Feleu is backing France to bounce back from the “heartbroken feeling” of a semi-final loss and end Rugby World Cup 2025 on a high at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
Les Bleues were only two points down at half-time of that last-four clash with England at Bristol, but the Red Roses’ firepower proved too much as the hosts flexed their muscles in the second half to book their place in this weekend’s showpiece at the home of English rugby.
“At first you don’t believe it, you tell yourself there’s still a bit of time to change the result,” Feleu said of hearing the full-time whistle at Ashton Gate.
“But very quickly reality hits and the emotions fall straight on you. It’s a heartbroken feeling.”
For France, a Bronze Final against New Zealand awaits after the Black Ferns were stunned by an impressive Canada outfit who booked their second Rugby World Cup final appearance in history. A big game but not what they came for.
“You give everything for 80 minutes to reach that final. So, there’s a lot of disappointment and frustration for not having done enough,” Feleu said.
“In the heat of the game, I never felt like we let go. We always said we could come back. But when Ellie Kildunne scored that 80-metre try, morale dropped a bit.
“You still try to tell yourself you can come back, but time goes by faster than you’d like. During the match, I never thought ‘it’s over’. I just kept trying to push the team forward, not lose the ball, and score.”
‘You can still grab third place’
The 22-year-old is experiencing a Rugby World Cup for the first time in her career, but says the senior players in the team have rallied the troops for their third-place playoff against the six-time champions in a game that will precede the final at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
“The dream of the World Cup is, in a way, over,” she said. “Then, when you talk with the team, they remind you that there’s still a game left to bounce back.
“That helped me switch to something more positive, knowing you can still grab third place and not go home empty-handed.”
Feleu says those conversations began in an emotional post-match huddle in Bristol, led by the captain on the day, Marine Menager.
It was mainly Marine who spoke,” she says. “She said she was proud of what we’d done, that we showed character.
“But against the number one team in the world, mistakes are costly, and they cost us the match. She insisted that we should be proud of our run and go after that third place.
“The leaders had a big role in putting ideas back in order, but it’s really the cohesion of the group that allowed us to process the defeat. After Marine congratulated us, we spoke among ourselves in small groups, and we knew exactly what our goal was.”
‘A medal brings positivity’
Unfortunately for France, they have experience of this situation. They have now lost nine semi-finals at Women’s Rugby World Cups – out of ten tournaments played in – but they have also won five of the last six Bronze Finals.
“I think the experienced players know that finishing the competition with a win, and bringing a medal home, adds a lot of positivity to the journey,” Feleu says.
“When we talk about it, we’re aware of it. But I’ve never lived it myself, so I don’t know how it feels the other way round. In any case, the goal is clear: we want to win this match and bring home the bronze medal.”
Menager has announced that she will be retiring at the end of this Rugby World Cup, so if selected – or even if not – France have a chance to send their team-mate off in style by beating the Black Ferns at a sold-out Allianz Stadium in what is set to comfortably break the record for the highest attendance of a women’s rugby match.
“We know Marine has had a huge career, and she’s finishing on a World Cup, as captain too,” Feleu said.
“It’s a pleasure to have played alongside her. She’s a massive player who brought so much to the team. So yes, we’ll play this last match for her with pride.
“For now, I don’t fully realise how packed the stadium will be. I’ve played in sold-out venues before, but Twickenham is another level. I can’t wait to feel the atmosphere, and I’m sure the crowd will be there and create a great vibe.”