From the opening game when France easily brushed aside Italy in a powerful display that showcased the best of their forward play alongside their precision out wide, this title always seemed like theirs to lose.
But the brilliant form they showed at home was never replicated on the road, and in typical French fashion, they made exceptionally hard work of a title that should really never have gone to the wire like it did, despite England’s obvious progress during the Championship. Gaelle Mignot’s ability to inspire her team was never more evident than on the final day with emotion pouring out of her despite an injury which should surely have forced her off, but in reality her team never looked like losing that game in front of a sellout crowd of 10,000 in Vannes.
The French crowds were remarkable this season, in both their size and voice, and they played a part in willing their team home on the final day.
Up front, Mignot’s work was complemented well by the ever powerful Safi N’Diaye while Audrey Forlani was a rock in the second row and in the backs Elodie Poublan and Lucille Godiveau were in very good form. Winning the title bodes well for France just 18 months away from the World Cup but their woes on the road remain a real issue.
England will take positives from defeat
England have improved enormously throughout this Championship, in a team which has featured a relatively inexperienced backline and plenty of newer faces up front.
While they will be greatly disappointed to miss out on both the Grand Slam and the title in the manner they did, there will be some satisfaction about the depth the team is developing in key positions.
Nowhere more so is this true than at fly-half where Amber Reed ably filled the shoes of Katy McLean, providing England with not just a backup in a key position but a player capable of offering real competition when or if McLean gets back involved after the Olympics.
Up front too the performances of Abbie Scott and Vickii Cornborough were impressive, and though England were not as precise out wide, where they badly missed the strike running ability of the likes of Emily Scarratt and Danielle Waterman, some progress has been made.
Irland pay price for rebuilding
Ireland’s season was rather disjointed, when the away losses to France and England reminded everyone just how difficult winning on the road against the better teams are but the manner in which they ended against Scotland was pleasing, and Tom Tierney also took plenty of chances to look at new players in the competition – especially against Italy.
Ailis Egan remains a vital player in the front row while Claire Molloy and Paula Fitzpatrick were standouts in the back row.
The return of Alison Miller for the final two rounds from sevens duty was a sharp reminder of some of the quality missing in their backline at the moment – she was outstanding – but Sene Naoupu shone in a new look Irish midfield.
The Irish crowds were also impressive and that looks a good sign ahead of next year’s World Cup. They are very much a work in progress but one that is developing nicely.
Wales are on the up
Wales will be somewhat deflated in the manner of their final game with a loss to Italy undermining the narrow loss to England and the win over France in the previous rounds.
Indeed the win over France had Wales in the running for the title so to eventually finish fourth is probably disappointing.
However Wales look to be a team for the future with a young looking side coupled with their huge defensive bravery suggesting that they are probably the team to watch over the next three to five years.
Teenagers Keira Bevan and Robyn Wilkins look like stars in the making while I was also very impressed again with Rachael Taylor and Sioned Harries while Megan York and Carys Phillip also had good tournaments up front.
If Wales can get their attacking game right, they have all the pieces of the jigsaw to be a real force in the years to come.
Italian class is shining through
Italy’s progress was stalled in no small part by a difficult fixture list – the year they play Ireland and France away in particular, they are always likely to struggle.
But along with Wales, they met their key target this year in qualifying for the World Cup and they can take some genuine positives from the five matches.
They did better against England than they have ever done, and in Manuela Furlan and Sara Barratin, they have backs capable of outplaying anyone in the same positions anywhere in the world.
Their final day win against Wales will have offered a big boost as they now begin to prepare for the World Cup and though they still look light on depth, they will not be taken lightly by any team.
The wait goes on for Scotland
Finally to Scotland who once again finished bottom but can have more reason than usual to be cheerful. Shade Munro has managed to inject real energy and ambition in his team and though that wasn’t always matched by execution, Scotland looked fitter and more positive and have started to score tries again.
Rome wasn’t built in a day but Munro’s charges look far better equipped to try and win a place at the World Cup through the European qualifiers this summer and that would be a massive achievement for a rebuilding team.
Jade Konkel has emerged as a real powerhouse in Scotland’s backrow but Jenny Maxwell, Lisa Martin and Lisa Thompson all looked very good too and they should not be too down and out about their final league position.
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