14 minutes was all it took for Caroline Boujard to etch her name into history.
The France winger crossed not once, not twice but three times inside the opening quarter at the Stade de la Rabine to blow away Wales in their Women’s Six Nations curtain-raiser.
It was one of the most blistering starts the Championship has ever seen and paved the way for Les Bleues to complete an impressive 53-0 bonus-point victory in Vannes.
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France ran in eight tries by the time the final whistle blew but while teammate Gabrielle Vernier received the Player of the Match, it was Boujard’s contribution which left Wales reeling.
Boujard’s hat-trick is believed to be the joint fastest in Women’s Six Nations history, according to statistician Stuart Farmer, joining Kat Merchant’s own quickfire treble for England against Scotland in 2009.
A CHAMPIONSHIP STALWART
Saint-Cloud-born Boujard has been an everpresent in the Les Bleues set-up ever since making her international debut against Scotland in the 2015 Women’s Six Nations.
She now has 39 caps to her name having featured in every Championship campaign over the past six years, including playing three games when France won the title in 2016.
Boujard also played every game of France’s last Women’s Six Nations title success in 2018, scoring a try against Scotland as they completed the perfect Grand Slam feat.
With 26 appearances in the Championship to her name, the 27-year-old continues to go from strength to strength and could prove pivotal to her side’s bid for this year’s crown.
Her previous best Women’s Six Nations try tally was three in the 2019 edition, but she has already equalled that after just one game thanks to her hat-trick heroics against Wales.
DREAM START FOR LES BLEUES
Boujard’s treble showed she is much more than just a one-trick pony and it was her vision that came into sharp focus for her first score – with just over two minutes played.
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France began as they meant to go on in the early stages as they tested the Wales defence, with Vernier throwing a clever dummy before making good ground down the right flank.
The ball was quickly recycled and after another phase, Pauline Bourdon attempted an ambitious box kick which was blocked by Wales only to be regathered by Clara Joyeux.
But just as Wales tried to reorganise their defence, Boujard spotted her chance as she provided cover for Bourdon at the breakdown – noticing a small gap in the wall of red shirts.
Boujard picked the ball and burst through the hole left by Manon Johnes, catching the flanker unaware as she raced over the whitewash and towards the posts to score.
BOUJARD STRETCHES HER LEGS
She soon doubled her tally for the game with only five minutes on the clock.
This time Wales had the ball and looked to launch an attack from their own half, with the visitors showing quick hands to spread it wide before France halted their progress.
Jasmine Joyce was unable to hold onto possession under pressure from Emeline Gros and Morgane Peyronnet pounced on the loose ball, making a quick break before finding Boujard in acres of space.
From there, the winger demonstrated her pace as she sprinted from outside the Wales 22 to the try line in no time at all, leaving Wales No.10 Elinor Snowsill trailing in her wake.
With less than six minutes played, France had already assumed a commanding position and it was not long before Boujard was haunting the Wales defence once again.
BRILLIANT TEAM MOVE SEALS HAT-TRICK
Wales managed to briefly steady the ship after conceding the second try but the danger posed by kicking to this French team became clear for all to see in the 14th minute.
A long boot downfield was easily gathered by France debutant Emilie Boulard and, with space and time on her side, the full-back required no second invitation to run at the Wales defence.
Boulard took Les Bleues up towards the halfway line with a smart dummy before offloading to Maëlle Filopon, who quickly found Boujard’s wing partner Marine Ménager.
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Ménager took the ball into the tackle and found Filopon again before Boulard rejoined the attack with a storming run down the left wing as she was brought down just short of the try line.
But more quick phases play moved the ball right and Bourdon’s flung the ball wide where Ménager brilliantly flicked the ball to Boujard, who stepped inside for her historic hat-trick moment.
