‘I take full responsibility’: France coach speaks out after 81-12 defeat

France have not suffered a defeat like Saturday’s 81-12 thrashing by the Black Ferns in Hamilton for three decades.

As WXV Global Series 2026 resumed, Whitney Hansen’s side ran riot at FMG Stadium, scoring 13 tries to launch their home campaign in emphatically.

The last time Les Bleues lost by more than 60 points was at the 1996 Canada Cup, when New Zealand ran out 109-0 winners.

It was an inexperienced France team out on the turf, with many of the matchday 23 having five caps or fewer.

The squad was also without the world-class experience of Manae Feleu, Madoussou Fall Raclot and Pauline Bourdon Sansus.

“I take full responsibility for the fact that I’m the one who put them on the pitch,” Ratier said.

“They’re doing the best they can with the abilities they have, but I’m the one who selected them – I want that to be clear. I take ownership.

“The players shouldn’t be hanging their heads in shame; that’s what we’ve told them. That said, we did ask them to do their job this week, because they do have a job to do.”

France will have little time to dwell on the defeat. Next weekend, the two teams will meet again, this time at Semenoff Stadium in Whangarei.

While downbeat, Ratier believes his squad must harness their disappointment and turn it into something positive if they are to enjoy long-term success.

“Once again, we’re at the start of a new cycle,” he said. “It really hurts. Honestly, it just sucks. One day we’ll look back on this as just a moment in our journey. A bad moment. We have to turn it into something positive.”

France’s start to life under Ratier has certainly had its contrasts. In May, the side went into the final weekend of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations in contention for the Grand Slam, only to be well beaten by the Red Roses in Bordeaux.

In the WXV Global Series, they have now lost twice against the Black Ferns, been pushed close by the Wallaroos and beaten a poor Canada team in La Rochelle.

As such, it remains difficult to gauge France’s true level, particularly given their lengthy list of unavailable players.

“Right now, certainly, no one is proud or happy with the result,” Ratier said. “We feel ashamed; that’s not the image we wanted to project.

“Beyond the fact that our opponents dominated, and there was a clear disparity in the level of play, they were simply better than us. We played the complete opposite of how we should have, which made things very difficult.”