France defeated the USA 31-23 to take third place on the final day of the Women's Rugby World Cup in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Saturday.

The French displayed some excellent quick hands in the backline, including in an opening try that sent the ball to the wing faster than most of the USA defense could track. Only the Eagles' Kristen Thomas was there to face off with lock Lenaigh Corson, and the big French second row was too strong and powerful to be stopped.



Down 5-0, the USA replied quickly with a penalty goal from Alev Kelter, and it would be Kelter's boot that kept the Eagles in the game. France replied with a period of concerted pressure, and then flanker Marjorie Mayans surged over. The French then caught a bit of a lucky break when a small handoff just wasn't seen by the USA interior defenders, and off galloped hooker Gaelle Mignot for a try and a 19-3 lead.

The USA got a crucial one back, camping out on the French tryline and finally seeing flanker Abby Gustaitis taking a good angle and scoring on the stroke of halftime. Kelter's conversion made it 19-10.



Kelter drilled another kick to cut France's lead to 19-13 early in the second period, but the French were hunting tries. Corson thundered through a weak tackle and was off before offloading to scrumhalf Jade le Pesq to make it 24-13. France's next scoring strike was a carbon copy of its first try, with quick hands from the breakdown being too fast for the USA and leaving Thomas all alone to stop a big runner. French flanker Julie Annery did the honors this time.

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The Eagles got back a little pride off a weird play. Jessica Javelet recovered a loose ball and lofted a loopy pass to fullback Cheta Emba. A revelation since early 2016, when she deserved (but didn't get) a look on the USA Olympic team, Emba has continually improved. In this instance, she held onto the ball and tried a kick downfield. The kick bounced off a French player and landed in Kelter's arms. The center raced off to the line, and just as it appeared she might be caught, dished to Emba in support for a try the fullback fully deserved.

Kelter was good on the conversion, but the USA was still eight points adrift at 31-23 and without enough time for two more scores. France held on to earn the bronze medal, while the Eagles finished fourth overall -- the USA's best result at a World Cup since finishing second in 1998.



"We knew they were going to be relentless," USA captain and hooker Tiffany Faaee said. "We knew that across the board from their backs to their forwards they were going to be very strong... it was an amazing effort from our girls fighting to the last minute."

New Zealand defeated England 41-32 to win the World Cup behind three tries from Toka Natua. Canada hammered Australia 43-12 for fifth (and capping a 4-1 tournament in which Canada lost only to New Zealand). Wales beat Ireland 27-17 for seventh. Italy took ninth with a 20-15 win over Spain, and Japan beat Hong Kong 44-5 for 11th.