France defeated the USA 19-13 in a contentious game on the opening day of the Super Series in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Eagles did well in the game, especially in the opening 20 minutes when they dominated the French in most areas, especially territory and possession. But little miscues here and there undercut some prime scoring opportunities, and the Eagles went into halftime leading 8-0. That lone try came from a nice weakside move off the scrum, with No. 8 Jordan Gray linking with scrumhalf Deven Owsiany to get something started. Prop Hope Rogers took it up closer to the line, and then flyhalf Kimber Rozier ghosted nicely through a gap for the try.

Rozier missed the conversion but nailed a very tough penalty kick later in the half. The Eagles, however, should have scored at least twice more. France ended the half bashing at the USA line, and despite a yellow card to USA wing Saskia Morgan, they couldn't quite get over.

 But in the second half, the quick French tempo - backed by a physical forward pack, produced a try off a weakside scrum move, and then one thanks to a quick tap. The Eagles continued to get into penalty trouble, but perhaps were a little unlucky in defending the French maul, considering France had a habit of having a driver detach from the maul and rejoin in the front - which should have been penalized.

The Eagles also had trouble in the scrums, which were a mishmash of a variety of infractions on both sides, but made up for it with a pretty snappy lineout.

France scored once more to seemingly take control at 19-8. But the USA came back, with sub wing Naya Tapper getting her first touch on a nice backline move that saw Rozier set her up for the try, and a 19-13 scoreline.

The Eagles then finished the game right on the French line. They got several penalties, and a yellow card against the French, but made some questionable tactical decisions, such as trying to score out wide when they needed seven points to win, or not communication where the gaps were. Finally the game ended when Rogers was isolated in a tackle and the French forced a penalty.

So some moments that were good, and some that were not so good. The USA was within a try of the Six Nations champs, and now look to Canada, who destroyed England in the opening game. The USA plays Canada on July 5.

USA
1. Tiffany Faaee
2. Kathryn Augustyn
3. Hope Rogers
4. Stacey Bridges
5. Alycia Washington
6. Christiane Pheil
7. Joanna Kitlinski
8. Jordan Gray
9. Deven Owsiany
10. Kimberly Rozier
11. Cheta Emba
12. Sylvia Braaten
13. Jane Paar
14. Saskia Morgan
15. Jessica Wooden

Reserves
16. Samantha Pankey on for Augustyn at 64
17. Catherine Benson on for Faaee at 49
18. Jamila Reinhardt - DNP
19. Molly Kinsella on for Washington at 52
20. Elizabeth Cairns on for Kitlinski at 52
21. Jennifer Lui on for Owsiany at 59
22. Megan Foster - DNP
23. Naya Tapper on for Emba at 66

France
1. Lise Arricastre
2. Mignot Gaëlle (C)
3. Julie Duval
4. Manon Andre
5. Céline Ferer
6. Pauline Soulard
7. Gaëlle Hermet
8. Romane Menager
9. Yanna Rivoalen
10. Audrey Abadie
11. Julie Billes
12. Lucille Godiveau
13. Carla Neissen
14. Camille Cabalou
15. Laura Delas

Reserves
16. Manon Bigot on for Gaelle at 57
17. Laure Clermidy on for Duval at 71
18. Emilie Mathieu on for Menager at 64
19. Safi N'Diaye on for Andre at 43
20. Pauline Bourdon on for Rivoalen at 43
21. Camille Boudaud on for Godiveau at 71
22. Caroline Boujard on for Abadie at 43
23. Patricia Carricaburu on for Arricastre at 54

USA 13
Tries: Rozier, Tapper
Pens: Rozier

France 19
Tries: Bourdon, Menager, Bigot
Convs: Cabalou 2