XV of France: France-Japan, the start of the new quest

From a ball snatched at the Stade de France to a last-minute penalty in Lyon against England, the French XV alternated hot and cold in its redemption operation after the failure of the World Cup at home, in 2023. Barely more than a year after this France-South Africa, the memories are intact, the frustration still somewhere in them, and in us.

Fabien Galthié and his players never stopped reminding us that they learned that this scar had to take time to heal. Since then, it seems that she is. The last 6 Nations Tournament was not proof of this. This fall tour has to be. Japan, New Zealand and then Argentina must be used to set the new course for the Australia-2027 project. Because the dream has not changed. Fabien Galthié and his family still want to be world champions. And the three-year journey that will take them to the other side of the world begins this Saturday, against Japan, at the Stade de France (9:10 p.m.).

A renewed generation

This new course even takes on the appearance of new chapters, with relatively new faces, which we were not used to seeing a few months ago with the rooster jersey in a match. This is undoubtedly one of the lessons that was learned from second place in the 2024 6 Nations Tournament. Youth and carelessness allowed the Blues to finish well a Tournament that was off to a bad start. For this first test in November, not everyone is there. But the spirit is the same. Emilien Gailleton, Yoram Moefana, Tevita Tatafu are starters, Gaël Fickou is on the bench, Charles Ollivon and Romain Taofifenua are out of the group… Youth was preferred to experience to start again on this new cycle, and erase the traumas of the Cup of the world and a nightmarish summer tour in Argentina. “We count whatever happens on them (the executives), we need their experiences to travel on this three-year vision. But they must be able to regenerate to continue to progress and not stagnate.”confided Fabien Galthié when announcing his team composition.

History will tell us whether this cycle is one of dispossession, of repossession, of intensity fought or pursued. But, whatever happens, it is a generation that must take power and take ownership of the France project. We always talk about the Dupont generation, because he's the captain and because he's back. But in this “Dupont 2.0” generation, everyone must prove themselves again. “There is no comfort zoneinsists the French coach. I would rather speak of continuity and emulation.”

Eddie Jones: “Attacking the French forwards”

And Japan seems to be an ideal opponent to test this emulation. Significantly stronger on paper, against a Japanese team renewed by coach Eddie Jones, with only 10 players who participated in the last World Cup, and less experienced with two players who play in Europe (Naoto Saito in Toulouse, and Tevita Tatafu in Bordeaux), the XV of France must use this supposed superiority to reassure itself. Especially since Eddie Jones announced that he wanted “attack the French forwards”. It will therefore be necessary to show the muscles. Proving once again that France is a nation that scares everyone.

Because behind it, New Zealand looms. The real issue is even there. This France group wants to prepare as best as possible for this reception, on Saturday November 16. To show that the incredible team of three years ago which beat the All Blacks by scoring 40 points, before achieving the 2022 Grand Slam is still there. It only asks to be resurrected with new certainties. And this renewed group must bring it back to life. This Saturday, this group has points to gain, before asserting themselves against opponents of a higher caliber. And if France does brilliantly this November, it will have returned to what it was. The one who is the favorite in every match and every major tournament. The France team has three matches to show that a great team never dies. And it starts with Japan.