So what is this big victory for the French XV against Japan worth? Like you certainly, we would tend to think that it was far too easy to pick up for it to really enlighten us on the potential of the Blues, fall-winter 2024 collection. They will play the bulk of their tour in a match, next Saturday , against the All Blacks. And this match against Japan will forever remain as a moment of friendly reunion, to finally emerge from the crisis and launch a new sporting project around the selection led by Fabien Galthié.
In this light, let us still rejoice. The bitterness is not yet completely behind, but the change has begun. From what we have begun to see, and if the poster had nothing comparable with the almost orgiastic Rugby debauchery of the sublime England-Australia played on Saturday afternoon, the XV of France has laid the foundations for its evolution: his eight tries scored demonstrate a new attraction towards the wider field, speed and movement. Without forgetting a good dose of less dispossession, which frankly doesn't displease us.
In short, this seems to better correspond to French rugby culture, our DNA and the talents of the Blues of the “Dupont generation”. Even more precisely, this “pleasure” rugby finally resembles that practiced by the people of Toulouse and Bordeaux, who are very widely represented in the selection. And there is no surprise to see them perform like this, at ease in a game project commensurate with their means.
We will judge in the next matches, against New Zealand and following Argentina, whether the promises of dawn are lasting or whether it is a one-off trend against an opponent largely within range. One thing is certain, the French XV must follow the evolution of the rules dictated by World Rugby, giving pride of place to attackers and more precisely to possession of the ball. It is impossible to say today if it is on such bases that the 2027 World Cup will be won (count on the technicians not to wait three years before finding the solution) but the trend is marked and, here again, it is not is not to displease us (unlike the aberration represented by the temporary red card).
Clearly, this offshore rugby, openness, movement and initiative now carries a new flame which should directly influence the profile of the players, more “playful” and sharp in the future when, until now, the mere notion of power dictated its law. Remember South Africa, world champion in 2019 and 2023…
However, let's not dream. If like us, you followed the Ireland-All Blacks clash on Friday evening, you will have noticed that the new rules have not – yet? – everything revolutionized. The poster between the leader of the world ranking and his third was a dull challenge from man to man, a confrontation without mercy or let up on the ground and in the rucks. That's enough to never forget that rugby will always remain a combat sport before being a game of hands and avoidance. Before going around, for the greatest pleasure of the (TV) spectators, it is always necessary to scrap, to punish. The successes of the Toulouse saga tell nothing else. And the Blues would do well to continue to draw inspiration from it…
