The Blues are aiming for success against Argentina, this evening at the Stade de France, in order to victoriously close the Autumn Tour. The two teams meet again four months after a dramatic summer.
Would French rugby also shine through its resilience? Who would have believed it, at the end of a catastrophic summer marked by legal cases – the indictment for rape of Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jégou during the Argentina Tour in July – and the death by drowning, on August 7, of Under-18 international Medhi Narjissi on a beach in South Africa. But the evidence is starkly obvious (and the eardrums): the image of the Blues shines brighter this fall, with a final planned in apotheosis against the Pumas, this Friday evening at the Stade de France.
The football-rugby comparison was the talk of the town last week, mirroring the 16,000 spectators at France-Israel (0-0) and the atmosphere of madness surrounding the duel against the All Blacks (30-29). This parallel does not make much sense – apart from making football players bristle – but it testifies to the visceral attachment granted to the XV of France, whatever happens and whatever the quality of the game, provided that there is the won.
Black beast for fifteen years
However, since the 2000s, nothing has been more uncertain than a victory against Argentina. Between 2002 and 2016, out of fifteen confrontations, the Pumas won ten times, including two successes during the 2007 World Cup in France, reinforced by a cruel observation for the Tricolores: to hell with complexes, an ode to surpassing oneself .
So, tonight's team looks good on paper, with ten well-known faces from the Top 14 (Mallia, Oviedo, Sclavi…), an encouraging Championship (3rd place with victories against New Zealand and Africa of the South) and a suspenseful defeat (22-19), on November 15, against the formidable Ireland. Danger for the French, while their opponents will compensate for the fatigue of the end of the season with an extra day of recovery.
Dupont reignites the flame
But no worries, coach Fabien Galthié, who has only one defeat in four duels, assured him full of enthusiasm: he has a vision, which runs from the VI Nations Tournament to the next 2027 World Cup in Australia. And this vision requires success this evening, under penalty of damaging the consistency desired by the French staff with the backbone of the “Globalists”.
Why bother when it's enough to name just one. The best, the indispensable, the savior of the national rugby cause: Antoine Dupont. History will record that in a victorious Olympic tournament with the French 7s team, “Toto” symbolically rekindled the spark of the public and relegated the affairs of the summer to individual dramas, with no effect on the re-election of Florian Grill at the head of the Federation (FFR).
Since then, French rugby has made its self-criticism, included in a charter of good conduct prohibiting in particular alcohol without authorization. Crystal clear, as the federation's reputation now wishes to be. Galthié imagines an encore repetita at the Stade de France. “We felt (against the Blaks) a lot of support from a distance: the rugby family, French sport, those who like to see the French team play. It touches us and that’s what we play for.”he declared last weekend.
Respect and rediscovered communion
May this France-Argentina be touched by the same communion. Without whistles, nor provocations, nor anything regrettable. Because for two years and the World Cup final lost by Mbappé's Blues against Messi's Albiceleste, relations between the two nations have been surrounded by a tense climate. With, in magnifying glass, the Paris Olympics, during which these poor Argentine athletes were whistled even on the rowing banks.
Added to this inglorious observation is the upcoming opening of the trial of the murderers of former Argentinian international Martin Aramburu, shot dead in the streets of Paris on March 19, 2022. Let justice be done. In the courtroom as on the pitch, guarantee of a spectacular, moving and dignified match, just like what Argentine rugby players have always embodied.
