The Blues will have believed it for around twenty minutes. To the delight of Ernest-Wallon’s Toulouse spectators, Benjamin Garcia’s partners then led 8-0 after a corner try from Fouad Yaha (3rd) and a penalty from Arthur Mourgue. United in defense, efficient in their offensives, Laurent Frayssinous’ players carried out the perfect plan in the first part of the match, before being overtaken again by the English, and suffering a scathing defeat (40-8), one more.
The British took 20 minutes to wake up and take the measure of the French, before scoring four tries in 11 minutes, through Jack Welsby, Ash Handley and Tom Johnstone to lead 18-8 at half-time.
A qualification for the World Cup to seek
The second half will be of the same ilk, with three new achievements, even if the Blues missed the opportunity to reduce the gap, with a forward from Mickaël Goudemand when flattening, around the hour mark. Despite an experienced French group, and a majority of players in the Super League, the Blues, lacking collective benchmarks, suffered a 23rd loss in a row against their best enemy. Laurent Frayssinous’ men now aim to win the European Cup in the fall, to hope to win one of the last two tickets for the next World Cup in 2026 (in a location which has yet to be determined).
The Blues did little better, swept aside 42-0 by their English counterparts. The French Rugby League Federation, which celebrated its 90th anniversary, still has work to do, even if some satisfactions are to be noted, notably with the young winger Enzo Griffier, very active, on Saturday at the start of the game.
