The Blues beat Argentina without trembling (37-23), Friday evening at the Stade de France.
From our special correspondent at the Stade de France
The XV of France concluded its autumn tour, and its year 2024, with a third success in a row. After Japan and the All Blacks, it was Argentina who fell on Friday evening at the Stade de France, dominated 37 to 23 by Antoine Dupont's Blues.
A success without trembling
The clash between the 4th world nation (France) and the 5th (Argentina, winner last summer of the South African world champions, the All Blacks and Australia, excuse me…) was expected to confirm the great success of the Blues, a week earlier, against New Zealand (30-29). If the meeting was less lively, sometimes played at a false pace, the French nevertheless proved to be as convincing as they were effective. A rough defense, authoritarian forwards, some inspirations behind. A cocktail sufficient to make the Argentinians lose their bite, half, or almost, of the contingent playing in the Top 14 (10 players out of 23). If the realism of Fabien Galthié's players is to be underlined – each opportunity is transformed into points, whether at the foot of Thomas Ramos, author of a new 100% success, or the dazzling performances of his wingers, Gabin Villière and Louis Bielle -Biarrey -, a downside however. The conquest was not sovereign, disrupted in closed melee and on the touchline, where Peato Mauvaka and his jumpers once again misplaced three ammunition. One avenue of work, among others, two months before the launch of the Six Nations Tournament. Again on a Friday, January 31, and at the Stade de France, against the Welsh in complete discomfiture (16 defeats in a row, current black streak).
The Blues come through in force
The Argentines, during the first thirty minutes, often had a monopoly on the ball. To defy the blue wall, in vain. A defense that was once again intractable, united and even a little more, Yoram Moefana's three offensive tackles bear witness to this. So solid. And strong with the ball in hand. On a nice 50-22 found by Gaël Fickou, the tricolor pack gets underway, Antoine Dupont launches Yoram Moefana then the second line Thibaud Flament, who flattens with force (7-0, 10e). The match then stabilizes. Twenty long, rather boring minutes where the two scorers, Thomas Ramos and Tomas Albornoz, show off their precision. 13-9 at the half-hour mark. The Pumas' grip finally loosens a little, the energy and mentality damaged by the resistance of the Blues. It is now the French forwards who are laying siege to the Argentinian goal. After a thorough shelling, Antoine Dupont serves Léo Barré. The Parisian full-back, with an acrobatic pass, launches Gabin Villière. Test by the RCT winger despite three defenders and 20 to 9 for the Blues, Ramos continuing his flawless performance (33rd).
Bielle-Biarrey finishes the job
The French XV finally breaking away with the score, its attackers, until then on the reserve, finally showed themselves more daring in the wake of Barré multiplying the sharp restarts. But it was a breakthrough from Thomas Ramos which was at the origin of the Blues' third try. Antoine Dupont kicks over for the Stade Toulousain opener who escapes before serving, also at the foot, the Bielle-Biarrey arrow. But, just as he was about to grab the ball to flatten, the Bordeaux winger saw the Argentinian flanker, Gonzalez, punch the ball into touch. After using the video, the English referee, Luke Pearce, logically awarded the penalty try with a yellow card for the offender. Fabien Galthié's men made the break (27-9, 33rd) and, following another success from Ramos, returned to the locker room at the break with a comfortable lead (30-9).
Annoyed, the Pumas resumed the attack as best they could, ending up being rewarded with a try from the pack, attributed to pillar Gallo (30-16, 55th). A semblance of suspense that will not last. On a nice offensive animation from the Blues, Ramos inherits the ball on the left side, serves Bielle-Biarrey, small kick to follow for himself and the inevitable ''Bip-Bip'' of the XV of France takes all the world of speed. Tenth try in 14 selections for the supersonic Bordeaux and the match ended shortly before the hour mark (37-16, 58th). The final burst of the Argentinians, once again in force, the pack this time taking hooker Ignacio Ruiz into the goal, will not change anything in the scenario (37-23, 69th). Just like the magnificent try refused to Emilien Gailleton in the last seconds due to a forward from Juline Marchand at the start of the action.
