Facing Argentina last Friday, the Blues ended their year on a good note. The opportunity to take stock of the statistics to remember about the French XV after 2024, where Fabien Galthié's men have played ten matches.
In one year, the Blues have had time to go through all the emotions. Sadness first of all, after a completely failed start to the 6 Nations Tournament. Hope then appeared after two victories against Wales and England to end the competition. This summer, a feeling of shame invaded French rugby after the indictment of Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou in Argentina, accused of aggravated gang rape. And finally, the French are satisfied with their November tour, after a third victory in as many outings. This year 2024 will have been rich in lessons at all levels, and certain statistics have caught our attention.
Ramos, most used player
It's quite simple to calculate Thomas Ramos' playing time this year with the French XV. Starting eight times (five times during the Tournament, three times this fall), the Stade Toulouse player has never been replaced. This ultimately gives you a result of 640 minutes played with the blue jersey on your shoulders. Ramos is the player most used by the French staff in 2024. Note that the original Tarnais was more aligned at the opening than at the back (five times against three).
22 new capes
This is a statistic that may be surprising at first glance. Since last January, no less than 22 players have discovered the international level with the French XV jersey, there will only be 5 in 2023 (Dumortier, Bielle-Biarrey, Laclayat, Boudehent, Gailleton). Obviously, the absence of the “premiums” and the Top 14 finalists in Argentina has a lot to do with it since 11 players had their first cap against the Pumas this summer. Note that we did not take the match against Uruguay into account.
The 22 players who received their first cap in 2024:
- Posolo Tuilagi
- Nolann Le Garrec
- Alexandre Roumat
- Esteban Abadie
- Leo Barre
- Nicolas Depoortere
- Emmanuel New
- Georges-Henri Colombe
- Hugo Auradou
- To be Nouchi
- Oscar Jegou
- Jordan Joseph
- Reading Etien
- Antoine Frisch
- Theo Attissogbe
- Mickaël Guillard
- Romain Briatte
- Killian Tixeront
- Baptiste Jauneau
- Avoid Tatafu
- Romain Buros
- Marko Gazzotti
31 tries scored
More than three tries scored on average per match, the French attack was rather effective in 2024. In total, there were 31 tries scored by the XV of France, by 19 different players (11 three-quarters and 8 forwards). For the record, it was Damian Penaud who flattened for the first time and it was Louis Bielle-Biarrey who raised his arms to the sky one last time against Argentina.
Bielle-Biarrey, top scorer of the year
Obviously, with 4 tries during this fall tour, it's easier to end 2024 in the shoes of the Blues' best scorer since January. A try against Scotland at the Tournament, another against New Zealand and Argentina then a double against Japan. Here you have a man with five achievements on the clock this year.
48.1% possession on average…
It’s a sector that has been the talk of the town since the arrival of Fabien Galthié at the head of the French XV. The Blues will finish 2024 with an average possession of less than 50%. After a little calculation, we see that the Tricolores had the ball in their hands 48.1% of the time during their meetings.
Also read:
XV of France – Technical. How the Blues used dispossession to blame Argentina
Their lowest total in recent months was against the All Blacks, where Antoine Dupont and his team finished the match with 39% possession. On the contrary, during the last crunch against the English, the French enjoyed having the ball with a total of 59% over the entire eighty minutes.
