XV of France. These half-time speeches from Dupont and Fickou that changed everything against the All Blacks

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Finally victorious against the All Blacks, the XV of France has long been poorly embarked and was notably led when returning to the locker room at the half time. This was the opportunity for Antoine Dupont et Gaël Fickou to deliver muscular speeches having made it possible to shake up the Blues and turn the tide, as revealed in the last episode of Mixed Fates.

Strong words from Dupont and Fickou at half-time in France – All Blacks

It's not so much that the French XV was much less good than New Zealand during the first period of the confrontation, but we have to admit that they were much less effective than their evening opponent, who planted a try on his first opportunity by Lakai (9^e) then a second thanks to the opportunism of Roigard (27^e).

Despite Buros' response (33^e), the Blues found themselves in danger in front of their home crowd and had to react after the break, at the risk of seeing the All Blacks widen the gap. And there's nothing like a good speech from the leaders to ensure a jump-start from all the troops.

“They attack all the rucks and they close the outsides to us. There, big guys, it's going to be hard for you, but we're going to have to work in black, or in zero there will be ??? inside, or between Tom (Ramos, editor's note) and me. We will have to work first in the axis before going to the exterior,” we can see urging Antoine Dupont.

Crucial defensive circulation

Shaken in its offensive game, Fabien Galthié's team relied on a try on a maul from Boudehent (44^e) and another against Bielle-Biarrey (51^e), before being able to count on his defense. A defense which had also been the subject of a reframing in the locker room.

“In defense, it’s the same, we have to be compact. They have guys who play duels, they split us every time and we suffer all the collisions. When we're in front, there's no problem. Let us make the effort to travel to be in front of them and catch them,” continues Dupont.

Before Gaël Fickou insists: “The two who are in contact, they fight. Others, don't look at the ruck, please move around! Otherwise it's too hard, otherwise you can never climb. […] Especially the outside guys, we need the quick ones on the outside, the 3^e wing line, that way we can put waves on them and ride hard. The only problem is sprinting around the rucks, not walking. It's going to be tough guys, if we want to win it's going to be tough until the end. So we sprint around the rucks every time, that's the only difference they make. »

And in the end, it was indeed the Blues defense which managed to stifle the All Blacks in their camp during the last possession.

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