At the Stade de France,
Far be it from us to pass ourselves off as spoiled children, but we no longer recognize our French team. Not only does it no longer lose (80% of victories hammered out Fabien Galthié after the success against Argentina on Friday evening), but also it no longer wastes huge opportunities or no longer commits these little stupid errors which prevent you from finding sleeping for too long hours, regretting a blocked conversion, or poor defense on an aerial ball.
No, the XV of France has become clinical. And, a week after taking out the scalpel and the needles to prick the All Blacks at certain key moments, the Blues took out their white coats of the perfect little forensic scientist to dissect the Pumas who are certainly enterprising, but far too clumsy and undisciplined. A victory acquired in the freshness (an understatement) of a Stade de France that was not full, but which once again appreciated the offensive realism of its team.
“The French are very pragmatic”
After scoring 52 in Japan, then 29 in the Néo-Z, the Pumas are heading back to Buenos Aires (or Clermont-Ferrand) with 37 points in their bags. More than the score, it is the ability of Fabien Galthié's flock to score without much in hand that impresses. No more need to camp for long minutes at the opponent's home to build up the scoreboard. We come, we score and we leave. Example from the 9th minute: a 50-22 from Gaël Fickou, an upwind sequence and a try from Thibaud Flament a few seconds later, while the Argentines had better entered the match.
Add to that penalties from the impeccable Thomas Ramos pushing the Argentinians beyond the Falklands, who nevertheless wanted to pick up the score little by little. Market no. “We managed to thwart them, in the first period, we were very effective,” rejoiced Stade Français fullback Léo Barré, once again starting after seeing the big performance against the Blacks from the stand. As soon as we entered their camp, we left with points. »
And it didn't take much more around the thirtieth minute of play, with two tries in quick succession (Villière and penalty try), without anyone seeing the blow coming. “When they get into the 22, they are difficult to stop,” lamented Felipe Contepomi, the Pumas coach. The French are very pragmatic, they took the opportunities well when they entered our 22. That's why France is one of the best teams in the world. »
“Individual players make the difference”
If, in a parallel world, we had been an Argentinian supporter, we would have thrown our mate and torn off our sky blue and white jersey in rage as French realism was elevated to the rank of art in the second half. A clear domination of the Pumas, who returned from the lemons with 21 points to digest, a try by Gallo to restore a semblance of suspense before being assassinated by Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who with a kick to follow for himself , after a recovery from Charles Ollivon, disgusted an entire country from rugby.
« We really work on recovery balls in training, explained Reda Wardi in the mixed zone. When we pick it up, we try to place it in areas that allow us to play effectively. We have players capable of making a difference individually. With the speed they put in and their game intelligence, it's easier for us. We can score quickly thanks to all these ingredients. »
The Argentinians could even have received one last blow on the carafe, with a try (rightly refused) from Émilien Gailleton, at the very end of the match, to wake up an audience who spent most of their time blowing in their faces to try to warm up. “When we are in the scoring zone, we all put on the “diskette” to add energy, to go behind the line, illustrated Gabin Villière. Whether we are at the front or behind, we all get into the mode: we have to cross this line, go and score this try. »
The small downside of Galthié and Dupont
So, of course, not everything is perfect. The great raïs Fabien Galthié would like his players to go to ruin every time they enter the opposing camp, and did not hesitate to emphasize this at the end of the meeting. “We can do better,” underlines the former scrum half. We have highlights that we don't convert. At the end of the three matches, we had the upper hand. » Same thing for Captain Dupont, who recited the lesson well:
« We can progress in several sectors. We can be more consistent in our offensive sector. We knew how to be pragmatic by being effective in our attacks. But we can be better on the ground game or on our kicking game, even if we win all three matches. »
Let's not be choosy. Winning without shining brightly and by grabbing twigs to set the opposing camp on fire, we know in France in other sports. It even allowed us to be world champions. And our little finger tells us that Antoine Dupont and his little friends would sign for the same epilogue in 2027 in Australia. History that the demons of the past do not come back to haunt us too often. We still have nightmares of a team with a sort of antelope attached to their heart.
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