Saturday evening (9:10 p.m.), against New Zealand, Thomas Ramos (349 points) will, as usual, be the French gunner facing the posts. In 88 units, he will become the best director in the history of the XV of France – a symbolic title that he is chasing – ahead of a certain Frédéric Michalak (436 points).
It was in February 2019 against Scotland during the 6 Nations Tournament and for his second selection, that Ramos opened his points counter in the jersey of the XV of France. Five years later, the Tarnais has come a long way and has made himself indispensable with the Blues. Now, at 40 caps and 29 years old, he has scored 349 points and is fast approaching the record for the best director in the history of the French XV. Indeed, 87 points separate him from Frédéric Michalak and his 436 points on the clock.
“I don’t keep my stats up to date”
A symbolic figure that he obviously wants to achieve, he tells L’Équipe: “I don’t keep my stats up to date. When I beat Jean-Baptiste Élissalde’s points record in the Stade Toulouse jersey (1776), I knew it the same day (during the Top 14 final 2024 won against Bordeaux-Bègles). I hope to surpass that of Fred Michalak. That will mean that I continue to win and that the team remains efficient. I hope he gets beaten too!”
Sheepish towards another record
Still in the “record” category, winger Damian Penaud is no longer far from being the best scorer in the history of the Blues. Serge Blanco is in the lead with 38 goals, Penaud has 36. A new record which could therefore fall. But who will succeed first in becoming a record holder, Ramos or Penaud? The first mentioned has his own idea: “Damian! It would be deserved. I often tell him that he could be the best player in the world! He will beat him, I am sure of it!” Time will tell who will become a Blue record holder the quickest.
Morocco
